West Liberty Christmas in the Village Lights Contest!NEW THIS YEAR!
Everyone living within the village of West Liberty is encouraged to decorate the outside of their home for Christmas by December 12 and then residents and tour attendees alike are encouraged to drive around the community and upload a photo to Facebook of their favorite decorated home using the hashtag #wlchristmaslights. The home that receives the most votes will win $50 in Liberty Bucks to be spent shopping locally just in time for the holidays! |
The first stop on the tour is the stunning Jack & Angela (Ginn) Garrett Home located at 208 N. Detroit St., just two houses north of C&R Pharmacy. It truly is a gem in the West Liberty downtown landscape. Angela has lived here since June 2018, all the while completing a major renovation and transformation that the people of the West Liberty village have loved witnessing. Moving to West Liberty had been one of Angela’s bucket list goals.
Angela was first attracted to this home because of the location and the age of the home. The home was built by George Gorton in 1904, and he was a jeweler in West Liberty who ran his business out of what is now the parlor, utilizing a separate entrance. One of the homeowner’s favorite aspects of the home is the wrap around porch and the foyer leading into the parlor, which features doorbell, woodwork, stairway, and original craftsman floors. Angela and Jack were married in February 2020 at which point he moved in and began contributing to the renovation and décor as well. The homeowners enjoy collecting civil war era relics and Victorian period antiques. |
The second stop on the tour is the Ron & Bobbie Gratz home well known through the area as a Piatt family landmark, and the former Pioneer House gift shop. It is Located at 10107 Township Road 47 West Liberty, just down from the Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek. Ron & Bobbie found the home on a whim when Ron searched the Internet for homes for sale in his native Logan County, Ohio. Thy had lived in and around Columbus and Cincinnati since their marriage in 1966, but were then searching for something closer to their grandchildren in Delaware County. They could hardly believe their eyes when the 1828 cabin was the first listing to pop up. They knew right away they had to buy it! The rural setting, and pleasant 50-mile back road drive to their family made it the perfect getaway location. The couple love collecting antiques, primitives, baskets, and raising Welsh Springer Spaniels. The Gratzes have lived at the cabin since the weekend before Thanksgiving 2013. They have kept very busy since cleaning up the property, adding an outbuilding and gardens, as well as becoming very involved in the community through the Historical Society and the Garden Club. Bobbie is also an avid collector of Christmas décor and can not wait to share her home as part of the Christmas Tour of Homes this year.
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The third and final stop on the tour is the Jeff & Kelli Stoner home located at 6845 Ludlow Road, Cable, Ohio. Jeff & Kelli are the owners of the famous West Liberty Ice Cream Parlor, and proud parents of three children and one grandson. They also are very involved in the community, through Quest Community Church and as members of the Lions Club and the Business Association. They have lived in this home since 2003 and were first attracted to the home because of the spectacular views of the valley below. Their favorite spot is sitting on the front porch watching the sun set. They host many gatherings of family and friends. Their favorite pieces within the home include antiques and Grandma Stoner’s China.
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