"Memories of Christmas Past"

“Memories of Christmas Past Historic Home Tour” is right around the corner. Saturday December 8th, 2007 will be the day you don’t want to miss in Minden, Louisiana. See Minden’s Historic District in its holiday splendor. Step back to your favorite scene in your favorite holiday movie as you stroll down the brick streets of Minden. You will be beckoned by the twinkle of soft lights and Christmas carols with the smell of mulled cider in the air.
The Minden, Louisiana Historic Residential District along with members of the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum and with help from the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau once again hosts its annual Christmas tour of historic homes. Historic District president Schelley Brown stated, “Where else but in these homes can you feel the spirit of Christmas past. These 100 year old homes have witnessed Christmas far beyond what we can remember. It is in these homes that the spirit of Minden and its history were born. Step back in time with us and see these architectural masterpieces in their holiday finery. Christmas trees will be aglow and stockings hung in anticipation of Christmas morning. Mulled cider will be served to warm your hearts.
This year’s tour will begin at 1:00 p.m. and doors will close at 7:00 pm. You’re $10.00 ticket for the day can be purchased at any of the homes. No advance tickets will be sold. The tour coordinators expect a crowd of 500 or more this year. The homes in Minden are unique and steeped with history. People enjoy looking at a home that has been a part of the fabric of a town for 100 or more years. This year’s tour will have several homes that have never been on tour before as well as an historic church and bank.
704 Main Street: The Bank Of Webster (Citizen’s Bank) Built 1905 – 1907
1001 Broadway: Minden Presbyterian Church Built 1923
100 College Street: Chaffe-Evans Home Built 1870’s – 1880’s Formerly First Baptist Church Parsonage in 1926
315 East & West Street: Crichton – McCullough Home built in 1890’s – 1925
709 Elm Street: Rathbun – Payne Home built early 1917
Tour coordinators and home owners are looking forward to showing folks from out of town what Minden has to offer. Coordinators commented, “The spring tour was such a huge success that the Christmas tour should be more so. We have had so many people waiting in anticipation for this all year that we want to be sure to give them what they have been waiting for.”
People realize the importance of our Historic Residential District and this is the perfect time of year to take advantage of one of Minden’s biggest assets. With big business all around, being able to step away from that area into a quite, peaceful and picturesque scene is so important to any town or city. In Minden that division is an important aspect to the citizens and visitors. This year the district is proud to say that they are now an official recognized district on the local and national level. The formation of the Historic District Ordnances to protect this district was a big step forward for the city of Minden and the home owners. This all came about after district members worked closely with organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Places and other cities to make sure that the historic district remained just that a step back in time. For more information on the Christmas home tour please contact Schelley Brown at iluvoldcars@yahoo.com or 318-423-0192.