Dec 1, 2002 12 min read

Patrons of the 2002 Home for the Holidays tour, which benefits the Crime Victims Center Inc. of Fayette County, will be treated to the holiday magic that happens when a home is decorated for Christmas as well as the magic unleashed in the hearts of those who want to give to their community. “It’s the right cause,’ said homeowner Thelma Sandy. “It’s worthwhile doing.’

“It’s for a very good cause. That’s the reason I’m doing it,’ said homeowner Mick Mansberry.

This year’s tour takes place on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. The Uniontown area homes featured on the tour include:

– A two-story pink-and-white brick home built in 1952, located at 140 Stockton, and owned by Thelma Sandy.

– A two-story stone and stucco house built in 1935, located at 81 Charles St., that’s owned by Roger and Claudette Franks.

– A ranch made of brown and gray-colored stone and cedar, located at 34 Albert, which was built five years ago by Earl and Micki Mansberry.

– A two-story, yellow stucco home that’s country French in design at 46 Farmview Drive that was built in 1997 by Jim and Brenda Churilla.

– The Stephen E. Kezmarsky Funeral Home, located at 71 Pennsylvania Ave., which dates back to 1803 when it was built by U.S. Sen. Albert E. Boyd. It is now owned by Steve and Nancy Kezmarsky.

“These are gracious, wonderful people who are willing to open their homes,’ said Linda O’Keefe, legal advocate supervisor for the Crime Victims Center. “We appreciate their support.’

“Every year, I get more and more amazed at how people will open up their homes to help people of the community who have been victimized,’ said Jacquie Fritts, executive director.

Kathleen Kifer, board president, commented, “We appreciate the homeowners donating their time and homes to the agency, and the support of the community in participating in the house tour.’

For many people, visiting the house tour has become a holiday tradition, noted O’Keefe. This is the fifth year that the house tour has benefited the Crime Victims Center. It is the center’s biggest fundraiser.

“Last year, we raised $5,000. It was our all-time high and we were thrilled,’ said O’Keefe. “It’s a really big help for our agency.’

Fritts noted the fundraiser also demonstrates to state officials in Harrisburg that “the community backs us up.’

Tickets for Home for the Holidays are on sale now at the Crime Victims Center, located at 109 W. Fayette St., Uniontown, Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is 724-438-1470. Tickets are $20. Patrons will be given a specific tour to follow so that everyone doesn’t converge on the same house at once.

No more than 275 tickets will be sold and the tour is so popular that it frequently sells out.

“People are urged to call and get tickets as soon as possible,’ said O’Keefe.

The hour tour will be accompanied by a Chinese auction that includes items and gift certificates donated by local businesses and individuals. The Chinese auction will be set up at the Kezmarsky funeral home. There is a special dinner after the tour at Caleigh’s restaurant in Uniontown. There is a $20 charge for dinner tickets that are also available in a limited supply. Dinner tickets are available at the Crime Victims Center.

Here is a look at the houses included in the 2002 Home for the Holidays tour:

–

Thelma Sandy and her late husband, Ernest, purchased their home at 140 Stockton in 1980. They were the second owners of the two-story pink-and-white brick house built in 1952, by Dr. Charles and Mary Hubbard.

Mrs. Sandy wrote in a description: “It has been a home that my family and I have enjoyed in all aspects. On holidays, it lends itself to family gatherings with all the festivities that most families enjoy. Children have fun playing hide and seek since it is a house that has many hiding places. A fish pond stocked with koi fish is located off the patio and the children have a great time counting the fish and trying to get them to come to the surface at feeding time. The living room, dining room, library and two bedrooms have fireplaces that can be used for extra warmth in the winter months. It is decorated and furnished in a traditional style.’

Mrs. Sandy uses traditional themes to decorate her home for the holidays, including lights in the windows and a large Christmas tree in front of the bay window. She decorates both her tree and living room with dolls. If there’s time, Sandy will put up a children’s tree in the breakfast room.

For Mrs. Sandy, Christmas is a time for being with family and giving to others.

–

Roger and Claudette Franks are the owners of a two-story stone and stucco house built in 1935, and located at 81 Charles St. They purchased the home when returning to Uniontown after living in Frederick, Md., for 12 years.

Mrs. Franks wrote this description: “When we decided to move back to Uniontown over four years ago, the task of finding a home we were both happy with was quite daunting. My husband Roger’s taste differs a little from mine. OK, they’re complete opposite. Luckily, our friend Scott Cavinee, of Conn Realty, was up to the task. He managed to find a home that both of us truly love.

“One very important factor to both of us was space – with two very active boys (Zachary, 10, and Tyler, 9), much is needed, This house provides much of that. In fact, on the proverbial rainy day when the children are antsy and my patience is wearing a little thin, I’ll tell them to run the staircases, which are in a circle throughout the house. Obviously, the architectural embellishments of the house are not only beautiful, but also practical.

“As one of my hobbies is refinishing furniture, please allow me to point out a few items as you tour our home. Most of the pieces you see have been redone by myself. Some have sentimental value. The church pew sitting in the dining room was in my grandfather Gregory’s place of business – Gregory & Sons Flower Shop. It was located in downtown Uniontown from 1939-1972. Another piece that can be found in the spare bedroom is a Singer sewing machine, used by Roger’s grandmother Smith for many years to mend clothes for others, and served as her main source of income.

“Another favorite pastime of mine is decorating. All the window treatments and dried flower arrangements throughout the house are of my creation. I believe this talent was inherited from my Grandfather Gregory.

“We hope comfort and warmth are what you feel as you walk through the house; it’s certainly what we feel.’

The Franks decorate for Christmas with an 11-foot live tree in the foyer that goes up the banister and holds ornaments the family has collected over the years. The computer room, which has bright green walls, will be decorated with candy canes for the holidays. The spare bedroom has Victorian decorations. The backroom above the garage is a TV room and will feature snowmen. The kitchen uses gingerbread decorations.

For the Franks, celebrating the holidays means a time to be with family.

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Earl and Micki Mansberry built their home, a ranch made of brown and gray-colored stone and cedar, at 34 Albert five years ago.

The couple offered this description: “We dreamed of building a new home for years. We canvassed the area and decided we liked Craig Meadows. It was such a friendly neighborhood, and even though no one knew us at that time, most people would wave and smile as we drove by. We would see and hear the neighborhood children playing and the atmosphere was a happy friendly one

“As we looked over the home plans, we could never seem to find one that had the features we wanted but would allow us to remain within our budget. Our builder, Ron Wagner Construction, met with us and as we told him what we wanted, he sketched it on the computer. We wanted to keep it simple but also wanted to include some touches of character and charm. With no plans and just our ideas of what we wanted, we were nervous the whole time they were building as to how it would turn out.

“We both love stone, so we decided on stone and cedar. As you enter, no walls block your view of the main section of our home. The focal point of this area is the see-through stone fireplace that divides the living room from the dining area and extends up through the cedar cathedral ceiling. The mantels are decorated with lighted snowmen that add a festive and whimsical touch to the room. This area is great for family get-togethers as the open floor plan allows all our children and grandchildren to get together at the same time and enjoy each other’s company. I love the open floor plan as I can cook a holiday meal in the kitchen and still join in the fun of having the family together.

“Our downstairs family area has special meaning to us as one son did the wiring throughout and another son divided it into rooms and did the dry wall. We spend most of our time there after work and that’s where you’ll find our Victorian-decorated Christmas tree.

“Our deck has a great view of the mountains and the Jumonville Cross. We love to sit out there in the summer, enjoying the view and the sounds of the children laughing and playing throughout the neighborhood.’

Among the Christmas traditions enjoyed by the family is getting together to make their own ice cream and a sweet vanilla cookie called gillettes.

Mrs. Mansberry said of Christmas, “It’s a time for the family to get together and enjoy each other’s company.’

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Jim and Brenda Churilla live with their daughter Chelsea, 14, and Philip, 11, in a two-story, yellow stucco home that’s country French in design and located at 46 Farmview Drive.

A description of their home reads: “The house was completed in August 1997 and they have always considered this their ‘dream house.’ In fact, the rooms and design of the house were chosen to fit their furniture and traditional taste. The house was on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens home design. The house built was very similar in design but not the floor plan. Brenda took her time scanning design books for a floor plan that would fit the outer appearance of the original design. Welch Construction and Tri-State design made the two become one. The house has an older feel without being old, something that was desired by Jim and Brenda alike.’

The Churillas have five Christmas trees in their home. The tree in the family room, which has an elk over the fireplace, will have a woodsy theme in its decorations that include pheasants. A small tree in the kitchen has a country theme that features apples. The living room tree has a Victorian theme. Chelsea’s room hosts a Barbie tree while Philip’s room will hold a fiber optic tree.

Two staircases are decorated with tassels, garlands, lights, bows and poinsettias.

For the Churillas, the holidays are a time for having the family together.

–

Steve and Nancy Kezmarsky are owners of the Stephen E. Kezmarsky Funeral Home, located at 71 Pennsylvania Ave., which dates back to 1803.

The funeral home is located on the first floor while the second floor has 10 rooms that serves as the family’s home. The outside is cream-colored brick with burgundy shutters and a brown roof.

A description of their house reads “On June 10, 1996, Stephen and Nancy Kezmarsky purchased the Robert S. Oats Funeral home. The Kezmarskys have totally refurbished the elegant home that dates back to 1803. The home was built by the then honorable United States Senator Albert E. Boyd who was elected senator in 1898. The home was built at the end of what is now Shady Lane, which was the original private driveway for the home. Several families used the spacious home for their single-family residence.

“In addition to remodeling the entire home, the Kezmarsky family has added a spacious, beautiful chapel/viewing area. The chapel is 60 feet by 40 feet. Visitation can be held in the chapel and also funeral services can be accommodated.

“We have tried to decorate and make our home feel warm and more like a home than a funeral home. To us, this is our place of business but still considered our home.’

For the holidays, Kezmarsky said the outside of the home is decorated with more than 15,000 white lights as well as festive wreaths. Inside, the mantels are decorated with pine, bows and candles. The Christmas tree in the chapel will have an angel theme. The other rooms in the funeral home will have subtle classic decorations.

For their own tree, the Kezmarskys use decorations passed on to them by Mrs. Kezmarsky’s mother, who died in December 1997. “She was probably the most excited person at Christmas,’ said Kezmarsky. “So it’s a beautiful time and a sad time.’

Christmas traditions in the Kezmarsky house feature ethnic traditions passed down through generations, including food.

Said Kezmarsky, “Christmas has always been special.’