Destiny could be considered the spirit of Christmas future as it
is the name of one of the houses on the Bradford Landmark Society’s
Fifth Annual Holiday House Tour to be held from noon to 4 p.m.
Saturday.
Destiny, a house at 132 Congress St., is owned by Bill Runyan
and Fran James. Runyan and James moved into Destiny in 2004 after
many years in the Pittsburgh suburb of Sewickley. James said they
just fell in love with Destiny the first time they looked at
it.
Runyan and James decided to join the house tour this year after
being persuaded by Harrijane Hannon, president of the Bradford
Landmark Society, who lives on Sanford Street where Runyan’s father
lives. During a cocktail party, Hannon had asked Runyan to open
Destiny for the Holiday House Tour this year.
“Harrijane twisted my arm,” Runyan said with a laugh.
Runyan also said James had held a house tour in her Sewickley
home. They also said they attended the first two house tours in
Bradford.
“We really always enjoy it,” James said. “It shows the pride in
the town and people’s passion for the holiday. We love sharing our
passion.”
“I always tell people if you hold still for too long, you’re
going to be decorated,” Runyan said about James decorating on each
holiday.
They started decorating this year the second week in November.
James said she had taken pictures of how ornaments were placed so
that each year she can decorate the house how she had it the year
before, unless there’s something she feels will look better if
changed.
Destiny’s entrance hall is decorated with Christmas bulbs and
ribbons. The parlor, also known as the “Blue Room,” holds Runyan’s
collection of nutcrackers as well as three wise men figurines that
have moved with Runyan and James from house to house. The dining
room is decked out with a lighted Christmas tree and a red dining
room tablecloth, as well as other Christmas decorations. The living
room features Christmas colors all year round with red carpeting
and green and white walls.
The second floor features three bedrooms and an office, called
the “nautical room” in the blueprints. James has her handmade
needlepoint ornaments, including the 12 days of Christmas ornaments
on one of about five Christmas trees in the house, displayed
throughout the house.
The house, built in the late 1920s, was purchased in 1936 by
John Boyle, a Bradford oilman, and was substantially rebuilt that
year with an addition around the shell of the old house. The 1936
blueprints of the house will be on display during the Holiday House
Tour. The Boyle family owned the house until 1971. Thereafter,
there have been seven different owners.
Another stop along the tour will be at the 284 Bolivar Drive
house of Honey and Fran “Tubby” Colella.
A Victorian decorated Christmas tree in the home has acquired
mementos over the years and is lit every day of the year in the
Christmas corner of the house. The second level family room has a
Christmas village along one wall, and the third level living room
hosts 84 stuffed bears along with Christmas angels.
The newly built 48 Onofrio St. home of Greg and Mary Huber will
be another house on the tour. Several Santa’s that Greg Huber has
collected over the years, which include Clothique, glass, wooden
and some special antiques, are on display throughout the home. The
cathedral ceilings allow for a decorated nine-foot Christmas tree
in red and silver with several of Mary Huber’s childhood
ornaments.
Holiday cookies and homemade apple cider produced in the winery
of the basement will be available at 146 Kennedy St., the home of
Dr. and Mrs. Waldemar Szczupak.
The Victorian style home was built in 1880. The house is
decorated with more than 55 poinsettia plants, along with numerous
hand-decorated faux pine wreaths and garland. The home houses seven
Christmas trees and more than 8,000 lights. Mrs. Szczupak’s
extensive nutcracker collection – 18 years in the making – will
also be displayed in the house, including a giant nutcracker on the
roof of the home.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Zetts, 336 Derrick Road, will also
be on the tour. The Colonial-style house was built in 1928. On the
back deck, a snowman collection extends from the backdoor entrance
through the kitchen and into the den.
The family tree holds more than 200 ornaments, most of which are
from the Hallmark Collection, which spans a period of more than 30
years. An antique Nativity display completes the family’s
decorations.
The Herbig Bakery at 45 E. Corydon St. will be one more stop on
the tour. The building has served as the headquarters of the
Bradford Landmark Society for more than 30 years and was well-known
as a bakery for more than 80 years.
The tour this year also includes three musical performances. The
Walden Brass Ensemble will be performing at the Main Street
Mercantile from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The tour will also include a
Holiday Concert between 3 and 4 p.m. at the University of
Pittsburgh at Bradford in Blaisdell Hall, located in the Fine Arts
Facility. Bradford Area High School Madrigal Singers, under the
direction of Chad W. Young, will also provide holiday music on the
tour.
Tickets for the tour may be purchased at the Bradford Area
Public Library, 67 W. Washington St.; Bradford Travel, 50 Davis
St.; John William’s European Pastry Shop, 20 Mechanic St.; Movie
Magic, 51 Main St.; Tina’s Hallmark, 38 Foster Brook Road; and on
the day of the tour at the Herbig Bakery, 45 E. Corydon St.
