There are home tours and holiday home tours and historic home tours, but you rarely get a tour offering all at once.   Franklin County is giving it a try for the first time this year, and it requires you to sign up in advance. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.

[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/11-29-Franklin-Homes-Wrap2-WEB.mp3|titles=11-29 Franklin Homes Wrap2-WEB]

Click here for more Yuletide Civil War Home Tour information and registration.

Here is the full Franklin County news release:

Franklin County CW 150 Committee to host Yuletide Civil War Home Tour

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Rocky Mount, VA – Do you want a perfect Christmas present for the history buff in your family?  The Franklin County Sesqucentennial Committee is delighted to offer a guided 5 home tour of Franklin County’s pre-civil war homes all decorated for the season.  Tickets are $25.00 per person and $40.00 per couple.  Ticket price includes transportation from Rocky Mount to the home locations, tour of the homes and lunch.  Buses will meet in the Franklin County High School Football Stadium parking lot and depart at 9:30 a.m. sharp.  Space is limited and you may purchase your tickets online at www.franklincountyva.gov/parks, or purchase them in person at the Franklin County Parks and Recreation Office at 2150 Sontag Road, Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151.  Make checks payable to Franklin County Parks and Recreation.

A sample of what you will see:

  • Burwell~Holland House Circa 1798, home of Armistead Burwell once a private Secretary to President Thomas Jefferson and the youngest Member of Congress.
  • General Jubal A. Early Homeplace Circa 1814, childhood home of Franklin County’s famous General.  Once a 4000 acre tobacco plantation this house has just been newly restored.
  • The Grove Circa 1854,  a Greek Revival Style house it hosted a number of prominent lawyers and legislatures of the time.
  • Holland~Duncan House Circa 1798, provided many weary travelers a place to rest in the late 1800’s.
  • Booker T. Washington National Monument is our lunch stop and a remarkable journey into the life of famous orator Booker T. Washington.  Here you will visit a replica of the slave cabin on the originial location of Booker’s life from birth to 1865