Historical society planning Holiday Tour of Distinctive Homes

        Planning for the Oregon Jerusalem Historical Society’s 2019 Holiday Tour of Distinctive Homes has been underway for months.
        This year’s tour, set for Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., will include eight Oregon area sites. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 the day of the tour, which begins at Brandville School, 1133 Grasser St., Oregon.
        To reserve tickets, call Connie at 419-693-2956.
        The tour includes:
        • The home of Kathy and Paul Ackerman, 1501 South Stadium Rd., Oregon. This 3,500-square-foot brick home was built in 1991 with used bricks from a portion of the former Stokely Van Camp Tomato Cannery, which operated in Curtice through 1978. The home was designed by the Ackermans and built by John Baldwin.
        The one-and-a-half-story, four-bedroom home is decorated in an eclectic mix of French Country and other “found treasures.” The exterior, as well as interior, reflects the couple’s love of nature and all things that grow.
        Kathy’s love of decorating and her partnership in the vintage shop, “The House Market” in Maumee, has her always on the hunt for unique décor, vintage furniture and other eclectic treasures.
        The outside boasts a deck/patio area, a garden shed, a large man-made pond, a manicured lawn and extensive gardens surrounding the home.
        The Ackerman’s gardens were featured in the Oregon Jerusalem Historical Society’s Garden Tour in 2014.
        • The home of Mary Ann and Paul Cervantes, 1440 South Stadium Rd. The 4,000-square-foot ranch-style home is located on a five-acre wooded plot. The Collaborative Inc. of Toledo designed the structure in 1981 to represent an open-flow concept. Phil Cervantes was the contractor of the home.
        The house has spacious rooms including a formal living room, dining room, sun room, interior greenhouse, three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and an open kitchen-family room combination. The full basement includes a second fireplace made of Colorado fieldstone and Kentucky ledge rock.
        The interior décor of the home is accented with antique furniture pieces from the Cervantes and Quilter families. A gazebo-shaped porch and wooden decks extend from the house to facilitate a view of the surrounding woods.
         In 2016, the grounds of the Cervantes home were included in the Oregon Jerusalem Historical Society’s Garden Tour.
        • The home of Casey and Tim Earl, 3164 Brown Rd., Oregon. Over the past few years, this 20th century farmhouse, built in 1917, was gutted down to the studs and renovated by Jim Krueger.
        In June, Casey and Tim Earl purchased the farmhouse/garage and seven-acre property. The first floor of the home features three bedrooms, a full bathroom, a living room, a dining area, and kitchen. The second floor is the master suite with a three-piece bathroom. Future plans for the basement include an updated laundry area, a recreation area, and two additional bedrooms.
        Some unique features of the renovations include the addition of skylights, a custom-built kitchen with a granite sink and matching countertops, a custom-made bathroom sink, and a large outdoor deck with patio doors.
        • The home of Barbara and William Lindeman, 5137 Pickle Rd., Oregon, a 19th century farmhouse.
        Andrew Metzger Jr. expanded his 40-acre farm to 100 acres and built a frame house with summer kitchen in 1889. He used logs from his farm to build a chicken coop and the barn just east of the current property.
        Etta Metzger, Andrew’s daughter, remained on the homestead until her death and, in 1975, the farm was split into various parcels and sold. The house and 9.9 acres were purchased as one of the parcels by Dr. Cunningham who added a back addition consisting of a basement rec room, kitchen, deck, and an upstairs bedroom.
        The Lindemans purchased the property in 1989 and did some renovations. In January 1994, a fire destroyed a significant portion of the residence. The house was restored a second time by the insurance company. The floors in the dining room, study, and parlor are a combination of chestnut and oak and still bear brown markings from the fire.
        • The home of Pamela and Kyle Newton, 2623 Eastmoreland Blvd., Oregon. The 2,160-square-foot home was built and occupied by Richard and Elisie Paren until its sale to the Weidman family in 1964. John and Sharon Newton purchased the house in 1968 and the house has been in the Newton family ever since. John and Sharon’s youngest son, Kyle, and his wife, Pamela, purchased the home in 2006 after Sharon decided to downsize.
        A kitchen renovation and some updates have been completed, however, most of the house is in its original state which includes built-ins, woodwork, hardwood floors, a fireplace in the main floor living area, and an additional fireplace in the basement rec room. The finished original knotty pine basement is ground zero for any Buckeye or Detroit fan.
        • The home of Laura and Roger Sheahan, 6652 Nissen Rd., Curtice, designed by the owners and built in 2001 by Kevin Workman.
        The lodge-style home features an open floor plan on the first floor, which includes a great room, kitchen, dining area, and living room. Also, on this floor, is a formal dining room, den, master suite, two baths, laundry room and mud room.
        The second floor includes two bedrooms and a bath, laundry room, family room for the kids, and desks in the loft. The basement is half storage and half finished with an additional bedroom with a full bath for guests, bar area, dining area, and family room.
        The owners’ favorite feature of their home is the large wrap-around porch on the back of the house which ends with a large patio.
        As an interior designer, Laura feels it is most important to surround oneself with things that make you happy. The Sheahans say their house is not perfect, but it is perfect for them.
        • The home of Michelle and Brian Shephard, 3248 Country Farms Rd., Oregon, a traditional Fowler home. Completed in 2003, the one-story brick front home features gleaming oak floors, a modern kitchen with breakfast bar as well as a variety of other beautiful features. The home sits on 0.66 acres with more than 40 trees and shrubs. A newly built cedar gazebo in 2019 adds to the outdoor beauty with the stamped concrete patio and a charming shed.
        While the first owners of the home took immaculate care, Brian and Michelle have added their own style and personal touches to make this their own unique home. The 2,000 square foot, full basement went from concrete floors and walls to a warm and inviting family room, bar area, workout space, and music area in 2017.
        Holiday decorations can be found in just about every room in the house, including at least 8 Christmas trees, each with a different theme.
        • An additional place of interest is Three Girlz Urban Living, 4728 Navarre Ave., Oregon, housed in a 20th century farmhouse.
        John Henry Wiemeyer built this home in 1905 on his 110-acre farm. The structure is a solid frame two-story with four bedrooms, a basement, and a walk-up attic.  The original barn still remains on the property.
        In 1997, the estate was purchased and eventually became an office for Welles-Bowen Realtors. In February 2017, Roger and Laura Sheahan purchased the property with the intention of opening a home furnishing store.  When they purchased the house, it was painted yellow, had wallpaper on every wall, and green carpet throughout the house. They renovated the space and made their statement when they painted the house red. Three Girlz Urban Living opened in May 2018.