The Perry County Historical and Preservation Society is preparing for its annual Christmas Tour of Homes, set to take place on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s tour will highlight eight historic sites across Marion, offering attendees a chance to delve into the county’s history and architecture, all dressed in festive holiday décor.
The tour will begin at the Marion Female Seminary, located at 204 Monroe Street, which will serve as the headquarters for the event. Guests can check in at the Seminary to receive their registration materials. Vendors will be present, offering handmade crafts, holiday ornaments, books, cards, and a selection of Southern cuisine from food trucks. Tickets are available for $20 for Historical Society members and $25 for non-members, and can be purchased through Eventbrite or at the door.
Among the highlights of the tour is the Lockett-Martin- Nyman Home, a Greek Revival residence completed by 1840. Once the home of Napoleon and Mary Lockett, the house holds a notable place in history as the site where the design for the first Confederate national flag, the Stars and Bars, was conceived. Local women sewed the flag in its parlor before submitting it to Montgomery, where it was officially adopted. Today, the house showcases original heart pine floors, unique Egyptian-style woodwork, and three ornate plaster ceiling medallions.
The tour also includes Halcyon, formerly known as the Elam-Foster Home. The home, built in the 1930s, is set on land that once housed Bluff Spring Academy. After sitting vacant for two decades, the current owners restored the house in authentic 1930s style, creating a serene retreat complete with a shady yard, front porch, and a fishing pond.
The historic churches on the tour are equally significant. Faith Chapel Baptist Church, established in 1948, began as a Sunday School held in the parlor of the Woodfin-Nevin Home during the 1930s. The Woodfin family later donated land for the church, which now stands as a vibrant rural community hub, complete with its charming steeple and expanded facilities.
Heiberger Methodist Church, completed in 1909, retains its original unpainted wood and beadboard interior, making it a landmark of the Heiberger community. The church was built through the efforts of William Fletcher Moore and his wife Annie, who spearheaded fundraising efforts, and by community members who provided much of the labor.
Another stop on the tour is the Lincoln School and Museum, established in 1867 by nine freed slaves. Once a flourishing educational institution with nearly 600 students, the school boasts notable alumni such as Coretta Scott King and Edythe Scott Bagley. The museum, housed in the Phillips Auditorium, features memorabilia donated by graduates and recently reopened following storm damage.
The Woodfin-Nevin Home, built in 1894, is another highlight. This Victorian residence, with its wraparound porches and intricate marquetry floor, has been restored and now operates as an Airbnb. It was home to Edward Isaac and Roberta Foster Woodfin, who raised their four children here. Mrs. Woodfin’s contributions to the community, including founding the Sunday School that became Faith Chapel, are part of the home’s legacy.
Also featured is the Perry- Gerard Home, built by Dr. Samuel Perry, which boasts a large front hall with French doors, 14-foot ceilings, and beautiful side rooms. During preparations for the tour, it was discovered that Dr. Perry’s daughter, Fanny, later lived in the Lockett-Martin- Nyman Home, further connecting the tour sites.
This year’s Christmas Tour of Homes offers a unique opportunity to explore Marion’s historic homes and churches while celebrating the holiday season. For tickets and more information, visit the Perry County Historical and Preservation Society’s Eventbrite page or contact Kay Beckett at 334-292-0319.
