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Editor’s note: This is the first of two articles featuring homes on The First Annual Candlelight and Carols Home Tour presented by the Museum of History. The Robinson and Glover homes are featured in this Progress edition. The Kihega and Willhoite homes will be featured in the Dec. 9 weekend edition.
A long held Claremore social tradition is being revived this holiday season as the Candlelight and Carols Home Tour, Saturday, Dec. 16, 5-9 p.m.
When it comes to decorating for the holidays, Kathy and Jesse Glover are pros. As owners of The Cozy Cottage, Jesse and Kathy typically decorate over 70 trees each year for their clients.
This festive reboot of the tour of homes is being brought to the community by supporters of the Museum of History, with the help of its growing list of volunteers and staff.
This year’s tour features four Claremore homes decked out in seasonal décor, complete with special entertainment at each address – including singers at one home and piano players at another, with a scheduled refreshment stop at the Museum of History, 121 N. Weenonah Ave., along the way.
Tickets are $20 per person and are available at the MoH, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, or by visiting www.ClaremoreMOH.org online. Tickets are also available at Cozy Cottage, 514 W. Will Rogers Blvd., 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Proceeds from this event support the MoH.
“The MOH will be open during the tour hours and will serve food and beverages to all of those making the home tour. People can make the first two sites, stop by the museum for some food and fellowship, and then move on to the last sites,” Museum Director Steve Robinson said.
Featured homes include the residences of Pam and Steve Robinson, Kathy and Jesse Glover, Christine and Kendall Kihega and Debbie and Joe Willhoite.
Pam and Steve Robinson, 1807 Forest Park Drive
The exterior view of Pam and Steve Robinson’s home on Forest Park Drive is one of the homes featured in the first annual Candlelight and Carols Home Tour presented by the Claremore Museum of History this year.
Built in 1998, the Robinson home is a traditional red brick Georgia-styled home. From the exterior, the home is symmetrical, with arched windows flanking a white, two-columned portico. This two-story, four-bedroom home was built from a Southern Living home plan when the Robinsons moved back to Claremore from their home in Houston. It features a formal dining room and office at the front of the house.
The dining room at the Robinson’s home is decorated in Fitz and Floyd’s Georgian Santa. The green walls and mural of the dining room compliment the mint green color of the Georgian Santa collection.
The theme of the Christmas decorations in the Robinson home is “Christmas Collections.” Steve is an avid collector of all things holiday, and when it comes to Christmas, he is over the top. Each room of the Robinson home features a different collection.
The office at the front of the house focuses on the reason for the season and is decorated in nativities. Flying over the office mantle are Steve’s prized antique Cartapesta Papier Mache Angels. The angels were handmade at a monastery in Southern Italy.
Moving to the powder room, visitors wil find it decorated in nutcrackers. The hallway to the powder room showcases Steve’s snow globes, a collection of Christopher Radko tree finials, and vintage Christmas toys.
The family room is antique Christmas, highlighted by two trees flanking the fireplace that are decorated with old, shiny-bright ornaments and tinsel. The room is filled with Santas of all shapes and sizes. A large antique sideboard plays host to vintage Santas, as well those with which everyone remembers growing up as children. The kitchen features versions of Frosty the Snowman and leads to the mudroom, where guests will find a collection of Santa boots.
The master bedroom tree is decorated in birds, which complements the Robinson’s collection of antique Gould bird prints from the 1940s and their porcelain Andrea birds.
Last but not least is the 9-foot Christmas tree in the entry hall that greets visitors to the Robinson home. The tree is decorated in Christopher Radko and Polonaise glass ornaments and is flanked by garland on the entry hall staircase.
Kathy & Jesse Glover, 9101 E. 450 Road
The Glovers’ Mediterranean-style home reflects the owners love of entertaining and outdoor living.
The Glovers built their Mediterranean-style home in 2012. The custom home, which was designed by the Glovers, features four bedrooms and over 4,500 square feet of living space. There were two driving priorities in the design of their home – first and foremost was their pub. Complete with three TVs, the pub evokes the feeling of sitting in Europe and watching a favorite team while imbibing in a drink of choice.
Equally important is the outdoor living space. The Glovers love the outdoors, so having an outdoor space designed for grilling/entertaining and hot-tubbing was critical.
The Glovers home sits on 16 acres and was originally part of the Lawson Ranch acquired by brothers Jesse and Jim. Jesse and Kathy were the first to build on the historical property, which also houses the Chief Journeycake cabin.
The home features a grand piano, a movie room upstairs and a beautiful library. Jesse and Kathy moved from their historic home in Maple Ridge to Claremore and say they have loved every minute in their new home.
Long-time supporters of the Festival of Trees, The Glovers’ custom-decorated tree is always a yearly favorite for bidding.
When it comes to their personal home decorations, their style of decorating is described by Kathy as eclectic. They mix vintage Christmas with modern and unique Christmas items they find while looking for items to sell in their store, at markets and other venues. Kathy’s prize possession is her vintage silver tinsel tree that she always wanted as a child but they never had. She also loves her lighted ceramic Christmas trees. Jesse always goes “big” with his trees, both in size and in ornaments. Their trees are unique and a must-see for all lovers of things Christmas.
See the Sunday, Dec. 9, Progress edition for details of the other two homes on the tour: Christine and Kendall Kihega, 222 W. Ninth St., and Debbie and Joe Willhoite, 701 N. Muskogee Ave.
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