ZELIENOPLE — Smiling home décor enthusiasts walked and drove all over the borough and its neighboring communities on Saturday, Dec. 2, to scope out homes on the Zelienople Historical Society’s 30th annual Christmas House Tour.

Marietta Reeb, chairwoman of the house tour, said the event immediately sold out at 160 tickets as soon as it was announced.

“We had 20 people on a waiting list,” Reeb said.

The tourists first arrived at the Harmony-Zelienople Global Methodist Church in Zelienople to pick up their programs and map showing the locations of the 15 houses on the tour in Zelienople and Harmony as well as Jackson and Lancaster townships and surrounding communities.

They then drove to the homes at their own pace and in their own order to experience the Christmas decorations and other features of the homes on the tour.

“People just want to get out, and they are interested in decorating their homes, so they get to see what other people do,” Reeb said of the interest in the house tour.

Halfway through the tour, which lasted from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., tourists came back to the church for a lunch of chicken cordon bleu.

The historical society’s annual quilt raffle, for which tickets had been sold since spring, was drawn at the luncheon.

Tourists also won a number of door prizes at the lunch, which were donated by area businesses.

A table of raffle baskets also was available at the lunch.

All proceeds benefit the historical society.

Reeb said she avoids using houses more than once on the house tour and has no shame when it comes to pulling over, knocking on a door and asking a homeowner to participate in the Christmas House Tour.

“It embarrasses my husband to death,” Reeb said.

This year’s tour includes old houses, new houses, apartments and log homes, she said.

“I enjoy the old houses because I live in an old house,” Reeb said.

The tour brings in about $4,000 after expenses, she said.

“It’s our biggest fundraiser, and it’s a lot of work,” Reeb said as she placed dinner rolls into baskets on a cart. “In the evening, I take all the homeowners around to see the other houses.”

She said all participants must take off their shoes upon entering a home on the tour, or wear foot coverings to protect the flooring or carpet.

Many people kicked off their shoes to enter the home of Richard and Stephanie Olszewski on the 300 block of East New Castle Street in Zelienople.

Stephanie said the couple, who are New Jersey natives and have lived in several states, moved to the home about a year ago from their former home in Richland Township, Allegheny County.

She said she was doing some exterior renovation at the front of the 1909 house when Reeb happened past. The rest is history.

“We did it because it’s a fundraiser for the historical society and to get to know people in Zelienople,” Stephanie said. “It’s really nice to be part of a small community.”

She heard the house was built for the daughter of a prominent citizen at the turn of the 20th century.

The Olszewskis’ favorite home was in Freehold, N.J., and the house in Zelienople reminded them of it.

“It pulled on our heartstrings,” Stephanie said.

She said her adult children and their families, who are scattered around the U.S., love the house.

“They decided they want a Hallmark movie Christmas, so we’re all getting together this year,” Stephanie said. “There will be 10 of us in this house.”

Julia Habsburg, of Harmony, did the house tour with her daughter, Monica Smigel, and daughter-in-law, Carissa Habsburg, both of Zelienople.

Julia has done about five Christmas House Tours in Zelienople, but her younger companions participated in their first one on Saturday.

“It’s a lovely day, and my husband has the kids,” Carissa Habsburg said. “It’s fun to spend some time with the ladies and get some decorating ideas.”

“We thought it would be a fun mother-daughter event,” Smigel said.

She loved the Olszewskis home, which features leaded glasswork around the large front door and above the front window.

“I love that the original charm and millwork is visible and appreciated,” Smigel said.

Julia Habsburg is a Penn State master gardener who sometimes volunteers at the historical society’s properties, so she was keen to support the organization.

She appreciated the variety of homes on the tour and that some homeowners told stories about their houses.

“You see something different in every home,” Julia said.

Jean Forti, of Zelienople, saw people trooping through her home last year when it was on the Christmas tour.

“I thought if I had to clean up my house, I want to see how well they clean theirs,” Forti said with a laugh.

She appreciated the Old World charm of the Olszewskis’ home.

“It’s a lovely old home, especially for Christmas,” Forti said.

She also appreciates the historical society and its volunteers for putting on the house tour each year.

“These people volunteer their time,” Forti said. “It’s a lot of work for the historical society volunteers and the people who open up their own homes.”

Bob Spirk, of Zelienople, has been on five or six Christmas House Tours.

“We just like to visit the homes, especially the older ones,” Spirk said. “I like architecture. That’s why we bought an old house.”

Grace Powell, of Forward Township, has attended the Christmas House Tour every year for at least 10 years.

She came on Saturday with her daughter and two sisters.

“I think women just like to see other women’s houses just to see the decorations,” Powell said. “We find it interesting.”

She said she was raised in an old house and continues to appreciate them today.

“You can’t replicate in a new house what an old house has,” Powell said. “Many new houses are beautiful, but there’s nothing like an old house.”

She plans to continue participating in the Christmas Home Tour in Zelienople as long as she’s able.

“This is our once-a-year field trip,” Powell said.