Some of Wausau’s grandest historic homes will welcome visitors inside this December for a rare look at the city’s architectural treasures dressed for the holidays.
The Marathon County Historical Society will host its Inaugural Historic Holiday Homes of Wausau Tour on Sunday, Dec. 14, offering guests exclusive access to seven iconic properties during a three-hour, self-guided exploration. Blake Opal-Wahoske, the Historical Society’s executive director, said the tour offers a lesson in history with a side of holiday cheer.
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“These are homes that most people do not have the opportunity to enter very often, and it is a rare glimpse inside some of these historic buildings within the city,” he said, in a conversation on WPR’s “Morning Edition,”
Featured stops span some of the city’s most storied properties, including the Yawkey House on McIndoe Street and three distinctive residences on Franklin Street. Visitors will see preserved craftsmanship and learn how each home has evolved while maintaining its historic character.
Docents will share insights about the people who built, owned and designed elements within the properties. Guests can also expect plenty of seasonal sparkle, with each homeowner showcasing personal holiday traditions as part of the experience.
Opal-Wahoske said the tour reinforces the group’s core purpose.
“Our mission is to educate, collect and preserve Marathon County history,” he said. “This is a way to deepen that sense of belonging and community. “
Proceeds from the $50 tickets support upcoming Historical Society programming.
The following interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
Shereen Siewert: What sparked this idea?
Blake Opal-Wahoske: This is not an original idea whatsoever, but I love the holidays myself, and I love historic homes. As I was having conversations with other community members, they expressed the same passion. That made me think this idea had some legs. We decided to go ahead with it this year.
SS: How did you select which homes to feature?
BOW: We reached out to quite a few folks who own historic and influential properties in the city of Wausau. This first round is a sampling of some of those homes.
We also have some that are already signed up for next year’s event in the hopes that this is a success, and I believe it will be.
SS: You’ve said one of the featured homes is believed to be the oldest residential building in Wausau. Tell us about that.
BOW: After we announced that, we did some more research and found there are a handful of properties that were built around the same time.
There have long been rumors about the William DeVoe house on Franklin Street being the oldest residential home in Wausau, and that is on the tour this year. It will be an awesome opportunity to get in there and see that historic residence, which has been split into two different units and is now an Airbnb property.
SS: These homes are some of Wausau’s most architecturally significant properties. What makes these stand out to you?
BOW: Whenever we look at the historic preservation of buildings, we look at their architectural integrity and how they’ve changed over the years. We look to see if they’ve been modified.
These properties are pretty much intact as far as their original historic charm. It’s also a diverse sampling of different architectural styles we see in the city, from the Queen Anne style to the classic revival styles. It is a good range of diverse properties and architectural styles.
SS: What will visitors learn at each stop?
BOW: Our lead historian, Ben Clark, is doing a deep dive into each of the homes. The tour is self-guided, but docents will be sharing some of the details he’s been able to dig up.
For example, one of the homes features a beautiful wall of stunning built-in wood shelving. That was from a gentleman who used to own a veneer company here in town. He’s the one who put that architectural element into that house.
It’s been interesting to learn about these unique stories as we plan, and that’s just a part of what our docents will be sharing on the day of the event.
SS: What can guests expect in terms of the seasonal atmosphere inside each of these homes?
BOW: That’s the cool thing. Not only will you see the historic elements of each home, but you get to see how the current owners celebrate the holidays with their own festive touches.
We’re also having a professional photographer go through each home, and each homeowner will receive photos as a gift. Eventually, we hope to create a coffee table book after doing this for a few years and get that out to the community as well.
SS: This is a paid ticketed event. What kinds of projects or programs will this event help fund?
BOW: All the funds raised from this historic home tour will go into our programming for next year, which is a huge milestone year, not only for our organization but also for the country.
The organization will be opening up a new archive center, and America will be celebrating its 250th anniversary. With that, we have a range of programs and initiatives planned. This will have a huge impact on our community.
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