By Chelsey Hinsenkamp
SLN Staff
Walking into Sue Zimmerman’s quaint bungalow-style home, visitors are greeted with country style and warmth in a cozy setting. Arched doorways and well thought out décor adds to the charm of the classic, welcoming home.
Zimmerman’s comfortable cottage at 290 N. Washington St., is one of five to be featured during Saturday’s biennial Holiday Housewalk, hosted by the Elkhorn Area Women’s Club.
As with previous years, ticketholders will be inspired with new décor as a variety of homes instill the holiday spirit.
Zimmerman who has lived in the featured home for the past 35 years, said she has handled all the upkeep herself.
“It’s very tiny but I’ve had a lot of compliments on it,” she said. “People always say it’s cute or cozy. I do all the work myself and it’s a lot of work.”
Zimmerman said she believes her home to be about 75 to 80 years old
“I’ve got a little bit of history on it but we don’t know for sure how old it is,” she said.
According to Zimmerman, she bases her estimate on the craftsman style of her home, popular in the 1920s and ‘30s.
She said the only documentation she has been able to find reflects that the land was purchased by a Peter Bauerman back in the 1800s.
Zimmerman said her participation in the Housewalk was due to happenstance.
She said a friend hosted a walk through her house during a previous event, and enjoyed the experience. Since then, Zimmerman always took interest in the idea.
“A lady I know that was in the Women’s Club must have told them I was interested and they asked me to do it.”
Zimmerman said she is happy to open her doors to the community.
“I had several friends that have done it over the years and I helped them decorate and I love to decorate,” she explained.
Zimmerman said all she really hopes for is that people feel welcome when they tour her home.
“I just hope they enjoy it. I kind of hope people feel at home and just enjoy it.”
House Walk supports displaced victims
The Housewalk will be from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. with each stop boasting unique characteristics and decorations with a holiday-inspired theme.
Women’s Club President Kathy Bucher said she hopes to get the same turnout they’ve had in the past, around 300 people.
“There is a variety in the homes, some of them are newer homes and a couple of them are older,” Bucher explained of this year’s lineup.
She said the group starts searching for homes to feature far in advance.
“We start about a year, sometimes two, in advance and start contacting people who we think are community-minded and from the outside we think ‘Wow, this is a pretty cool home,’” she explained.
According to Bucher, in the past, the tour focused exclusively on historic homes.
“Years ago it was the Historical Society that had a walk and it was historical homes,” Bucher explained.
Since the Women’s Club took over, the lineup has tended to range more in style in an attempt to appeal to everyone.
“Some people like looking at the new homes and the new architecture and others like the restored homes, so it’s kind of a variety,” Bucher explained.
The featured homes include that of Susan and Todd Ingersoll at 5215 Marsh Road in Elkhorn, established in 1904.
Two newer homes located near Sunset Park to be featured include Jodi and Jerry Anderson’s home at 341 S. Stonefield Road and Regan and James Homan’s home at 214 Park St.
The spacious home of Cindy and Scott McCracken at N6331 Bluestem Lane will also be featured.
“It’s a fun day,” Bucher said. “If (participants) come early, they will be able to spend quite a bit of time in each home.”
Bucher also pointed out that all of the proceeds go to a charity chosen by a club committee. This year’s recipient will be the Association for the Prevention of Family Violence.
“They had come to talk to us several years ago and at that time we made a small donation,” Bucher said. “We were looking again this year for somewhere that we thought was very needy and we just thought this would be a good place to benefit all of Walworth County.”
In addition to the monetary donation the group will make, the Women’s Club is also putting together “survival kits” for children and adults who are forced to leave their homes with little notice and no time to pack after an incident of abuse.
On top of touring local homes, the event offers homemade refreshments served at no extra cost.
Before, after or between tours, participants are invited to stop in at Peoples Bank, 837 N. Wisconsin St., where volunteers will have treats on hand.
The group will also have raffle prizes available and a silent auction will be held throughout the day, accepting bids on a ceramic gingerbread house. The winner of the gingerbread house, along with various raffle prize winners, will be announced at 4:15 p.m. at the bank.
Tickets for the Housewalk are available from Pharmacy Station, 3 E. Geneva St., Elkhorn, Perk Up 27 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn, Salon 67, 400 Seymour Court, Elkhorn, or any Club member for a donation of $10. Tickets can also be purchased for $12 at the door.
For more information call Judy Knight at (262) 723-1934 or Kathy Bucher at (262) 723-6941.
