SYRACUSE - The public is invited to get in the holiday spirit and enjoy the decorating and design of four recently built homes at the Christmas Bell Walk Home Tour sponsored by the Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club, 1 to 4 p.m., Dec. 7.
The homes may be visited in any order. Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased at the door of any of the homes the day of the tour or at the following businesses until Dec. 5: Absolutely Flowers, Creative Fish, Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, all in Syracuse; and Kosciusko Convention and Visitors Bureau, Warsaw. Tickets have a map. The price includes refreshments.
The biggest fundraiser for the local club, proceeds are used for the Syracuse uptown hanging baskets and scholarships as well as other beneficial projects for the community. The tour is held every other year.
n Garner Home, 13680 N. CR 560E, Syracuse. The home of Jim and Lorri Garner in Maxwelton Hills is furnished in a contemporary style. Six Christmas trees can be seen throughout the house including one dedicated to the Indianapolis Colts and a tropical tree in the master suite. Other highlights are animated animals, a Dept. 56 collection and a room filled with snowmen. Creative Illusion is assisting. The home is in Maxwelton Hills just east of Maxwelton Golf Club, off Elkhart County Line Road. Turn east off of Ind. 13 at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church on Syracuse's north side. Go about a half mile on North CR 1400E. Follow the swinging bell signs to the home.
n Phillipp Home 1123 E. Northshore Drive, Syracuse. Ed and Linda Phillipp's home is everything nautical complete with a boat bar. A 12-foot tree, Christmas village and a memory tree will be featured. Enjoy the view of the Syracuse Lake here. Olson's Casual Furnishings, North Webster, is assisting with the decor. The home was constructed for the Phillipp's in 2006 by the Wawasee High School building trades class. Turn east at St. Andrew's UMC off of Ind. 13. Take an immediate right on North Long Drive. At the four-way stop turn left on Northshore and follow the swinging bell signs.
n Tranter Home 8849 N. CR 500E, Syracuse. Patrick and Nicki Tranter are excited to share their home in the woods near Dewart Lake. It has an outdoor pool and gazebo. Holiday trees will abound throughout the house, including a traditional one. Another tree features snowmen while an entire room displays a fireman's theme. Absolutely Flowers, Syracuse, is helping with the decorations. From Ind. 13, turn east at the Wawasee Bowl onto Bowser Road. Go the multiple stop signs at Crazy Corners. Turn left on Syracuse-Webster Road. When it turns to the left, keep going south on East CR 500N for about two miles. Follow the swinging bell signs to the Tranter's country home south of the Quaker Haven Camp entrance sign.
n Unruh Home 12731 Camelot Trail, Milford. The Lakes of Camelot between Syracuse and Milford on East CR 1300N is the setting for the home built by Steve and Pam Unruh in 2006. The traditional interior is decorated for the holidays with a 12-foot tree and a Dickens Dept. 56 village. The Unruh's Santa Claus collection is scattered throughout the house. The basement is all things Coca-Cola. Refreshments will be served here. From Ind. 13, turn east, south of the railroad tracks in the middle of Syracuse onto Railroad Street and follow the road about 2 miles to Camelot Lake. Turn left and bear left. Swinging bell signs will show the way.
