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Historic Tyler on Tour volunteers have been working diligently since August to put together a “spectacular tour” during the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail, Tour Chairman Lori Marshall said.

Two additions to the tour are a Designer Showcase and antique cars featured at each home of the same vintage as the home.

“We’re hoping these additions will interest even more people to come out for the home tour, Ms. Marshall said.

The homes on this year’s tour include the Candlelight Home, 1503 S. Chilton, owned by Bennett and Carrie White; Designer Showcase Home, 2729 Old Bullard Road; 1326 Roseland Boulevard, owned by Paul and Machelle Emmerich; 536 Park Heights Circle, owned by Dr. Richard and Suzanne Handley; 521 W. Fourth, owned by Jim and Fether Justice; The Bonner-Whitaker-McClendon House, 806 W. Houston; and 409 W. Dobbs St., owned by Teresa and Scott Rosekrans.

Day Tour tickets are available for $10 in advance or $15 the day of the tour. Days tours 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

The Candlelight Home is only open from 7-9 p.m. Friday. The Candlelight Party is scheduled from 8-11 p.m. Candlelight Party tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at Brookshire’s (Rice Road and Bergfeld Center), French Peas, Potpourri House, Chez Bazan, 8th Street Boutique, Tyler Chamber of Commerce, Historic Tyler offices, and online at www.historictyler.org.
Some of the antique cars to be featured at the homes are a 1920 Model T, owned by Dennis Weis of Tyler; a 1934 Chevrolet, owned by Jame Monroe; a 1949 Ford Club Coupe, owned by Jim and Janice Warren; a 1950 Chevrolet Pickup, owned by Edward Allen; a 1951 Cadillac, owned by Alex Price; and a 1940 Ford Deluxe, owned by Ewell Dickerson.

Other volunteers assisting with the tour are Linda Ridder, Martha Dunlap and Polly Pickle, advisers; Historic Tyler Inc. officers Ellen Musselman, president; Carol Easterwood, secretary; Sarah Van Cleef, treasurer; Roberta Ozan and Liane Beacham, general house chairs; MaryAnn Wills, publicity; Deborah Smith, printing; Maureen Parkhill and Alycia Wootton, fundraising; Tanna Stanley and Aime Wilson, tickets; Marketta Tefteller, historian; Ginger Saunders, Karen Wallace and Jennifer Pierce, Candlelight Party; Steve Todd, house drawings and security, signage and equipment; Nancy Moore, Sarah Sides and Betty McMahan, Homeown-ers’ Party; Stephanie Boozer and Michelle Dial, Designer Show-case Home.

The Designer Showcase home is the Allen Home, located at 2729 Old Bullard Road. It was built in 1949 and had only one owner — the Allens. The designers featured are Larry Lott/Gray’s Home Fashion Gallery, Stephanie Vasso Design Associates/Stephanie Vasso, Interiors by Cheri/Cheri Rome, Snug as a Bug/Melissa and Ceth Carlson, Silk Threads/Andra Terburgh, Bufe & Babin/Kathy Babin and DeeDee Bufe, The Turquoise Door-Beverly Gilley, and Wilhite Landscaping & Lawn Care, Ltd./Casey Brownlow. The Maid Brigade and Express Cleaning Service kept the Showcase home clean.

The Rosekrans Home is sponsored by The Home Depot, and the florist is Judge’s Olde English Florist.

The Emmerich Home is sponsored by The Shires of Tyler, and the florist is Red Barn Florist, Gift & Home Accessories.

The Justice Home is sponsored by Myrtis D. Smith, Alycia and Butch Wootton, and the florist is Michele’s Flowers by Ela.

The Handley Home is sponsored by Cathy Shipp and Associates Realty, and the florist is French Peas.

The mission of Historic Tyler Inc. is to promote the preservation and protection of historic structures and sites through education, involvement, and private and public investment.

“What a lot of people may not know is that the tour is Historic Tyler’s main fundraiser, and the money raised is used strictly to preserve Tyler’s treasures,” Ms. Marshall said.