ELKINS — The Kump Education Center will be hosting Christmas House Tours at the historic Kump House during the month of December.

The tours will begin on Tuesday, Dec. 3 and will run each Tuesday and Thursday through Dec. 19. The weekday times for the tours will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tours will also be available on two Saturdays during the month, Dec. 21 and 28, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Hot apple cider, cookies and light snacks will be served during the tours. The KEC is requesting a small donation from adults taking the tour, but children under the age of 12 years-old will be admitted for free. Money raised from the tours will benefit children’s programming at the Kump Education Center.

A celebration of Christmas’ past will come to life during the tours. Holiday decorations and memorabilia from the 1920s and 1930s will fill the main floor of the home. The self guided tour will take guests through the holiday decorated, antique filled sunroom, dining room, music room, library, living room, butler’s pantry and more. 

Special displays include a Snowman Wonderland by Carolyn Shepler, who has been collecting snowmen for more than 35 years. Most are handmade and many are gifts from friends and relatives.

“Each snowman comes with a story,” Shepler said. “Many of them were created by my mother and my brother and sisters.” 

A holiday themed vintage Lionel Train layout provided by long-time model train aficionado, Malcolm Long, will be running in the sunroom. Long has been an avid model train collector since he was 8 years old. His display is sure to delight kids and adults of all ages. 

A colorful holiday arrangement prepared by Elkins High School teacher Liz Marshall will drape the living room mantle. Miniature Nativity sets collected by Gov. Herman Guy Kump’s daughter, Mary Gamble, will also be on display. 

A musical note- and instrument ornament-decorated tree will be featured in the music room, alongside a 100 year-old piano and antique Victrola. The century-old house was started in 1924 and finished in 1925 just in time for Thanksgiving. 

Built by local contractor T.R. Whiteman and his son, Ernest Whiteman, a cabinet maker in Elkins, the house was one of the largest, finest and most modern residences of the city. 

For more information, call the KEC at 304-637-7820 or visit www.kumpeducationcenter.org.