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(LEXEE ALBERTS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Lexee Alberts poses in front of her home at 908 Calaveras St. which is part of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Club Tour of Homes event. -
(WETA PHILLIPS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) The home of Kim and Phil Birdwell at 117 Clark Rd.that was built in 2023. The home is one of four that will be featured in the upcoming Tour of Homes event Wednesday, Dec. 10. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) After celebrating its open house in May, HERO House at 611 South St. serves as the local home for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities day habilitation services. The program is run by The Arc of Wichita County. -
(WETA PHILLIPS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) The home of Eric Roye at 901 Brazos St. that will be featured in the Tour of Homes in December. The home was built in 1938 by Dr. V.O. Rosser, who was Roye’s great grandfather. Roye purchased the home in January 2025. -
(WETA PHILLIPS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Peggy and Reno Sonnenberg pose in front of their home at 2676 FM 3003 which is part of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Club Tour of Homes event.
For over 50 years the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Club has held the Tour of Homes event benefiting the Library of Graham, and the tradition continues next month at five locations.
The tour will be held from 1:30-6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10 with a $20 admission fee at any of the participating locations. During the event, houses are adorned with Christmas decorations and shown off to members of the community.
The homes that will be featured in this year’s tour are the homes of Lexee and Michael Alberts, Kim and Phill Birdwell, Peggy and Reno Sonnenberg and Eric Roye.
Each year, a business or nonprofit organization is featured on the tour with Sparrow Creek Ranch featured last year. This year, HERO House in Graham will be the nonprofit featured with the local homes.
“The clients (of HERO House) will be there during the tour for some of it and they are going to be baking cookies,” Phillips said. “They were thrilled that we wanted them to be involved so people could see what they do.”
The organization makes approximately $5,000 each year through the fundraiser which is donated to the Library of Graham.
CLSC was organized in Graham by 21 women who held weekly meetings and observed a social hour the last Wednesday in the month.
The club chose to sponsor a public library as their civic activity after becoming affiliated with the Women’s Federation in 1912.
The first library in Graham was started when the organization created a book shower at the home of one of its members. The first Tour of Homes was held almost 60 years prior on Dec. 15, 1966, with five homes featured.
Tour of Homes Locations
Lexee and Michael Alberts
908 Calaveras St.
Kim and Phil Birdwell
117 Clark Road
HERO House
611 South St.
Eric Roye
901 Brazos St.
Peggy and Reno Sonnenberg
2676 FM 3003
