The front door of the 102-year-old home of Bobby and Theresa Brown is guarded by two large nutcracker soldiers, ready to welcome visitors to the Dec. 5th and 6th Christmas Home Tour.
The spacious front porch invites you to sit and relax awhile and enjoy the extensive flower beds and plants in the yard.
To the left of the entry is a sun room that is normally full of plants, but has been cleared to display a large collection of nutcrackers. Theresa said two of her daughters, Samantha and Bailey, were in “The Nutcracker” productions at Sadler Arts Academy for about three years. She said she tried to find nutcrackers that represented the parts they played. One was a mouse and one was a sugar plum fairy. Their daughter, Samantha, is a student at Oklahoma State University. Bailey is in high school, and daughter Megan has her own home.
The Browns purchased their home about two and one-half years ago from Theresa’s aunt, Ruby Jackson, when she decided to move into retirement living. She is the widow of Zeb Jackson, whose family originally built the house. They had no idea when they bought the house that the renovation and remodeling would take so long. They have only been in the house since March or April of 2009.
“We completely gutted the house. You could stand at the front door and see the back yard,” Theresa said.
There had been a staircase to the second floor concealed in a closet in what is now the dining room. That has been completely removed and a stairway near the front door leads up to the landing on the second floor.
Theresa has a variety of interesting Christmas trees. In the living room the tree is loaded with candied apple ornaments and is topped by a tall green hat. Theresa said her sister, Johnna O’Rear, is responsible for the unique tree and has been a tremendous help to her in getting all of the Christmas decorations put up. The large Christmas tree in the den is a copy of one that her sister-in-law, Karen Brown, saw at a Christmas tree auction in Bentonville, Ark. A Santa head is draped with a bright red cloak that covers two-thirds of the tree. Theresa said Karen made the head from a Bill Clinton mask covered with papier mache and painted. A beard and hair were added to complete the resemblance to Old Saint Nick.
The tree is decorated with lots of glass ornaments which are Theresa’s favorites. The tree on the upstairs landing is decorated with OSU ornaments and the family room is where the traditional tree with all the family ornaments is located.
The mud room is floored with bricks that say Muskogee and came out from under the pillars of the house. A long bench in this room also was purchased from Theresa’s aunt.
A Christmas tradition at the Brown house is honored on Christmas Eve when Theresa’s mom, dad and sister come over. They open gifts and play dirty Santa.
“Our family is cutthroat and there is no loyalty to Mom or anyone else,” Theresa said. “We play to get what we want.”
If you go
WHAT: Christmas Home Tour.
WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6.
HOMES ON TOUR:
• Bobby and Theresa Brown, 2319 N. Country Club Road.
• Doug and Ronia Davison, 3110 North St.
• Steve and Sharla Radanovich, 2704 Buford.
• Tim and Debbie Greener, 1313 Out of Bounds Drive.
• Three Rivers Health Center, 1001 S. 41st Street East.
TICKETS: $10 and available at Bebb’s Flowers, Economy Pharmacy East and West, Haley and Loyd Jewelry, I’m a Basket Case, Just Imagine Decorating, Rustic Elegance and Viva’s.
BENEFITS: Kelly B. Todd Cerebral Palsy and Neuromuscular Center.
INFORMATION: Donna Taylor, 683-6600.
