2006 Christmas Tour of Homes

Sponsored by the Rutledge Garden Club.
Friday, December 8 and Saturday, December 9, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The Rutledge Garden Club is proud to sponsor its first Christmas Tour of Homes. Rutledge boasts many beautiful and historic homes, and we are so grateful that our homeowners have agreed to share their treasures with you! With the whole city decked out in its Yuletide finery, you’ll enjoy a fine day of touring each of these magnificent houses. We also hope you’ll visit our many wonderful shops and restaurants during your stay with us.

Homes on the Tour

We are excited to showcase six of Rutledge’s most unique and interesting homes for our first tour.

The Wallace-Hollis House

Owners: Keith Rex and John Pisello

Built in 1910 by Mr. Marion Lindsay Wallace, the Wallace-Hollis house is a classic American Foursquare, but with several features that mark the transition into the Craftsman Style. Mr. Wallace was a member of the founding family of Rutledge, and when the home was built he furnished the property with many forward-looking amenities, including a water pumping station and electric power plant, to provide services for the many other homes that were eventually built on the Wallace property.

In 1964 the house was purchased by Boyce and Ida Hollis to raise their large family. Mrs. Hollis was an avid gardener, and even today the fruits of her labor appear each spring in the thousands of daffodils that bloom throughout the property, and the many irises and varieties of day lilies that flower in the summer.

Purchased in 2003 by local antique dealers Keith Rex and John Pisello, the house has been restored inside and out, with an emphasis on maintaining its original character. You’re sure to enjoy the many displays of antiques and collectibles, and the Holiday Room will be a special treat!

The Wallace-Haile House

Owners: Carol and Bruce Altznauer

The Wallace-Haile house was built in 1882 by William P. Wallace, who paid $50 for the lot. He was successful in business and became the President of the Bank of Rutledge and the First National Bank of Madison, two of the strongest financial institutions in this region. The house was sold to W. F. Haile in 1905 for $800. The Wallace and Haile families have been laid to rest in Rutledge's own historic cemetery where the two families have lots next to each other.

By the early 1990s the house was in serious disrepair. In 1992 Larry and Ted Medford of Rutledge purchased the house and began renovating it. John and Sarah Branch purchased the house in 1998, completed the restoration and added landscaping. The current owners are Bruce and Carol Altznauer, who fell in love with the house because of its unique design and charming character.

The Rutledge Inn

Owners: Dina and Pierre Glardon

Originally built as a farmhouse in the 1850s, the Rutledge Inn still holds its southern charm, yet has modern conveniences and a unique European style. This picturesque Victorian Farmhouse is one of the gems of historic Rutledge.

Close to snowy cotton fields, the tastefully restored Rutledge Inn is situated just a short walk to Rutledge's main square, famous for its antique shops and artisans. You’ll enjoy the uniquely decorated guest rooms, as well as the modern kitchen where Pierre, an authentic French chef, practices his culinary artistry for guests or anyone hungry for an evening of fine dining, wine and conversation.

The Lesnikowski-Hogan House

Owners: Molly Lesnikowski and Ed Hogan

The Lesnikowski-Hogan House is a 1940s style bungalow. It was purchased from the Baptist Church of Greensboro, Georgia, in the fall of 1997 and moved to its present location in Rutledge, on a lot purchased from Ms. Lois Davis. Shortly after the house was moved to Rutledge, Molly and Ed also moved Ed's old wood shop from Mansfield, Georgia, and set it up as a cottage/apartment for their son, Teddy.

The house is decorated in a charming, eclectic style, featuring Molly's painted furniture and art pieces, and Ed's woodworking skills. The beautiful gardens and landscaping also reflect the owners’ love of the outdoors and growing things.

Whistle ’n Dixie Farm

Owners: Joellen and John Artz

This seventeen acre farm is named for the frequently passing train that whistles as it approaches downtown Rutledge, and its address on Dixie Highway, the first paved road in Georgia. The farm house was built in the style known as “Central Hall Cottage” and first appears in a deed dated 1867. However, some evidence hints that it might predate the construction of the train route through Rutledge, which was established in 1845. Looking out of the deep front porch you realize that the home is square to neither the road nor the train tracks. Could this house have been burned by Sherman’s troops along with the Rutledge train depot and most of the other homes in town?

By the mid-1990s the house was close to condemnation. At that time it was rescued and updated by a former owner. After it changed hands several times, the current owners modernized it while restoring some of its original charm. The home was originally built with four equal sized rooms, four fire places, full front and back porches, a dog trot central hallway, a loft, an outhouse and a separate kitchen in the back yard. Old documents show that it was once part of a massive cotton plantation, but in recent decades it has been a working horse farm. Presently, the pastures and barns serve as home to three steer, many deer and the family’s cat.

The Camper House

Owner: Jan Camper

This home was built as a 4 room shotgun-type home in the early 1900s as a parsonage for the Rutledge AME church. Between then and the sale to Ralph James (some time before 1950) a back porch was turned into a kitchen, and a bath and another room were added. The house was used as rental property until 2001 when Rick and Stacy Lanier purchased it from the Ralph James estate and sold it to Jan Camper.

The house was a disaster wrapped in asbestos shingles. The restoration process began with tearing the house down to the studs, opening the attic to yield two bedrooms and a bath, adding a half bath and utility room downstairs and opening up rooms while rearranging them. The result: a delightful little red house on the railroad tracks.

Driving Directions

Rutledge is located just five miles from Interstate 20, exit 105. Please see our Plan Your Visit page for driving directions.

When You Arrive

On the day of the tour, Rutledge Garden Club members will greet you at the bandstand in the park to give you your tickets. In case of inclement weather, signs will direct you to the Rutledge Methodist Church to pick up your tickets. Just give your name and telephone number to confirm your reservation, and you’ll be on your way.

Parking and Transportation

Parking will be available at Rutledge churches. Most of the tour homes are within a five-minute walk of the downtown square. However, you will need to provide your own transportation between the Lesnikowski-Hogan House and Whistle ’n Dixie Farm.