The holidays are filled with nostalgia and warmth and in these homes, the beauty of Christmas past. Council Bluffs will once again be holding their Historic Homes Holiday Tour this weekend on December 4th. You’ll preorder your tickets and pick them up at the Bregant House at 517 S Fourth Street any time after 11:30 a.m. You’ll then be able to tour the other spectacular homes until 4:30 p.m. all at your own pace, ensuring you’ll have time to see all the details of this bygone era. Homes included on this year’s list in addition to the Bregant House include The Beno House, Hight House, Hazelton House, Hughes House, Officer House, and Oliver House. Preserve Council Bluffs wants you to immerse yourself in the splendor of the holidays!
A little history of the homes you can tour.
The Bregant House, owned by Jean and Inez Bregant- known as “the little people”, as Jean stood 45” tall and Inez 42” tall, operated the neighborhood store on North 8th Street in Council Bluffs. Their home was custom built to their needs as a one-bedroom Craftsman bungalow set far back on their lot. The home today retains its original lapped wood siding and beveled leaded glass windows. All the wood floors have been restored and each of the rooms has also been lovingly preserved and restored as much as possible. Of special interest is the small claw tub in the bathroom which measures just three feet in length.
The Beno House, of the John Beno family from Alsace France, and owner of the John Beno Company- a Dry good, clothing, carpets, notions, and millinery was the largest in this part of Iowa. This home is a Queen Anne stick-style two-story home with a corner tower capped with a spire-type roof. It has clipped gable roof details accented by very decorative bargeboards, a large, rounded bay window on the side, and some decorative shingle siding remaining.
B.W Hight was an attorney and home builder and appropriately built The Hight House on our list. This is a Foursquare type of home that was extremely popular from the 1890s to the 1920s. You can expect to find the typical four rooms on the first floor and four on the second.
The Hazelton House, built and owned by Henry Hazelton- who was also an assistant cashier at Council Bluffs Savings Bank, is a lovely two-story side-gabled home. Featuring two closed dormers on the front sloped roof and a full-width front porch with amazing, fluted columns grand wide railing.
Located in the Gibraltar neighborhood, The Martin Hughes House is an eclectic mix of Queen Anne, Gothic Architectural, and a little influence from Stick and Neo-Classical. Hughes was one of the oldest contractors and builders in the city and one of the most successful. He built an elegant home with 11-foot ceilings, paneled oak staircase, decorative art glass, and terra cotta in an elaborate interior that has been very much preserved today. Attention to detail has been meticulous and the holiday showcase is second to none.
Charles T. Officer, of The Officer House, was a bank teller and successful real estate agent who came to Council Bluffs in 1856. This home is a Prairie School type of architecture, similar to the Foursquare.
Scottish emigrant John T. Oliver was a leading businessman of Council Bluffs and his wife, Isabella a tireless volunteer for the Parks commission. Their home, a Colonial Revival style, features a u-shaped with center door, a gabled roof, and ells, small gabled dormer above the door. Many timeless details reside inside and are sure to please during the holiday tour.
These homes are wonderful to tour at any time, but the holidays bring an extra bonus as the decorations, lights, and history come to life.
To purchase your tickets, click this link.
Have a wonderful time on this exceptional Historic Home Holiday Tour!
