NORTH AUGUSTA — Several homes around North Augusta received a steady flow of friendly, slow-moving traffic Friday and Saturday, as the Beta Sigma Phi sorority's local chapter held its annual Christmas Tour of Homes, with seven locales on the circuit.
"It went very, very smoothly," said homeowner Joe Ed Liska, whose Hammond's Ferry house was on the tour. He and his wife, Lee Ann Liska, had the home decked out for Christmas, as were the five other homes participating, as well as the North Augusta Arts and Heritage Center.
He noted that the Liskas' house, built in 2008, is an exact replica of a Madison, Ga., home that was built "around 1840 for U.S. congressman Joshua Hill, who may have convinced Union general William T. Sherman to spare the town during his March to the Sea," as described by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Stops on this year's tour also included the residence of Lisa Boone in Hammond’s Ferry, the home of Bill and Claudia Bearden (The Star of Edgefield, one of Aiken County's oldest homes), the residences of Chris and Rebecca Kerko in Savannah Barony, Josh and Whitney Boykin in Woodstone, and Judy Guyton and Alva Woodward in Whatley Place.
"I thought it was great," said Mary Alice Bell, who attended with daughter Alli, a student at USC Aiken. "We use it as a mother-daughter bonding time ... and they always do a good job of getting different types of homes and different types of neighborhoods.
She added, "I think it's wonderful that people open their homes, because I know it takes a lot of work. It's very much appreciated."
Suzanne Rudisill made similar comments. "My daughter Rebecca and I had a very fun time, despite the very cold, wet day Saturday. It was wonderful to see the beautiful homes ... It's a fun tradition for us to go and check them out and get inspired with all that Christmas-decorating stuff," she said, mentioning the possibility of borrowing an idea or two.
"I thought all of the houses were really very nice," said Laurie Kinsey, who recalled making the rounds with her daughter, Melissa, as they have done together for several years. "It's something different just about every year. It's just neat that people would share their homes and do all that work."
She laughingly described the homeowners as "very brave" to allow such a large entourage.
Liska, referring to tour organizer Linda Skinner, said, "Linda has this stuff down to a fine science. She knows exactly how things work."
"We loved doing it," he added, pointing out that the annual event — now dating back 31 years — is a fundraiser to help provide scholarships for college-bound North Augusta High School students.
