A holiday house fit for touring

Mary Wirth overheard the conversation between the two women. They were visiting her home on this year’s Holiday House Tour in Burlington.

“Look, she’s even decorated the bathroom,” one woman said. “I bet she has a Christmas shower curtain,” the other said. Then as they stepped into the room both exclaimed, “She does!” The white shower curtain is patterned with pine branches hung with red balls.

What they may have missed was the bathroom’s red trash can emblazoned with the words “Be Merry and Bright.”

This was the 40th year for the holiday tour, which is held on the first or second Sunday each December and raises funds to beautify the city of Burlington’s business district. Wirth has chaired the event for seven years.

She enjoys visitors’ response to her elaborate décor when they tour the first floor of the brick twin she shares with her husband, Bob Brown.

Outside, the wrought iron gate is decorated with red and green garlands. Beneath the windows on all three stories are sprays of greens tied with gold bows.

Multicolored lights twinkle in a first floor window. They are strung on a tree in the living room adorned with glistening clear ornaments.

A small tree on the piano is hung with ornaments made by Wirth’s daughter, grandson, and great-granddaughter. Also on the piano is an illuminated church figurine, which belonged to Wirth’s mother, and ceramic figures of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus — one of several nativity scenes on display. A tapestry on the wall depicts the visit of the three wise men to the holy family.

Below a pine cone wreath, made by Wirth’s sister, is an arrangement of musical instruments including two recorders, two flutes, a cello, dulcimer, guitar and violin. Wirth said she can play all the string instruments except the violin.

Next to the garlanded staircase is another table-top tree festooned with lights and tiny birds.

The living room walls, painted moss green, and kitchen, featuring white cabinets with red pulls, a red tile backsplash, and a ceiling border of red and green apples, provide a festive background for decorations. Wirth, 74, has been collecting since her 20s. On the stove next to the red tea kettle, a teapot is covered in a green cozy patterned with white poinsettias.

Over the kitchen cabinets, Wirth has lined up rows of rolling pins. She first acquired the blue-and-white-striped rolling pin over 50 years ago and has purchased dozens since at flea markets and yard sales. Recently she bought a Christmas rolling pin, painted with an elongated St. Nick, on eBay.

Most of the furnishings, art, and decorations came from local shops.

Wirth and Brown, a Burlington native, have been married since 1986 and have lived in the four-bedroom home since 1989. When they were looking for a house, Wirth said, “Bob was adamant he wanted to stay in Burlington City. I said fine as long as we lived in the historic district.”

After they purchased the home, the couple removed wall-to-wall carpeting, hoping to restore the 1870 pine floors. But there were too many nails in the plywood under the carpet, so new maple flooring was installed.

In 1997, a laundry room, full bath and sitting room were added to the first floor.

This year, as always, Wirth decorated the tool shed in the backyard with greenery and lights, and strung lights on the Japanese maple.

Tour-goers could view the yard from the large window in the sitting room.

For years Wirth had set up a tall, free-standing tree in front of the window. Now instead she strings lights and hangs ornaments from fishing line on a six-foot wooden ladder topped with a bright red star. She got the idea from a magazine in her doctor’s office.

Holiday tour-goers love it, Wirth said. Rather than having to walk around a tree, they have a good view of the angels, snowmen, and old fashioned glass balls bedecking the Christmas ladder.

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