Three homes to be featured this weekend in home tour

100-year-old home is one of the homes that will be shown

SIKESTON -- A 100-year-old recently refurbished Sikeston house is one of three homes featured in this weekend's Eighth Annual Sikeston Christmas Home Tour.

Set for 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, the tour sponsored by the Sikeston Depot Museum includes the homes of the Rev. Rick and Marie Anderson, 303 Dorothy St.; Rene and LaDona DeKriek, 102 Wickerwood Drive; and John and Joy Whitten, 1020 N. Kingshighway.

About two-and-a-half years ago when the Andersons purchased their home, unbeknownst to them, it was scheduled to be demolished by the city of Sikeston.

"We bought it, and a few days later we found out that it was on the list for demolition," Rick Anderson recalled.

Anderson said he obtained a permit from the city, and he and his wife were able to completely renovate their home, which was built in 1908 -- a fact the couple only learned recently.

"Ironically this is the 100th anniversary of when it was built," Anderson said about his home. "We didn't even know that when we agreed to be on the tour this year."

Anderson described his house as the "big yellow one on the corner" and said it took about eight months to complete the renovation.

"We've got quite a few antiques. We've renovated the whole house," Anderson said.

The five-bedroom and two-bath home now has central heating and air. The structure was rewired and the entire roof is new. Carpets have been replaced, the kitchen gutted and both bathrooms refinished.

"We redid the back porch and put a rod iron fence around the front of the house," Anderson said.

But people can't get the true effect of the renovation without seeing the home in person, Anderson said, adding "before" photos of the home will be on display for visitors to compare.

Built in 1945, the Whitten house will have Christmas trees on display as well as feature a handmade Nativity scene and Gingerbread House Collection. The owners have also done some recent remodeling to their home.

At press time, no further information was available on the DeKriek home.

Anita Sharp, Depot Museum board secretary who helps organize the tours, said she knows this year has brought hard times for people, and many are cutting back on spending, but she hopes people will continue to support the Depot by attending the tour.

"This is an outlet for people to enjoy the holidays and not worry about money -- and touring the homes gives visitors decorating ideas," Sharp said.

Sharp noted typically there is a fourth home on the tour, but instead, this year, visitors are invited back to the Depot to listen to Sikeston's "Dickens Carolers" from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

"It's going to be like a mini concert. It looks like we'll have good weather," Sharp said.

Refreshments will be served at the Depot, Sharp said. The Sikeston Depot itself is also on display featuring an exclusive art exhibit of 15 originals oil paintings from Billyo O'Donnell's "Painting Missouri" book.

Tickets are $10 each, and are available at The Flower Patch, 510 N. Main, Garden Lane Nursery, 804 S. Main, and the Depot Museum, 116 W. Malone Avenue. Day-of tickets will also be available at the featured homes.

For more information, call the Depot Museum at 481-9967.

Want to go?

What: Eighth Annual Sikeston Christmas Home Tour sponsored by Sikeston Depot Museum

When: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: 303 Dorothy St., 102 Wickerwood Drive and 1020 N. Kingshighway