Tulsa World: For the holidays, tour a home, view a vintage car

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For the holidays, tour a home, view a vintage car

Cindy Schneider and her daughter, Hailey, will welcome visitors to their home, the T.M. Hunsecker house built in 1917, during the Broken Arrow Historical Society's "Deck the Halls" Holiday Home Tour and Car Show on Nov. 29. SUSAN HYLTON / Tulsa World

By SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer
Published: 11/22/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/22/2009 5:41 AM

BROKEN ARROW — The Broken Arrow Historical Society is hosting a Sunday event over the Thanksgiving weekend that has nothing to do with eating, power shopping or watching sporting events.

Organizers say the "Deck the Halls" Holiday Home Tour and Car Show from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 29 will be the perfect reason to get out of the house or the mall.

"This is a favorite," said Betty Gerber, executive director of the Historical Society. "On Thanksgiving weekend people are always looking for things to do."

It also offers a bit of intellectual stimulation with viewing of two of the city's historical homes on "Silk Stocking Row" and inspiration for holiday decorating.

For car lovers, there will be a 1930 Ford Coupe Ragtop Model A, a 1924 Model T and a 1930 Model A Ford Phaeton Touring Car in the driveways of the homes, in addition to the vintage cars displayed at the Broken Arrow Historical Society Museum, 400 S. Main St.

Cindy and Mark Schneider's home, the T.M. Hunsecker house built in 1917, is believed to be one of the first, if not the first, house built on East Dallas Street, a stone's throw from Main Street.

Hunsecker was a prominent retailer at Main and Dallas streets. White tiles that spell Hunsecker's are still on the sidewalk at the store's entrance.

Hunsecker was known to help families through hard times during the Great Depression by allowing credit. His wife, Florence Wilborn, played the piano for the silent movies at the Crystal Theatre now occupied by the First National Bank on Main Street.

His son Ralph achieved fame on Broadway as a singer, lyricist and playwright ,and co-wrote the song "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."

The Schneiders have carefully preserved the home. They've replaced the home's 34 windows, but they still have the original front door, and they baby the hardwood floors.

"It's very wobbly," Cindy Schneider said of her floor that tends to tilt one way, then another. "I really don't want to correct any of that. I love this house. It's just a real homey feeling."

The other stop on the tour is the W.N. and Ida Knight Williams home, now owned by Ron and Pattie Mathews.

Williams was active in the community as a businessman and mayor since Broken Arrow's inception. He founded the Broken Arrow Savings and Loan and was a director of the Arkansas Valley State Bank. He was appointed postmaster in 1922 by President Warren G. Harding.

Tickets to the event also include admission to the Historical Society Museum, where "The Fife Collection: A New Generation" is on display through Jan. 9. A "Meet the Artists" reception will coincide with the home tour.

The exhibit features 21 Muscogee (Creek) artists, all descendants of the late Carmen Griffin Fife and Jim Fife. The pieces include paintings, prints, sculptures, pottery, photography, textiles, shell engravings, basketry, wood carvings, leather and bead work, weaving and writing.

“Deck the Halls” Holiday Home Tour and Car Show

1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 29

Tickets are $10 at the Broken Arrow Historical Society Museum, 400 S. Main St.

Call 258-2616 for more information.

Susan Hylton 581-8381
susan.hylton@tulsaworld.com By SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer

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