By Gretchen Brown

It may be November, but for three area homes, Christmas came early on Saturday.

The homes were opened to the public as part of the Freeborn County Historical Museum’s Christmas Tour of Homes.

“The different homes on the tour this year are quite different as far as style,” said Pat Mulso, executive director of the museum. “So it’s pretty neat see the different ways people decorate.”

For $15, patrons could tour homes at three different locations:

• 77696 125th St., Glenville, at the Arlo and Julie Wallin residence

• 315 W. Fountain St., at the Bernice Wegner and Harold Lyman residence

• 1320 W. Richway Drive, at the Ramona Hobbiebrunken residence

The Historical Museum was also open for tours, coffee, hot cider and cookies. Proceeds from the event went towards museum programming.

Ramona Hobbiebrunken was one of the three participating homeowners.

“I love Christmas,” Hobbiebrunken said. “It’s the season for loving and showing and giving. This is one way I could give to the Historical Society, was to open up my home so that it could help a wonderful organization.”

Hobbiebrunken said Christmas decorating runs in the family. Her extensive gingerbread-themed Christmas collection stems from her grandmother’s cookie-making tradition and German heritage.

Each home was unique in character and style. While Hobbiebrunken’s was full of gingerbread men and tiny Christmas villages, a home on Fountain Street featured detailed dolls modeled after Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and Scarlett O’Hara.

Visitors on the tour said it was fun to see how different people decorated.

“It gets you in the Christmas spirit,” Georgia Wentzel said.

While some patrons drew decoration inspiration from the homes, others were satisfied just touring them.

“It inspires me, but doesn’t motivate me,” Ann Paulsen said. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s a lot of work. It’s beautiful.”