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HILLSBORO - The Historical Society of Montgomery County will host their third annual Christmas House and Church Tour.
From 1–4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, community members can visit several houses on the home tour in Hillsboro. You can also tour St. Agnes Catholic Church and the Presbyterian Church. Linda and Susan with the Historical Society are excited to welcome many people to the tour and share the history of Montgomery County with locals and visitors.
“It is self-guided,” explained Linda. “You can go to whatever house you want to go to first. You can go to the church first and then the house. But we have, on the tickets, the addresses, and so you can just take your time. We try to incorporate the families of the homes to actually do the tours because we don’t know anything about the homes ourselves. But we have two volunteers from the Historical Society at each house, too, at the point of entry.”
You can purchase tickets for the tours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the Montgomery County Museum at 305 South Broad Street in Hillsboro. Tickets are also available anytime the museum is open from now until Nov. 30, including Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. When you purchase your tickets for the Christmas House and Church Tour, you will also be entered into a drawing for two gift baskets.
The Historical Society maintains the museum as well as the neighboring Harkey House, the oldest house in Hillsboro. The Harkey House was built in 1834 and remains a local favorite.
In fact, community members also have the opportunity to enjoy a candlelight Christmas dinner in the Harkey House in December. The Historical Society is raffling $20 tickets for a five-course meal for four at the Harkey House.
Tickets will be available until Nov. 15, 2025. You can visit the official Historical Society of Montgomery County Facebook page for more information.
But as the Historical Society prepares for the dinner, Linda and Susan are equally excited about the home tour. In addition to touring the homes and churches, you can stop by the Challacombe House to view several nativity scenes on Nov. 30.
Linda is enthusiastic about a nativity she recently purchased that is etched on a grain of rice, while Susan can’t wait to share a nativity scene she acquired while living in California in the 1970s.
The Historical Society of Montgomery County ultimately aims to bring people together and share the history of the region. Susan and Linda hope to welcome many people to the third annual Christmas House and Church Tour on Nov. 30, and they plan to continue building up the museum and Harkey House throughout the year.
Susan, a transplant, expressed her appreciation for Hillsboro, Montgomery County, and the people who make up the area. She noted that the Historical Society is eager to continue their work.
“Kudos to Linda. Linda is the president of the historical society, and she’s a mover and a shaker and has lots of really good ideas,” Susan added. “There are eight of us now on the board, and we all work together really well. We’re a good team, and it’s very enjoyable. It’s hard work. It’s all volunteer. But it’s well worth it.”
For more information about the Historical Society of Montgomery County, including their upcoming tours and raffles, visit their official Facebook page.
