The residents of historic College Street in Troy will host a Christmas Tour of Homes on Saturday, Dec. 12 and everyone is invited to participate in the walk back in time.

Four homes will be open to the public during the tour and the porches of 13 other homes will be the gathering places where the history of those homes will be shared.

College Street resident Candy Shaughnessy said it has been too long since College Street opened its collective door to visitors.

“We wanted to host a Tour of Homes to, once again, share the history of College Street with the community,” Shaughnessy said. “We thought Christmastime would be the best time since everything will be decorated for the holiday season. Carolers will be singing and we’ll have cookies and cider. What better time and way to learn more about the history of Troy.”

The College Street Christmas Tour of Homes will be from 4 until 8 p.m. on Dec. 12. Parking for the tour will be at First Baptist Church. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at gate of Murphree Cemetery. All proceeds from the Christmas Tour of Homes will benefit Pike County Habitat for Humanity.

The guided tours of College Street will leave from Murphree Cemetery every 15 minutes with the last tour at 6:45 p.m. The hour-long tours will include both sides of College Street, from Murphree Cemetery to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and back. First Baptist Church will be in the tour, as well.

The homes that will be open for the tour are the Old Murphree House, John and Pam Little; the New Murphree House, Richard and Candi Shaughnessy; the Henderson-Jones House, Matt and Stephanie Baker; and the Wiley-Trotman House, Ed and Carla Telfair. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will also be open.

“Those on the tour will be invited inside the homes to learn about their history and to enjoy the holiday decorations,” Shaughnessy said.

Those who take the leisurely stroll along College Street will stop for porch talks at the other homes on the tour. The talks will be given by volunteers and will provide interesting information, not only about the homes but also those who inhabited them.

The Christmas Tour of Homes will conclude at First Baptist Church where cookies and cider will be served and “tourists” may participate with the carolers in singing the traditional carols of Christmas.

Shaughnessy said hopes are to continue the Christmas Tour of Homes in Troy and to include other streets in the city’s historic district.