To the Editor:

Winter is here and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than a stroll through Altamont at its annual Victorian Holiday Celebration. As in each year, there will be some of Altamont’s finest Victorian homes open for touring. And my wife, Bridget, and I would like to personally invite you to tour our home.  

It’s been 10 years since we were lured to Altamont by our love of older homes. From our first visit, we fell in love with this quaint village and the friendly people.

Little did we know we had purchased the first mayor of Altamont’s home. During renovations, we have tried to maintain its original charm and have once again opened up our home for you to appreciate the workmanship of years’ past.

New this year is the Museum in the Streets placard, which will tell you a little about the first mayor, Hiram Griggs. In fact, you’ll find the Museum in the Street placards all around the village, complete with a walking tour. Tickets for the house tours will be available at the Masonic Hall and there will be a trolley to transport you from home to home.

There will also be traditional holiday fun, including a living Nativity scene, crafts for the kids, hay rides, and storytelling. You can visit the Winter Market to find a unique gift for that hard-to-buy-for person in your life.

Hungry? You can grab a bite to eat at the Hungerford Market, the Home Front Café, or Veronica’s. And no holiday celebration would be complete without a visit from the big man himself — Santa! He’ll be riding in on the train to the heart of the village, the Altamont Free Library.

The celebration has been organized and hosted by the Altamont Community Tradition and all proceeds are used to sponsor other village events.  

The celebration starts at noon on Sunday, Dec. 10, with most activities centralized around Maple Avenue and Main Street. Keep your calendars open to enjoy what Altamont has to offer! My family and I look forward to welcoming you to our home and our village.  

John Scally, trustee

Village of Altamont