ALTAMONT — Marc Smith grew up in Altamont, in a pillared house that looks like it came from Gone with the Wind. As a kid, he delivered newspapers, riding his bike up and down village streets — “not throwing them, but taking each newspaper to the door,” he says.

“I fell in love with the homes, the porches. It was a self study in architecture,” says Smith.

Now he owns one of those buildings, the original Altamont Paint and Wallpaper Store on Maple Avenue. Smith bought the building in 2002 and has painted it a period-appropriate mossy green with deep green and red trim. “I had a vision of how I wanted it to look,” he said. Looking through paint chips, he found “Wainscot Green.” “Sometimes, you just know when something is right,” he said. “I just knew.”

He has carefully preserved the inside 1906 wainscoting as a backdrop for the antiques he sells. Smith restores antique cars and trucks, too

“It’s another way of preserving the past,” he said,  “so children can see and touch what their grandfathers might tell them about.”

In this, Smith echoes the late Roger Keenholts, longtime village historian, who collected generations of memorabilia that now forms the basis of the collection of the Village of Altamont Archives and Museum. Smith has played the part of Keenholts in a local historical reenactment.

Smith has been the president of Altamont Community Tradition for a year and is now planning, with Rhonda Flansburg, the annual Victorian Holiday celebration.

“Altamont Community Tradition helps to showcase what life is like in Altamont as a community,” said Smith. ACT has 18 board members, and Friends of ACT help out at events like the annual summer Strawberry Social on the village green, the Victorian Holiday, and the spring Green and Clean to spruce up the village.

“There is no way we could dream of this without our board members,” said Smith.

“Everybody plays their role,” agreed Flansburg.

“We have a tremendous group of volunteers working with us to make this happen,” said Smith of the Victorian Holiday, scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 14, this year. “The Victorian Holiday really showcases what it’s like to be in a community. We are small-town America.”

“We try to draw people here because, quite frankly, it’s beautiful,” said Flansburg. “There’s nothing like the sight of the gazebo all lit up at night, with the snow. We have crafts for kids and antique items for the older generation. Someone can say, ‘I remember when I used that.’”

She hastened to add, “Not that you have to be old to appreciate antiques.”

Flansburg runs the Re-Nue Spa on Maple Avenue, and is a vibrant force in the village, often meeting otherwise unseen needs. For example, she collects gently used prom gowns for those who need them, and her shop has hosted fundraisers for women battling cancer.

“It comes from her red hair,” said Smith of Flansburg’s energies.

“I have a passion for life,” said Flansburg, describing her life’s philosophy. “I’d rather be joyful. I appreciate simple things…I always strive to do good. I have a great crew at the spa. It’s more like a family.”

She concluded with a question, “It’s great to help out. If you can, why not?”

A signature sign of the approaching holidays in Altamont is the tree in front of the spa. Just as the village begins to look bleak — once the autumn foliage has been shed, leaving stark, bare branches and before the first dusting of snow — the spa tree comes to life, each one of its limbs blazing with tiny white lights.

Flansburg credits Barry Gasparro, her partner in business and in life, with the idea. The lights had to be laboriously installed from a cherry picker.

At the Masonic Temple

Altamont Community Tradition will hold an opening reception for adults on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. with complimentary wine and cheese at the Masonic Temple, at 138 Maple Ave.

Altamont Community Tradition makes money in two ways at the Victorian Holiday — at a wreath auction and through a house tour; everything else is free. The events begin at noon and take place throughout the village, no matter the weather.

Last year, a huge snowstorm engulfed the region and ACT continued with its events. Organizers this year hope for just a light dusting of snow.

The tour of seven houses cost $10, with children under 10 touring for free. Tickets may be purchased at the Masonic Temple, from 12:30 until 3:15 p.m. Those paying for the house tour can ride a trolley from house to house.

“Our homes are part of Altamont’s history,” said Smith. “We want to showcase and display them.”

One of the homes on the tour is the house where he was raised, at the corner of Maple and Western avenues, still owned by his parents, John and Kris Smith, who will host tour-goers. Although the house has three fireplaces, it was agreed that Santa would arrive through the kitchen chimney — all the better to find a snack — and that is where the stockings were hung.

Since the house has 11-foot ceilings, the Smiths always have a large Christmas tree. Marc Smith recalled the Christmases of long ago, after he and his two brothers had been put to bed: “With that grand staircase in the center hall, we would be ‘sleeping,’” he said, making quotes in the air with his fingers, “and peaking to see if Santa had come — the three of us all in our onesies,” he said, describing their one-piece pajamas.

“They’re all fantastic,” said Flansburg of the seven houses on the tour. “I hate to put a spotlight on just one or two.”

Volunteers have already signed up to decorate the donated wreaths, which will be displayed at the Masonic Temple. Festival-goers may enter written bids there in a silent auction and may also vote for their favorite.

Toward the end of the day, at 3:30 p.m., the highest bidder for each numbered wreath will be announced. Wreaths that were decorated for last year’s Victorian Holiday grace this section’s front cover.

Flansburg said that anyone wanting to sign up to decorate a wreath for next year may do so at a table staffed by Altamont Community Tradition at the Masonic Temple. Anyone interested in volunteering for the organization may find out more there as well.

Festival-goers are encouraged to wear Victorian garb as they stroll about the village. Smith himself will be wearing a top hat.

Throughout the afternoon, children’s artwork and the gingerbread houses that they’ve built at the Altamont Free Library will be on display.

Activities for children will be held at the Masonic Hall from 1 to 3:30 p.m., led by Tom Person, who frequently dresses as a Macintosh the Clown, and creates temporary tattoos and balloon sculptures for kids, and Meg Seinberg-Hughes, a school librarian and former nursery school teacher, who will lead kids in crafts.

Finally, the Masonic Hall will be home to the annual Festival of Trees, sponsored by Altamont Country Values and the First National Bank of Scotia. Various businesses and community groups will have trimmed the trees in all different ways.

Winter Market

From noon to 5 p.m., a Winter Market will be held in four different locations with “tables and tables of quality items for holiday shopping,” Flansburg said.

The four market venues are:

— Fiamma’s Enchanted Café at 182 Main Street, which will have fair trade and baked goods;

— Re-Nue Spa at 119 Maple Ave., with homemade jams, teas, jewelry, scarves, and bake ware;

— Mountainview Prosthetics at 124 Maple Ave., with country sewing, wood-carving, Christmas ornaments, and organic cleaning products; and

— Severson Agency at 122 Maple Ave., with Altamont cards and prints, and bagpipes.

The event is free to the vendors. “We want to make Altamont lively,” said Flansburg.

“With the quality of the crafts and vendors, this is at least as large as the house tours,” said Smith. “Even if they just browse, they’ll take away something.”

Rest stops

Four village venues will be open to offer festival-goers food as well as holiday cheer:

— Mio Vino, at 186 Main Street, will have a free wine-tasting from 1 to 4 p.m. The bar is open all day. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner starts at 5 p.m.;

— The American Legion Hall at 968 Altamont Blvd. urges festival-goers to “stop in and warm up.” The legion is offering free cups of soup, chili, coffee, hot chocolate, and “goodies.” Also, visitors may enter a drawing for a holiday basket;

— The Home Front Café at 192 Main Street features 1940s décor and will have a nutcracker collection on display. The café has a new bakery with master baker Bill Holden’s famous cheesecake and Amanda Miller’s scones, pastries, and pies. Hot beverages are free and donations will be accepted for the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps injured veterans; and

— The Hungerford Market at 106 Maple Ave. will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a special holiday menu.

Family fun

Throughout the day on Dec. 14, a wide variety of village venues will offer free events:

— Altamont Country Values, also known as the Agway, at 106 Prospect Terrace, will host a Dog and Cat Holiday Costume Contest. Dogs will compete at noon, and cats at 1 p.m. Santa will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to pose with pets for photos;

—  The Altamont Free Library, at 179 Main Street, the old Victorian train station, will be open from 2 to 5 p.m. when there will be a drawing for a 93-by-100-inch Amish quilt. Tickets are a dollar each or $5 for six to benefit the library.

Also, David Warner, the former library columnist, will play guitar. His music will include tunes about trains and the holiday season;

— The Spinning Room, at 190 Main Street, will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with knitted items for sale. Also, Nancy Marie Payne will tell stories from 1 to 3 p.m. and sign her book, How I Came to Dowagiac: Memories of an Orphan Train Rider.

Payne, who has taught for 40 years, and been a professional storyteller for 12, specializes in researching and creating commissioned historical pieces and also likes to share stories from life, fairy tales, stories of strong women, and legends and humorous stories.

Her book, written for middle-grade students, features the 1854 adventures of a 10-year-old orphan, Elsie Dowdel who is living on the streets of New York City. She is taken in by the Children’s Aid Society and then rides an orphan train to a new state and new life;

— St. John’s Lutheran Church, at 140 Maple Ave., will feature Barbara Bennett, known as Mrs. Red Shoes to generations of children who have gone to the Altamont Fair.  She helps children create crafts, free of charge, to take home with them. Mrs. Red Shoes will offer the same “make it and take it” approach during the Victorian Holiday.

“This is a big deal,” said Flansburg. “People love Mrs. Red Shoes.” She added, “The church ladies will be having their own craft show.”

— The Boyd Hilton Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, at 11 Mill Street, will host a Community Kids Christmas Lunch with Santa from 1 to 4 p.m. Those who want to attend must call Ginny Woods at 861-6933 for a reservation; and

— Altamont Antiques at 135 Maple Ave., will be open from noon to 5 p.m., featuring “the Helderberg Blacksmith,” Noah Khoury, at work in the carriage house behind the shop. Khoury does custom metal work, forging and fabrication, historic reproductions, and metal sculpture.

“Blacksmiths were an important part of Altamont in the 1800s,” said Smith. “Children will get to hear and see and smell that. Sparks will fly off the anvil.”

Crowning finale

“The whole quality of life here and the community has to do with the sense of home and sense of the past,” said Smith of Altamont. He went on about the annual Victorian Holiday celebration, “This lets people experience that once a year.”

“The vision I hope for,” said Flansburg “is seeing people bustling around and stopping in and enjoying all that’s available. And, I hope not to get the biggest snowstorm of the year like last time,” she added with a giggle. “A light dusting of snow would be fine.”

Toward the end of the day, at 4:15 p.m., a living Nativity is held in front of the Altamont Reformed Church at 129 Lincoln Ave. Traditionally, villagers play the parts of Mary, holding the baby Jesus, with Joseph by her side in a manger in front of the church.

“We’re trying to find a baby Jesus,” said Flansburg of the cast for this year’s re-enactment.

Other villagers play the roles of the gift-bearing wise men, and llamas have been part of the menagerie around the manger as Christmas carols are sung.

At 5 p.m., everyone gathers on the village green as the holiday trees are lit and the Holiday Train arrives next to the old railroad station.

To shrieks of delight from the kids in the crowd, Santa waves from the front of the train, then invites the kids, one by one, into his lap to tell their wishes.

“When Santa comes in on the train,” said Smith, “that’s fantastic for the kids. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

He concluded of the Victorian Holiday, past and present, “I’d call it almost a magical event. People come to experience Altamont, Victorian Altamont.”