In 1851, Mahala Eggleston Roach was a Vicksburg lady who had Christmas in her soul. She had six children so, when she read accounts of how Germans decorated for the beloved holiday, she embraced the idea and brought the first inside Christmas tree to Vicksburg and the state of Mississippi.

The wife of a prominent banker, James P. Roach, the quintessential Southern lady had a live tree placed in her parlor on Depot Street. The tree was adorned with cornucopias, toys, candles, cookies, ribbons, fans and handmade baskets filled with sugar plums. In one of her prolific diaries about homes and social life in Vicksburg, Mrs. Roach told of her children and young servants awaking on Christmas mornings with piercing shouts of “Christmas gift! Christmas gift!” — the equivalent of today’s “Trick or Treat!” The presents included dolls, doll furniture and bejeweled trinkets for the girls. The boys found boots, knives, jumping jacks and horns. As the day progressed, all were treated to fireworks and candy. Each year, Mrs. Roach ended her Christmas Day with the same prayer: “Thanks be to God. Merry Christmas to us all.”

During this holiday season, Vicksburg Main Street in partnership with the Vicksburg Heritage Guild is overjoyed to honor Mrs. Roach and the tradition she gave us with tours of some of the city’s most beautiful homes rarely seen by the public. In each home, you will see a beautifully decorated and themed Christmas tree and tour the first floor of each home.

Tours will begin at the first home at 1pm, then the second and third homes at the top of the hour at 2pm and 3pm, respectively.

Tour Dates and Tour Home addresses:

• Saturday, December 2nd: 2011 Cherry Street, 1 Cowan Place, 2312 Cherry Street
  
• Sunday, December 3rd: 1325 Chambers Street, 1414 Chambers Street, 1419 Chambers Street, 
• Saturday, December 9th: 1338 Chambers Street, 1403 Chambers Street, 1420 Chambers Street,
• Sunday, December 10th: 2501 Cherry Street, 2506 Cherry Street, 2308 Drummond Street

Tour homes are not ADA accessible. 

The Heritage Guild of Vicksburg and Warren County is composed of private individuals with like interests in preserving the cultural and structural heritage of Vicksburg and Warren County. The goal of the Heritage Guild is to champion the historical assets of our community. The O' Christmas Tree tour of homes is a collaboration of private historic home owners sharing their Christmas and their story of preservation.

The proceeds from this event will be given to Vicksburg Main Street Facade Grant Program.