This is the third in a series featuring Vicksburg’s Holiday Tour of historic homes. The history of the homes is provided by executive director of the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation Nancy Bell.

Twelve homes will be on display for the public during O’ Christmas Tree, an inaugural event, sponsored by Vicksburg Main Street and the Vicksburg Heritage Guild, as a fundraiser for the Vicksburg Main Street Façade Program. Homes will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10. Tickets are $20 or $25 with a Vicksburg Trolley pass and are available at the Vicksburg Main Street office, Walnut Hills Restaurant, 1214 Adams St., or online at tickettailor.com/events/ochristmastree.

1414 Chambers Street (Sunday, Dec. 3)

Known as the Edward M. Durham House, the current home is the second to be built on the lot after a fire destroyed the first. Edward and Emily Durham in 1903 hired the architectural firm of Rawson and Paunack, which was quoted in The Vicksburg Herald:

“The firm intends to make a specialty of the better class of residences and has made a

study of those suited to a Southern climate.” The initial cost of the nine-room home was $8,000. After a devastating fire in 1909, the Durhams built a new house on the same lot with the same plans. The price, however, increased to $15,000, partly because the former frame walls were covered with stucco.

 

1419 Chambers Street (Sunday, Dec. 3)

This Colonial Revival house was built in 1909 by Lucian and Martha Oates, most likely by Hyland Construction Company.  Oates was a cotton buyer with G.P. Reeve and Company when the house was built. The Oateses moved to Memphis, and the house eventually was sold to L.N. and Elizabeth Allen and later, by 1929, to Henry and Ellen McCabe.