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43rd Annual Homes for the Holidays Tour Announced
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| Click image to view video |
Homes that range from the relentlessly practical to the how-wealthy-am-I ornate are featured in the 2019 Homes for the Holidays tour, which will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8.
What unifies the homes is that they all illustrate ways homeowners find to live a modern life in houses built in a different era.
The Gothic style home at 615 NW 3rd, now owned by William and Marlene Howe, was built in 1879 by one of Abilene's earliest magnates, Alfred W. Rice. A mayor of Abilene, Rice was a land speculator, banker, rancher and owner of lumber and flour milling businesses. He spent a considerable amount of his profits on parquet living room floors and intricately carved woodwork throughout the house.
Another Abilene magnate, Cleyson Brown, built the home at 805 Spruceway, which today is owned by Ryan and Julie (Roller) Weeks. Brown, who a century ago parlayed his local telephone franchise into a utility empire that went on to become Sprint, built this and several nearby houses in a distinctive Southwest style for employees of his telephone company.
Another home on this year's tour and just a short distance away, at 107 NW 10th, also has a connection to Brown. Today it is owned by Toastie Racy, but in 1929 - about 13 years after the home was built by Hiram Akers, a real estate broker - Brown bought the house, presumably for a company employee.
By the time houses are 60 years old, they have seen several different owners but the property at 3125 N. Hawk has been in the Hoover family since 1880. The original home burned down 1938; the re-built home is owned today by Justin and Kylie (Hoover) Hicken. The Hickens, who operate Wizard of Odz and Ends, a home remodeling business, have built a product showroom in a barn they salvaged after it was destroyed by wind two years ago.
Rounding out the tour is an AirBnB in the upstairs of 308 N. Broadway, owned by David and Jonee Crump. In 1905, the downstairs hosted a bakery.
Refreshments this year will be served at First Christian Church, 612 N. Buckeye.
Tickets for the tour are $10 and will be available at the Abilene Visitor Center, 201 NW 2nd, and West's Country Mart, 1900 N. Buckeye.
For more information, contact the Abilene CVB at (785) 263-2231, or 800-569-5915.
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American Flags Greet Visitors
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Visitors to Abilene frequently comment on the beautiful American flags lining Buckeye Avenue and NW 3rd Street. The American flags are one of the many wonderful attributes that make our community standout.
To continue this tradition, the City of Abilene's Convention & Visitors Bureau is seeking sponsors for the American flags, which are placed on poles from I-70 along Buckeye Avenue to the south city limits and from Buckeye west on NW 3rd Street. The flags are flown from the Eisenhower Marathon weekend through Veterans Day. Because they are displayed for seven months, the flags and poles are more prone to wear and tear. The City of Abilene's Public Works Department replaces them as needed.
Our goal is to purchase 200 flags for the 2020 season. The cost of each flag remains the same at $25, which includes the cost of the pole.
While the City of Abilene's Public Works Department, Eagle Communications, Abilene Rental, and Linder Electric install the flags on the light poles, we rely on the community to provide funding for this project.
We hope you will consider purchasing one or more flags this year. Please complete the enclosed form and return it to the Abilene CVB by January 10, 2020.
Thank you in advance for your continued support!
Learn more >
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UP Big Boy Locomotive to Visit Abilene
Calling all train lovers! The Union Pacific Big Boy Locomotive will be in Abilene, Kansas on Wednesday, November 20 from 12:15 pm - 12:35 pm.
Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's Completion
Union Pacific's historic Big Boy steam locomotive No. 4014 is touring the Union Pacific system throughout 2019 to commemorate the transcontinental railroad's 150th anniversary.
The Big Boy's return to the rails is the product of more than two years of meticulous restoration work by the Union Pacific Steam Team. No. 4014 is the world's only operating Big Boy locomotive.
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Dinner with Friends
Great Plains Theatre's last installment of GPT Academy's After Dark Reader's Theatre for 2019 wraps up with Dinner With Friends.
THE STORY: While having dinner at Gabe and Karen's home, Beth tearfully reveals that she is getting a divorce from Tom, who has been unfaithful. Tom, who had been away on business, finds out that Beth has told their friends about the looming divorce, and hastens to Gabe and Karen's home.
Written by Donald Margulies
Directed by Brent Sigman
$5 admission
Free for Season Ticket holders
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State's new tourism director wants people to 'see themselves' in Kansas
Kansas' new director of tourism used to have difficulty seeing herself reflected in Kansas' advertising campaigns.
It was "outdoors focused," she said, and apart from her love of watching Kansas sunsets, Bridgette Jobe doesn't see herself as outdoorsy.
Jobe, who grew up in Kansas City, Kan., and still lives there, wants Kansas' advertising to reflect the diversity of interests Kansans hold. And while Jobe just started her new position in mid-July and has mostly been reviewing past procedures and developing a new strategic plan, she has hired a new advertising agency that she feels will foster inclusivity.
"We want our marketing to be authentic of Kansas," Jobe said. Her agency has partnered with a Topeka advertising firm called Bajillion Agency. "We want everyone to feel welcome when they come to Kansas. So we want people to make sure that they see themselves."
Read more >
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Throwback Thursday
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| The Abilene Weekly Chronicle - Friday, February 13, 1880 |
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5 Star Reviews - Russell Stover Candy Company
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Share your news!
Have an upcoming event? Help us, help you. We do our best to stay up-to-date, but please make sure to include us in your event and special promotions. Please send announcements to
[email protected].
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EVENT
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WHEN
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LOCATION
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LEARN MORE
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| Toy Run |
Sunday, November 10 @ 2 pm |
Ride begins at Lumber House True Value |
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| Ike Book Talk - The General's First Lady |
Tuesday, November 12 @ 7 pm |
Visitors Center Auditorium |
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| Reader's Theatre After Dark |
Wednesday, November 13 @ 7 pm |
Great Plains Theatre |
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| Makin' Magic - 25 Years of Fun |
November 29 - December 15 |
Great Plains Theatre |
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| Small Business Saturday |
Saturday, November 30 |
Everywhere! |
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| Abilene's Victorian Inn Christmas Afternoon Tea |
Saturday, December 7 |
Abilene's Victorian Inn |
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| Heritage Homes Association's Homes for the Holidays Tour |
Saturday, December 7
Sunday, December 8 |
Varies each year |
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| Breakfast with Santa |
Saturday, December 7 @ 9 am |
Abilene Civic Center |
Call: 785-263-7266
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| Kris Kringle Downtown Market |
Saturday, December 7 from 4-8 pm |
300 Block of Broadway |
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| Night of Christmas Magic |
Saturday, December 7 |
Downtown Abilene |
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| Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad - Christmas Lights Tour |
December 13 & 14 and 20 & 21 @ 6 pm and 7 pm. |
Pickup: Abilene Travel Information Center / Civic Center parking lot (east end)
Cost: $5 per person ages 3 and older.
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Call:
785-263-1077 for reservations.
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| Cowboy Christmas |
Saturday, December 14 from Noon - 4 pm |
Old Abilene Town |
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| Santa Train |
Saturday, December 14 @ 1 pm |
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
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About us
The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau
is the marketing arm of the City of Abilene and provides services to tourists and groups convening in Abilene.
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