Sunday afternoon, the 115-year-old home once again welcomed visitors for its annual Christmas tour.

Guests got to hear about the history of the home and its last inhabitant, Ann Smeltzer (1911-1999), while also enjoying the sounds of the season played on the classic grand piano in the living room.

Decorating is a big job. But with about 15 volunteers on hand to put everything up, the job was done in less than four hours, said Bill Griffel, president of the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust.

One visitor, Jean Christensen, made the Christmas tour for the first time this year. She was as impressed by the stories as by the decorations.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Kathy Campbell, center, tells guests about the library during the Ringland-Smeltzer House Christmas tour Sunday.

“She was a very independent woman,” Christensen said. “It’s gorgeous in here.”

Most of the decorations are later additions. Smeltzer didn’t really dress the place up for the holidays, Griffel told visitors in the dining room. But the fine silver at the six place settings around the massive table all had belonged to the family.

“We have three sets of silver, two Ringland and one Smeltzer,” he said.

Ann Smeltzer took care of most of the house herself, he said.

“She lived here alone, but she wasn’t alone,” Griffel said. “That’s a misperception about her in this town. She had people in here all the time.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Bill Griffel, right, president of the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust, explains the authentic place settings and silver from the house to Deb Koester, left, and Jean and Skip Christensen during the annual Christmas tour. The dining room contains some of the few Christmas decorations used by Ann Smeltzer during her years in the house.

“She was funny, she was smart, and she did everything herself.”

She was the granddaughter of George Ringland, founder of the U.S. Gypsum Co.

The Ringland-Smeltzer House will also be the starting point for a caroling through history event next week. The singing will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 16, and feature various singing groups placed throughout the historic Oak Hill neighborhood.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Nancy Griffel welcomes guests into the living room of the 115-year-old Ringland-Smeltzer House Sunday afternoon for the annual Christmas tour.