victorian christmas home tour

Old Allegheny Victorian Christmas House Tour

Important Update

Victorian House Tour tickets for 2023 are SOLD OUT. No  tickets will be available at the door. You can still purchase discounted advance Model Train Museum tickets through Nov. 30.   Please sign up for our < mailing list > to be notified of presale ticket events for next year’s tours.

Experience a By-Gone Era

Our tour features at least six (6) restored Victorian homes plus the historic Calvary United Methodist Church , famous for its beautiful Louis Tiffany stained glass windows, all decorated to celebrate a Nineteenth Century Christmas.

Come early! Calvary Church hosts a Christmas Shop showcasing some of the best local artisans and antiques of the season. They’ll be happy to hold your purchases while you tour.

These personally guided tours afford a rare opportunity to glimpse a by-gone era and experience the warmth of the season in a truly old-fashioned style. Most homes in Allegheny West are over 100 years old and Victorian in architectural style. Lavishly decorated for the holidays, they recall the late 19th Century birth of the traditional American Christmas: elaborately decorated mantels, towering Christmas trees and pine, holly and mistletoe on stairs and chandeliers.

Tour guides will explain Victorian holiday traditions, provide the history of Allegheny West and its famous Nineteenth Century residents and discuss the individual homes as they are visited.

This is a walking tour through the neighborhood which will include stairs into the homes. The tour will last approximately 2.5 hours. Please dress appropriately for the weather and walking.

Ticket Details & Pricing

• Before November 30 : $35 House Tour | $15 Train Tour
• After November 30:  $40 House Tour | $20 Train Tour

At the end of your tour, you can visit one of the world’s largest toy train museums – a private collection of hundreds of colorful train sets from the early 20th century; many of them rolling through enchanting miniature villages. There is an additional charge for the train museum.

House Tours

• Friday, December 8 : 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Saturday, December 9 : 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Guided tours leave every 12 minutes!

Train Museum

• Friday, December 8 : 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
• Saturday, December 9 : 12:30 pm – 9:00 pm

In the Press

This unique tour is part of Rick Sebak’s Emmy Award® winning documentary,  Happy Holidays in Pittsburgh , showcasing the finest holiday celebrations in Western Pennsylvania and is featured in the best selling international travel guide “ 1000 Places to See in the U.S and Canada Before You Die. ”

Returning this year, we have the DVD – Tinplate Legends in Action 3 , a virtual tour of the train museum – available for purchase.

“There’s no place like North Side for the holidays” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Past And Future Of Old Allegheny City On Display At Home Tour 90.5 WESA

Victorian Christmas Tours

Quick Details

• User Ages: All Ages
• Clock Schedule: Doors will be open for walkthroughs of the house from 6-8pm.

Take a trip back in time to the Victorian era in the beautifully decorated Historic Stranahan House Museum. Learn how many holiday traditions started and how the pioneers celebrated Christmas in the early days of Fort Lauderdale. And at the end of the tour, shop for your entire list in our great gift shop!

We have two options for Victorian Christmas Tours this year! Check out the difference between our Docent-Led Tours and our Self Guided Tours below! All tours are $30, unless you are a Stranahan House Member, where the cost is $25.

Related Tour

• Most Popular Tour
• User All Ages
• Hour Glass 1 Hour

Guided Tour Tickets

Educated and experienced docents lead you through the museum to share the story of the house, the founding family, and the City of Fort Lauderdale.

• Hour Glass Valid for 1 year

Become A Member

Members help to preserve, promote, and protect the historic Stranahan House Museum. Membership donations allow us to continue to provide free and reduced-rate programs.

• starts November 14

Victorian Christmas at the Octagon House

Quick Details

• User Ages: 7+
• Hour Glass Duration: 1hr

Experience the cheery nostalgia of a 19th century home during the holidays!

Celebrate the holiday season in Victorian splendor at The Armour-Stiner Octagon House in Irvington, New York. Join us for an opportunity to experience this lyrical, eight-sided home surrounded by the sights of Christmas in 1872. The restored National Landmark will be filled with elaborate holiday décor featuring wreaths, garlands, and the sparkle of ornaments on a grand Christmas Tree inside the salon.

Created as a whimsical summer retreat in 1872 by tea-importer Joseph Stiner, this National Historic Landmark’s shape was based on the theories of Orson Squire Fowler, a phrenologist, who believed octagonal houses enclosed more space, allowed the sun in at all times, and permitted more views into the landscape. The Armour-Stiner Octagon House retains its magnificent ornamentation and furnishings and includes the only remaining Egyptian Revival Room in America with its original decoration and furniture.

The Octagon House is very much a private family home. Access to the house and grounds is available ONLY to ticket holders during the time and date assigned.

• Chevron down Important when planning your visit:

—The 1-hour tour is conducted by highly trained docents and includes an interior viewing of the house.

— While a ticket is required for all guests- including those under the age of 18, this experience is best suited for ages 12 and up. Babies and toddlers (although delightful) are not appropriate to bring along for the tour.

Parking is free but limited. Please park on-site in the circle in front of the Octagon House and along the driveway. Please do not park on the street (West Clinton Avenue).

—Tours begin promptly on time, please arrive no more than 15 minutes before your tour time, and please leave immediately after the tour is over, to allow for parking for the next tour.

—The tour is physically demanding and not recommended for individuals with difficulty walking up and down the stairs. Not suitable for wheelchair users or people with limited mobility.

—Picnicking is not allowed.

—Pets are also not allowed inside the house or on the grounds whatsoever. Please make note of this when planning your visit.

• Chevron down Photography

Non flash photography is allowed inside the house, and we encourage sharing your tour experience on social media. The Armour-Stiner Octagon House can be found on Facebook and Instagram

• Chevron down Private Home

Because the Octagon House is a private home, we ask that you refrain from touching walls, finishes, furniture & objects. Please leave all large belongings at home or in a vehicle. This includes luggage, large bags, tripods, and other similar items. While touring, please do not linger – stay with the group while viewing the interior.

• Chevron down National Trust for Historic Preservation

A discount is available for members of The National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Related Activities

• through June 20
• Hour Glass 1hr

Victorian Springtime

Join us for this seasonal tour of The Octagon House and its surrounding landscape! Take in the spectacular blooms of the restored 19th-century gardens alongside the whimsical architecture of The Octagon House.

Nothing Is Impossible

Join us for this special tour offering a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration of The Armour-Stiner Octagon House! Like a massive puzzle, saving this unique home was a task so overwhelming that many people considered it impossible.

The Classic Tour

Join us for a look inside this one-of-a-kind National Historic Landmark! Perfect for first time visitors or those returning to see The Octagon House again, the one-hour Classic Tour provides a foundational understanding of this iconic house.

• starts September 26

“Myths & Mysteries” Guided Tour

The Octagon House is a short horse ride away from The Legendary town of Sleepy Hollow, and for this reason, Fall/Halloween is our most popular season.  Tours during this time of the year concentrate on themes that intersect the season, the house, and the surrounding area during the 19th Century.

“The Lady in White” Interactive Tour & Performance

Her ship went down in flames, but the Lady in White returned to the Octagon House and still waits for her lover to find her there.

A Victorian Farmhouse Christmas Tour

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. I only recommend items I love and have had a positive experience with. Thank you!

Soak in every detail of this beautiful 1902 Victorian Farmhouse Christmas tour, inspired by vintage beauty and age old simplicity.

Welcome to Stop 25 on the infamous Jen Rizzo Holiday Housewalk tour!

Boy, do I have a treat for you today! I’ve been at the edge of my seat excited for you to feast your eyes on the most dreamy old home, set in a picturesque countryside escape, and decorated for Christmas by the most visionary woman I’ve had the pleasure to know.

First, a warm welcome to you if you are coming to my blog TIDBITS by way of the Holiday Housewalk Stop 24 – the lovely Sheila from Maison de Cinq . She has such a way of stealing my heart with her soft touches of French dècor. Sheila has a heart of gold and it is a pleasure to know her!

Traditionally, for the Jen Rizzo Holiday Housewalk, I work at decorating my own home to share with you – which is such a joy.

But if you’ve been following along on our year of adventures, you’ve seen our first move into a rental , then move our family of 6 into our renovated RV for 6 months, followed by skipping around to Airbnb’s until our new pole barn home we’ve built ourselves was finished enough to be “liveable”. We are so thrilled to finally be in our home , but to say we are in a state of chaos would be an understatement. Dreams don’t come easy, my friends ;).

Because of all we have yet to do to create some order, I knew decorating for the Holidays would be the last priority. Sad, but true.

Just as I was about to tell Jen Rizzo I would need to step out this year, I had the thought to ask my dear friend, Hollie Keller, whom I met first on Instagram @vintagefarmhome , if she would like to share her home in my place. I was more than delighted when she said yes!

Hollie and her family have had a crazy year of their own with big changes, and I was so thrilled when I found out they were moving close to me! On my first visit to her beautiful old home, I was left in awe. Walking through and seeing the beauty of the origins of their home come alive was like walking into the home of my dreams. No one but Hollie and her kind husband could have honored the roots of this home so well . . . but I’ll let her share why.

Hollie has become a dear friend to me, and we laugh when we find out we bought the same light fixtures, or when she has sourced the perfect piece of vintage furniture for the exact spot I needed it – as if she knew all along. I find great joy in having a “real life” friend who shares the same love and passion for all things white, bright and beautiful. She even graciously opened her home for me to film and photograph the new launch of The TIDBITS Day Planner – when I had no pretty home to call my own.

If you happen to love “ TIDBITS style “, I have a sneaking suspicion you will ADORE all the things Hollie shares, and you’ll want more!

WHERE TO FOLLOW HOLLIE?

Now sit back and soak in every detail created and captured by Hollie herself. Then please go visit and follow her along to see even more beauty! She has a gift for finding the most lovely vintage treasures to sell and share!

• Hollie’s Instagram: @VINTAGEFARMHOME
• Hollie’s Shop/Blog: vintagefarmhome.com

I’m delighted to now turn the rest of this post over to Hollie, to share her home and tips for adding a true Victorian Style Christmas to your own home.

A HOLIDAY TOUR AND TIPS FOR ADDING VICTORIAN STYLE TO YOUR CHRISTMAS

I am so honored (and excited!) to be guest posting for Cami today as part of Jen Rizzo’s Holiday Housewalk.

Cami has become a very dear friend to me. She is so kind and incredibly talented and I feel so lucky to live close to her now! I know we’re going to have all sorts of creative fun in the future.

My husband and I moved our family to the beautiful mountains of Franklin County, Idaho this past summer.  

We purchased a Victorian farmhouse and have been busy with all of the fun (and not so fun) projects that come with owning an old home.

This move was extra special for our family because the home we purchased was built by my husband’s great grandfather and his brother in 1902. It had not been family-owned for many years, but now there are Keller boys under the roof once again!

It has been such a joy for us to love this home back to life. Through all of the updating we’ve done inside the home, we’ve tried hard to honor its past. It’s been a fun process as we’ve gone along.

It has been such a treat to decorate this home for the holidays. In the past, I’ve really been drawn to French décor, but after a few months of living here, I have felt my style shift some.

This home has been begging for interiors to match her English origins, and I’m trying my best to listen!

Today, I’m sharing with you some photos of our parlor dressed up in her Christmas best.

This year, when decorating I was really drawn to deep greens, velvet blues, and rose-wine pink –the color of pepper berry.

I’ve loved European décor since I was a girl, so adding Victorian touches to my home has been so much fun for me.

For my historically traditional Christmas look, I tried to buy as few ‘brand new’ things as possible (i.e. I stayed away from the craft store!).

TIP 1: DECORATE WITH VINTAGE ELEMENTS

Decorating with vintage elements is a true joy for me. Being a vintage shop owner means I have lots of vintage finds at my fingertips, and I surely capitalize on this.

My favorite go-to items this time of year are vintage bells – sleigh bells, cowbells, whatever-kind-of- bells! Give me all of them! I love them so much and think they add the perfect charm to any Christmas vignette.

TIP 2: BRING THE OUTDOORS IN!

My second tip – bring the outdoors in! Fresh garland, fresh trees, fresh berries…all perfect for historically traditional Christmas décor.

TIP 3: USE REAL TEXTURES

My next tip: use real textures. When buying pillows, scarves, blankets, and ribbons, but with texture in mind.

I love velvet pillows and ribbons, and my favorite scarves and throw blankets are made with wool.

Textiles like these add warmth, interest, and tradition since these types of materials were used frequently in the past.

TIP 4: INCLUDE WOOD TONES

Lastly, for a true Victorian touch, incorporate some darker wood tones.

My most recent marketplace find is my beautiful Victorian upright piano (likely built the same decade as the house!).

It is a perfect fit for our parlor and I felt so much joy bringing a piano back into this old home.

Thank you for stopping here today, and thank you, Cami, for giving me the opportunity to share some Christmas glimpses with you. It was such a pleasure!  

From our old home to yours, Merry Christmas! 

• Classic Red and Green Farmhouse Christmas
• An All Natural Christmas
• A Colorful Christmas Home Tour
• A French Farmhouse Christmas Home Tour
• A Cottage Christmas Home Tour

I’m Cami. Welcome to TIDBITS & Company. If you love all things home, you are in good company! Follow along as I share inspiration for the keeper of the home.

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14 Comments

I love tidbits!!!! Thanks for sharing your friend’s beautifully restored Victorian home!! Just stunning!!

Where’s the xmas tree from?

I would like to know where the tree is from too. Is it live or faux?

Her home is stunning, every detail is just gorgeous! So happy you shared it with us! Can’t wait to see your home finished! xo

Holy smokes that house is pretty!

This is a picture perfect Christmas home!

Thank you Cami and Hollie. I love old homes and decorating with vintage and antiques, so thoroughly loved learning about you and your home. Excited to follow along with your journey.

Hollies home is lovely and so was the history of it, thank you.

Beautiful!! love it

Hollie’s style is so gorgeous! I’ve already been a fan on Instagram but it’s such a treat to see so many (big!) photos of her amazing home!

Merry Christmas to you both!

I love historic houses. This one is wonderful. I love the exterior as well as the interior. What a wonderful adventure for this family to restore a home built by their ancestor. I also love your home and I’m looking forward to watching you decorate and make it into your home.

holy moly, this is stunning! what a beautiful and dreamy home! i LOVE the exterior, and how perfect that there is such pretty snow outside!

Thank you for a peek into Hollie’s gorgeous home. It is simple and enchanting, a winter haven. My favorite is the exterior shot with porch and live greens. But I also love the layer of family history mixed in here and there.

Hollie’s home is beautiful ! Happy holidays

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Harriman Christmas Home Tour

Harriman's Historic Christmas Tour is held the 2nd weekend in December. Experience true Southern hospitality as you take a step back in time and delight in their rich history of the 'Town that Temperance Built.' Explore Cornstalk Heights Historic District, a charming turn-of-the-century neighborhood while enjoying Southern hospitality at its best. Held for more than 25 years, owners open up their doors, inviting guests in to tour beautifully decorated Victorian homes (c. 1890-1950) and sample teas, coffee, hot chocolate, authentic scones and more (at the Hospitality House). Also on the tour - visit one of the last remaining Carnegie libraries and enjoy carolers as you browse quaint antique & specialty shops.

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Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour 2023

Date: December 8th - December 12th, 2023

This Christmas season, December 8-12, Opelika’s Northside Historic District is celebrating like it’s 1899! For five days in early December 60 Victorian and historic homes near downtown Opelika are transformed into colorful, nostalgic reminders of Christmas from a simpler, slower-paced era.

The tour began in 1993 with just a few homes participating but has grown to include 60 homes on North 8th and 9th street. The homes are decorated with life-size Santas, angels, toys, carousel horses, and Christmas-themed figures. The Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour has been voted one of the southeast's top-rated tourism events and featured in Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living .

The event is a self-directed driving tour. However, on Saturday night North 8th and 9th streets will be closed to traffic to encourage visitors, neighbors, and friends to stroll through the neighborhood. This enables everyone to leisurely enjoy the homes up close, listen to the carolers, and talk with residents dressed in Victorian costumes. This tour begins on North 8th street and 2nd Avenue and includes over ten city blocks. Admission to this spectacular production is free.

On the Friday night of the tour, the City of Opelika sponsors Christmas in a Railroad town which includes wagon rides through the Victorian Front Porch Christmas tour which includes tour guides who take you back in time while enjoying the festively decorated homes.

December 8: Driving tour 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

December 9: Bike tour at 10 AM 

December 9: Walking tour 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Streets are closed to non-foot traffic. Entertainment from Opelika City Schools, Opelika First Baptist Handbells, and more! To inquire      about performance opportunities for your group, please email [email protected].

December 10: Driving tour 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

December 11: Driving tour 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

December 12: Driving tour 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

To learn more about other local holiday happenings, click  here .  

Auburn-Opelika Tourism

714 East Glenn Ave Auburn , AL 36830 USA

phone: 334.501.3281 [email protected] --> site: http://www.aotourism.com

Auburn-Opelika Tourism © 2018. All Rights Reserved.

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Join us for The 43rd Annual Eureka Springs Preservation Society Christmas Tour of Homes on Saturday, December 2, 2023!

For four decades homeowners in this Victorian village have invited visitors inside their historic residences to share the joys of the holiday season. The tradition continues December 2, 2023.  Come  stroll through one of the  largest historical districts  in the country,  when the Eureka Springs Preservation Society hosts The 43rd Annual Eureka Springs Preservation Society Christmas Tour of Homes .  Tickets go on sale November 3, 2023 at 9:00 am.  The cost of a ticket is $30.00.

Several locations  will be participating in this year's Tour, giving guests a glimpse of a bygone era. All stops on the self-guided tour will be decorated for the season with docents at each site to relate the history of each home. Each residence offers an opportunity to revisit the grandeur of the graceful Victorian era and its unique, enchanting homes.

Dee Bright, Preservation Society President, elaborates. "Interior details such as grand staircases, ornately carved fireplace mantels, sparkling stained glass and intricate millwork will all be decked in festive holiday trimmings."

"Remembering Christmas past is a great way to begin making memories for Christmas present," Bright said. "The attention to detail in each of the homes makes this Tour truly special for architectural buffs, history enthusiasts, and those who simply enjoy beauty for its own sake."

She concluded, "It's a lovely way to begin your holidays. If you've never been, come and immerse yourself in the magic, merriment, and mystery of a bygone era. And if you've celebrated the season with us before, we welcome your family back for this fabulous holiday tradition.

Tickets include use of Eureka Springs Trolley between Tour homes during Tour hours only .

Frequently Asked Questions

What style are the homes on the tour?

Homes in Eureka Springs vary in age, size, and style.  Most are high-stooped with 4 to 12 steps to climb for entry and are not handicapped accessible.  These homes are private residences, so interior design may range from period, to traditional, to contemporary, and to modern.

How many sites will we see on the tour?

Each walking tour, typically, offers a minimum of five to six residences, as well as other historic churches and businesses.  

Where does my walking tour start?

 An official Tour Guidebook will be available online ahead of Tour and Guidebook at the New Orleans Hotel.  The address of each site is included in the Guidebook and clearly marked on a map.  Volunteer docents will greet you at each site.  Each site is also marked with signage.  Guests are encouraged to take the Tour at their own pace and site visits need not be in the numeric order they are found in the Guidebook.

What else should I know?

Wear comfortable, rubber-soled walking shoes.  There are numerous steps, stairs, and inclines on the Tour route, and inside homes.  Allow about two hours for the Tour, but set your own pace. 

TOUR TICKETS INCLUDE FREE ADMISSION TO THE GRAND OL' CHRISTMAS SHOW AT THE AUDITORIUM

Tour of Homes ticket holders can go to   https://theaud.thundertix.com/events/220505   and enter code TOUROFHOMES23

for FREE ADMISSION into the Grand Ol' Christmas Show at the historic Auditorium!

Tickets are on sale now! Tickets available online only, and a limited number are available. Tickets WILL SELL OUT!

• 2023 Christmas Tour of Homes
• 2022 Christmas Tour of Homes
• 2019 Christmas Tour of Homes
• 2018 Christmas Tour of Homes
• 2017 Christmas Tour of Homes

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Old North Knoxville's Victorian Holiday Home Tour

Buy Tickets

Advance tickets are no longer available but you can still purchase tickets at the event for $20 (adults) and $15 (seniors) by starting the tour at either of the parking locations noted below.

*** Please note, the Victorian Holiday Home Tour takes place rain or shine! Our historic homes are warm, cozy, and beautiful in any kind of weather. We’ve held the event in sun, rain, and even snow. This year it looks like we may have some spotty rain on Saturday, but our continuously running bus service can still move you from house to house with as little inconvenience as possible, and the weather on Sunday looks like it’s going to be spectacular. We look forward to seeing everyone! ***

If you previously purchased tickets online online, PLEASE BRING YOUR RECEIPT to our ticket booth on the day of the event and your ticket(s) will be in WILL CALL.

available for purchase online now (just scroll down on this page). For advance tickets purchased online, PLEASE BRING YOUR RECEIPT to our ticket booth on the day of the event and your ticket(s) will be in WILL CALL. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the event for $20 (adults) and $15 (seniors) by starting the tour at either of the parking locations noted below. -->Candlelight Tour: Saturday Dec. 2nd, 2023  4:00PM – 9:00PM Afternoon Tour: Sunday Dec. 3rd, 2023  1:00PM – 5:00PM

If you have been on the tour before, please note that we have NEW PARKING LOCATIONS THIS YEAR!  Because the former St. Mary’s / Tennova hospital has closed, we have two new parking options:

Option #1: First Lutheran Church, 1207 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917 Option #2: Rose Funeral & Cremation, 1421 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917

Both parking locations are also stops on the tour this year, and buses will pick up and drop off at both lots. If one lot is full, please try the other just two blocks down the street.

** Children under 12 receive free admission!

*** Please note, the Victorian Holiday Home Tour takes place rain or shine! Our historic homes are warm, cozy, and beautiful in any kind of weather. We've held the event in sun, rain, and even snow. No matter the weather, our continuously running bus service can move you from house to house with as little inconvenience as possible. --> Please note: We have heard reports from a handful of people who are receiving an error message when they try to use our ticket purchasing link from inside the Facebook application on a mobile phone. If you receive an error, the easiest way to purchase tickets is (1) to use a laptop or (2) on a mobile phone, just copy and paste our web address directly into Safari or Chrome and go from there, outside of the Facebook application: https://www.victorianholidayhometour.com/buy-tickets/ --> Special thanks to our event sponsors:

Special thanks to our community partner:

Special thanks to our advertisers:

Edward Jones – Darron Kidwell Fountain City Stained Glass North Knoxville Business & Professional Association Patdome Promotions

Who are the winners and losers in Victoria's 2024 state budget?

Families with school-aged children are among the biggest winners in this year's Victorian state budget.

But as the government grapples with rising debt, there are some cuts and delays to major projects.  

Who are the budget winners and losers? 

Winner: State school students

Victorian state school students will receive some relief under the new School Saving Bonus . It's part of a $287 million package where every child at a government school will receive a one-off payment of $400 each in the form of a credit.

The money can go towards uniform expenses, camps, school excursions and sporting events. Families with multiple children can combine the payments to use. It's expected to roll out in term four, ahead of the 2025 school year.

Concession card holders at non-government schools will also be eligible for the one-off payment.

The government is also investing in eyesight tests for kids, tripling its Glasses for Kids program.

Winner: School infrastructure

This year's budget will see $1 billion invested to build 16 new schools which are expected to open in 2026.

They include:

• Ballarto Road Primary School
• Casey Central Primary School
• Clyde Creek North Primary School
• Clyde Creek North Secondary School
• Cobblebank Secondary School
• Horseshoe Bend Primary School
• Leneva (Frederic Street Road) Primary School
• Lockerbie Specialist School
• Mickleham South Primary School
• Plumpton Primary School
• Point Cook South Specialist School
• Tarneit Plains Primary School
• Toolern Waters Primary School
• Wallan East Primary School
• Warralily Park Primary School
• Wollert Andrews Road Primary School

The funding will also go towards additional stages of construction at Mickleham Secondary College and Wollert Secondary School.

A further 25 schools across the state will undergo upgrades.

Loser: Kinder and childcare

Free Kinder programs began in 2023 in most Victorian centres.

Under the scheme, the government provides 15 hours of four-year-old kinder a week, and five to 15 hours of three-year-old kinder a week.

That was supposed to increase to 30 hours a week for four-year-old kinder from 2026, but Victoria's state budget papers reveal this has now been delayed to 2032 .

Victoria is also in the process of building 50 new state government-owned and operated early learning centres.

But the budget reveals the construction of some of those centres has also been delayed, with the last 20 to be built by 2032.

Winner: Teachers

Almost $140 million has been set aside in a bid to attract and retain more teachers in Victorian schools.

This includes $63 million which will go towards the mental health and wellbeing of school staff.

Money will also go towards additional training for teachers, including $21 million for 100 primary school teachers to undergo a 20-day intensive training to strengthen their maths knowledge and coaching skills and $16 million for specialist training to help teachers better manage students' behaviour.

Winner: Major hospitals

More than $900 million will go towards upgrading the Austin Hospital's emergency department and delivering a new emergency department and additional beds at the Northern Hospital.

The Monash Medical Centre will receive nearly $500 million to expand, increasing its maternity care capabilities, while adding more operating suites and intensive care beds.

Loser: Community hospitals

Plans to build three community hospitals in Emerald Hill, Eltham and Torquay are now being reviewed and are likely to be scrapped. 

The community hospitals were promised six years ago. 

Community Health First welcomed an investment in healthcare but said the budget was a "missed opportunity". 

"Community health services have had no increase in funding over many years, despite record population growth and cost-of-living pressures putting healthcare out of the reach of many Victorians," it said. 

"Today's budget does nothing to address this challenge and improve access to community-based healthcare for Victorians."

Loser: Mental Health

Thirty-five mental health and wellbeing clinics — a recommendation of the royal commission —  are being delayed.

The government planned to open 50, but so far only 15 have opened.  

Winner: Family violence services

The budget allocates $211 million to be invested in the safety of women and children.

Money will go towards interventions to prevent family violence, help victim-survivors, and stop violence before it starts.

This includes a further investment in the government's Respectful Relationships program which has been rolled out at some schools.

Winner: Renewable energy

For the government to reach its target of 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035, it's investing more in solar, hot water and battery storage — almost $50 million in total.

There will be $38 million going towards helping Victorians install electric heat pumps and solar hot water systems, while $6.1 million will be set aside to extend the interest-free loan program to install solar battery storage systems in homes.

The government will invest $3.4 million in continuing the Energy Assistance Program to help vulnerable customers navigate the energy market.

Neutral: Aspiring home owners

The budget confirmed what most young Victorians already know: owning a home is becoming an increasingly challenging goal.

Budget analysis highlighted that in the mid-1990s, the average Victorian house price was roughly 3.5 times average household incomes.

But in the last few years, that ratio has doubled, recently peaking at seven times average incomes.

It means the average time taken for 25 to 34-year-olds to save for a deposit has risen from five years in the mid-90s to seven or eight years more recently.

In recognition of this, the budget has allocated a one off $700 million supplement to the government's Victorian Homebuyer Fund, where the government assists homebuyers by taking a stake in the purchase.

The program will then be replaced by a federal government scheme. 

In response to the budget, the Property Council of Australia said it was "deeply concerned by the complete absence [of] any positive action to alleviate the immense fiscal burden on the industry". 

"[The $700 million supplement] will not result in more homes being built and is in reality only tinkering around the edges of the real problem — a critical lack of new housing supply," Victorian executive director Cath Evans said. 

Loser: Tip users

One of the ways the government is trying to pull in more revenue with this budget is through an increase to the state's waste levy.

It currently sits at $129.27 per tonne for metropolitan industrial and municipal waste left at the tip. But from July next year, that'll increase to $169.79 per tonne.

The government says a "proportional" increase will also be applied at rural landfills, which attract lower levies than those in the city.

Loser: Ratepayers

The state's fire services property levy is applied to all properties and helps fund the state's firefighting services.

From July, the government will begin collecting a higher levy from properties than it has in previous years.

The government says the median increase for the following property types is as follows:

• Residential: $35 rise
• Commercial: $73 rise
• Industrial: $35 rise
• Primary production: $150 rise
• Public benefit: $13 rise
• Vacant: $143

Loser: Major projects

The $13 billion Melbourne Airport Rail Link project will be delayed by at least four years to 2033.

The Upfield Train line level crossing removal has also been delayed until at least 2030.

Loser: Casual workers

Casual workers won't get paid for sick leave following the abolishment of a government COVID-era plan, with no further funding after the middle of the year.

The state is instead calling on the federal government to take over. 

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Unlock the past: Explore 19th century mansions, historic homes

GALVESTON, Texas -- Visitors have a chance to explore Galveston's rich history through its architecture.

"People love to come down and walk through the houses," Will Wright of Galveston Historical Foundation said.

The foundation runs Historic Homes Tour, which is held annually during the first two weekends of May.

The tour gives people an opportunity to step inside these private residencies that are often closed to the public. A few of the homes were built in the 19th century and work has been done to preserve its history.

"It's great to always look back at the past and keep things as they were so we can go back and see it, and enjoy the details," Homeowner Julie Lee said.

This year marks the tour's 50th anniversary. Tickets are available online .

Click on the video above to see the story.

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Mapping information provided by Sandy Payne germansfromrussiasettlementlocations.org

Frank was set up as an independent Lutheran parish in 1768 and the pastor was resident there.

Frank, a German Lutheran colony, was until October 1918 the Township center of the Frank Township, Atkarsk Region, Saratov Province, 110 versts from the city of Saratov and 94 versts south of the county town of Atkarsk.  Frank was founded as a Crown colony on 16 May 1767 by 117 families from Mecklenburg, Palatinate, Saxony and Darmstadt-Isenburg.  In an edict dated 26 February 1768, Frank was given the Russian name of Medeveditskii Krestovyi Buyerak because of where it was located on the river.

As of 1859, there were in Frank a Lutheran church (built in 1842), a parochial school, a market, 3 oil producing factories and one mill.

Colonists from Frank helped to found the daughter colonies of Brunnental in 1855 and Langenfeld in 1859.  In 1859, 120 colonists moved to the Samara Province on the Wiesenseite.

A Regional government school was founded in 1871 with both governmental and private funds.  Books and other supplies were provided by the government.  Tuition has been set so that all can afford to attend: full payment 11-14 rubles; only 6 rubles for the poor.

*Of whom 5,072 are German. **Of which 643 households were German. ***Of whom 5,288 (2,561 male & 2,727 female) were German living in 832 households. ****Of whom 5,467 were German.

Beratz, Gottieb. The German colonies on the Lower Volga, their origin and early development: a memorial for the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first German settlers on the Volga, 29 June 1764 . Translated by Adam Giesinger (Lincoln, NE: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1991): 349.

Diesendorf, V.F. Die Deutschen Russlands : Siedlungen und Siedlungsgebiete : Lexicon. Moscow, 2006.

The German Settlements in the USSR before 1941 [in Russian] (Moscow, 2002): 125.

Mink, A.N. Historical and Geographical Dictionary of the Saratov Province [in Russian] (Saratov, Russia, 1898).

Orlov, Gregorii. Report of Conditions of Settlements on the Volga to Catherine II , 14 February 1769.

Pallas, P.S. Reise durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs. Theil 3,2, Reise aus Sibirien zurueck an die Wolga im 1773sten Jahr (St. Petersburg: Kaiserl. Academie der Wissenschaften, 1776): 623.

Pleve, Igor R. The German Colonies on the Volga: The Second Half of the Eighteenth Century , translated by Richard Rye (Lincoln, NE: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 2001): 318.

Schnurr, Joseph, Die Kirchen und das Religiöse Leben der Russlanddeutschen - Evangelischer Teil (Stuttgart: Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland, 1972): 344.

"Settlements in the 1897 Census." Journal of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (Winter, 1990): 18.

Frank and Kolb, Russia (Kelly Horst)

History of the Village Frank (Clarence Kissler)

Frank (wolgadeutsche.net) - in Russian

Frank-Kolb Facebook Page (Maggie Hein)

Surnames with Confirmed Pre-Volga Origins

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Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

• 51.716667 46.166667 1 Saratov Gagarin Airport ( GSV  IATA ), Saburovka village . New airport northeast of Saratov. It replaced Saratov Tsentralny Airport in August 2019.

By train [ edit ]

Otherwise the best way to get there is by Saratov Rail from Moscow's Pavletsky Station, which takes approximately 15-16 hr. The trains operate overnight, departing in the afternoon/evening, arriving in the morning.

Saratov is also accessible via rail from Samara to the north (train 10 hours, 400 km) and Volgograd and Astrakhan to the south. The St. Petersburg-Astrakhan' line passes through Saratov. It takes about 26 hours to travel from St. Petersburg to Saratov on train.

By bus [ edit ]

There are also buses between Saratov and many other cities, including Moscow. However, the comfort and value of the rail system over the vast distances involved makes the bus service a comparatively unattractive option.

Get around [ edit ]

Taxis [ edit ]

If you don't want to go through the trouble of finding the correct route number, taxis are a widely available option. Yandex Taxi or its many competitors are a reliable way to get around, as you can order a taxi via an app for a predefined price (also in English).

Walking [ edit ]

Saratov is not exactly a small city, but its main pedestrian area along Prospekt Stolypina and onwards to the Volga is definitely walkable. There are plenty of well-marked pedestrian crossings and drivers do stop (because they get very serious fines if they don't).

Buy [ edit ]

The usual Russian souvenirs such as matryoshkas are available in Saratov, although if travelling through Moscow it is probably best to wait to get them there as they will be cheaper.

The markets in Saratov are useful spots to pick up winter clothes if necessary, including coats, boots, leather gloves and of course hats. Haggling is indulged.

Prospekt Kirova is the most upmarket shopping area in the city, with fancy boutiques selling expensive shoes, bags and jewellery. There are branches for Mango, Nike, Reebok, Adidas, United Colors of Benetton, and L'Occitane among others. Also on Prospekt Kirova is an excellent tobacconist, selling all kinds of pipes and tobacco including hookah pipes, as well as a speciality tea shop.

Barrikada, on Ulitsa Gorkogo, is an excellent alternative music store that sells legitimate (i.e. non-pirate) albums and music DVDs at prices much cheaper than in Western Europe, and stocks a diversity of artists unparalleled by even Moscow's gargantuan Gorbushka market.

Electronics can be purchased from one of the city's branches of El Dorado (one particularly large one is on the embankment near the river station).

Dom Knigi, the book shop on the corner of Ulitsa Volskaya and Prospekt Kirova, has an English language section and is also a good spot to pick up postcards, maps and souvenirs such as books of old postcard views of Saratov. Noviy Knizhniy, on the fourth floor of the Aurora Shopping Center (Chapaeva and Sovetskaya), also features an English language section. Grab a coffee at the nearby cafe, bring your laptop, and enjoy the free wireless on the fourth floor.

Despite its name, Detsky Mir ('Children's World') at the top of Prospekt Kirova near McDonalds, stocks all kinds of everything (clothes, accessories, stationery, hipflasks, penknives...) in cabinets, behind counters, and at individually manned stalls. TsUM (Tsentralniy Universalniy Magazin, 'Central Universal Store') across the way is a similar sort of operation.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Saratov, even in small businesses like coffee spots and market stands. However, note that foreign VISA/MasterCard credit cards are not accepted as of 2022. If you have a Russian bank account, Russia's QR code-based quick payment system SBP is accepted nearly everywhere. Otherwise it is a good idea to bring cash in RUB (or EUR/USD and exchange in a bank). During the Christmas period banks have a very limited schedule of hours. Western Union transfers are very difficult if they are made to a foreigner since rules require not just a passport but that the passport be notarized by a Russian notary. There is a translation service on Bolshaia Kazakshia near the junction with Astrakhan street on the right when facing back towards the town centre.

While there are money exchanges at both the Saratov airport and train station, the hours of operation are limited. Usually there are men in the train station who will exchange US dollars but at bad rates and with the risk of getting counterfeited rubles. Euros are probably easier to work with in Saratov. ATMs give good rates but the payouts are limited. Never take travellers cheques. Only Sberbank and only the main branch will deal with them and it takes 6-8 hr to go through the process.

Eat [ edit ]

Cafe Fortuna, above an internet cafe on Prospekt Kirova, is reliable for good Russian food like blini, borshch and solyanka, as well as omelettes and chips and the like.

Papa's Irish Bar, also on the Prospekt, serves a decent menu including a fry and Irish stew, as well as other slightly Russified Western pub food.

There is a Tinkoff Restaurant and Bar in Saratov. Tinkoff hosts live groups, as it does in its other locations in Russia. Decor inside is clean and swanky, with dimmed lights and lounge-style tables. The food is overpriced and uninspiring. Expect to go through security by stocky bouncers if you arrive to see a concert.

There are a number of passable sushi restaurants around, while street food like shwarma and hot pirogi are readily available.

There is also an ice-cream parlour called Pingvin on the Prospekt and a Baskin Robbins by the multi-coloured church off the end of the Prospekt.

Near the circus there is perhaps Russia's only branch of Papa John's Pizza. Like many American fast-food imports, Russian Papa John's appears to be a decent, sit-down restaurant. The restaurant provides free wireless to its guests.

Saratov is also home to a locally-owned chain of overpriced coffee shops called Vostok-Zapad ('East-West'), where no two cappuccinos are ever the same (or, indeed, ever much like a cappuccino). They are, however, a pleasant place to hang out and the coffee is decent enough, if not exactly what you may have in mind but the quality is consistently better than the used dishwater served in most US and UK branded coffee chains. Another café is Café et Chocolat which, as the name suggests, is a French-style establishment, serving crepes and pastries. They have several branches.

Drink [ edit ]

Bars along the main pedestrian street, Prospekt Kirova, include Pivnoy Zavod (Beer Factory, a microbrewery); Papa's Irish Pub; Pivnoy Bul'var (with American pool tables as well as Russian billiards); and Grand Michel (with bowling).

There are also numerous wine bars around the city where wine can be sampled by the cup.

Saratov's main nightclubs include Jumanji and Ars. Both operate rigorous security checks (metal detectors and body searches are par for the course) and face control policies (nonwhite ethnic minorities may be refused point blank).

In summer, barges along the naberezhnaya (embankment) become floating bars and clubs.

Cope [ edit ]

Considering that Saratov is a city where it snows for the better part of the year, you'd think the city's authorities would have learned to deal with the snow and ice – and you'd be wrong. Compacted snow covers practically all roads and sidewalks throughout the winter; it is cleared away really only on the main pedestrian street (Prospekt Stolypina) and in front of government buildings. Be super careful when walking near roofs and balconies – icicles can fall down without notice and have even killed people. Also pay attention to snow sliding down from the roof. If you see (printed or handwritten) signs with many exclamation points and/or fingers pointing upwards on the side of a building, don't walk under it!

If you drive yourself, note that most major streets are one-way streets. Road markings are often not visible (especially in winter, when roads are completely covered in snow). The road quality varies a lot, but do expect potholes (and people swerving to avoid them) and not-so-level level crossings across tram and railroad tracks.

There are stray dogs and they might have rabies. If you spot a dog without owner, it's best to make a large detour around it. This is especially true if there are multiple dogs.

Go next [ edit ]

Just opposite Saratov, on the other side of the Volga, is the smaller town of Engels , accessible via a quick bus journey across the bridge. Catch the bus on Ulitsa Moskovskaya or take a taxi (walking across the bridge is not recommended).

Other towns in the Saratov Oblast , accessible via marshrutka, include Marks, Balakovo, Atkarsk, and Volsk.

There are shared minibuses that drive across the Russian- Kazakh border to Uralsk , usually leaving very early in the morning.

You can take a train to the neighboring regions, such as Volgograd , Tambov , Penza , Samara , and Voronezh .

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Frank and Kolb, Russia

Two German colonies located near the Volga River

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Welcome to the joint website for the ancestral villages of Frank and Kolb, neighboring villages located near the Volga River in Saratov Province, Russia.

The purpose of this website is to help facilitate the following mission statement of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR):

"An international organization dedicated to the discovery, collection, preservation, and dissemination of information related to the history, cultural heritage and genealogy of Germanic Settlers in the Russian Empire and their descendants."

Organizational Structure

It has been decided that the website be a joint site broken into 3 distinct sections. The 'main' section containing information common to both villages and genealogy in general, and the 'Frank' and 'Kolb' sections with information pertaining to each individual village respectively.

We hope that you will find this an informative and useful site and maybe even find a missing cousin or two.

If you are not a member or have been thinking of becoming one and have just been putting it off, we encourage you to check out your local chapter and join AHSGR. If there are no local chapters in your area you can always join AHSGR International, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. By joining the society you have valuable resources at your disposal not to mention the contacts you can make with other researchers. We are generally a very helpful group of people more than willing to share our knowledge, experience, and information with those interested in researching their family genealogy.

Happy Hunting.....