Holmes County Historical Society Releases Victorian House Guidebook
The Holmes County Historical Society has published "Step Into the Past," a decade‑in‑the‑making guidebook that compiles the Victorian House’s architecture, stories and artifacts into a single visitor resource. The book aims to provide self‑guided, room‑by‑room interpretation of the 1902 mansion and will be celebrated with a community book‑signing, reception and evening tours on Nov. 15, with proceeds supporting ongoing preservation.
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The Holmes County Historical Society this week issued a new guidebook intended to deepen public access to one of the county’s landmark properties. Titled "Step Into the Past," the volume gathers architectural descriptions, historical narratives and inventories of notable artifacts from the Victorian House, a 1902 mansion that anchors local heritage programming.
Developed over more than a decade, the guide was written by local authors Melissa Patrick, Mary Tipton and Carmen Camacho. The society says the goal is to give visitors a self‑guided way to understand the house room‑by‑room. The book includes floor plans and color photographs that illustrate interiors and selected objects, providing visual and contextual information designed to augment in‑person tours and classroom visits.
The Historical Society plans a community book‑signing and reception alongside evening tours on Nov. 15 at the Castle Club, adjacent to the museum. Proceeds from sales will benefit ongoing preservation of the Victorian House. The publication and accompanying events are positioned by the society as both an educational resource and a revenue source to underwrite conservation work on the century‑old property.
For residents, the guidebook represents a new tool for civic engagement and local stewardship. By making detailed information about the mansion’s layout and artifacts broadly available, the society is expanding interpretive capacity beyond scheduled tours and volunteer docents. This can broaden access for families, students, and visitors who cannot attend guided programs while also creating a documented baseline for future preservation planning.
Institutionally, the decade‑long effort underscores the Historical Society’s long‑term commitment to maintaining the Victorian House as an asset of community memory. Publishing a comprehensive guidebook is a tangible demonstration of institutional capacity to curate, document and fundraise around built heritage. At the same time, reliance on proceeds from sales points to the ongoing challenge faced by small local organizations: balancing public programming with the need for sustainable revenue to cover conservation costs.
Local leaders and residents seeking information about access, book availability or volunteer opportunities will be able to connect with the Historical Society at the Nov. 15 event at the Castle Club. As the community moves forward, the guidebook may serve as both a practical visitor tool and a reference for homeowners, educators and officials involved in planning and preservation decisions tied to Holmes County’s historic fabric.
