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The Lunenburg County Historical Society (LCHS) will hold its annual Heritage House Christmas tour at newly-restored Aspen Hill Farm, 2284 Wallaces Bridge Road, Lunenburg, on Saturday, Dec. 7 and 8 from 1-5 p.m. each day.

Aspen Hill’s charming farmhouse was built approximately 1818 by John Iverson Boswell, Jr., son of a Revolutionary War veteran who served with Washington at Valley Forge, and a veteran himself of the War of 1812. Other Lunenburg families who made Aspen Hill their home included Walkers and Wallaces; but as early as 1990 the house and land Aspen Hill had all but been abandoned.

In 2016, Steve and Pat Israel fell in love with this country place and began to bring the 200-year-old house back to life. It was a labor of love, and drew on the skills of many local workers. The challenge was to bring the function of the house into the 21st century while maintaining its historical integrity.

You will see the construction techniques of the early 1800s as well as the ingenuity and hard work that has restored its huge old timbers and hand-crafted wainscoting. You will find a cozy master suite comprised of what was once a former cookhouse and sleeping loft for servants, and a lot more. You will get to know the Boswell family, including one of J. I. Boswell, Jr.’s sons who served in the Civil War as a physician, but also held two patents dated 1874 and 1903 for design of a “flying machine,” preceding the 1906 patent of the Wright brothers.

Light refreshments will be served this year in a modern kitchen with unique features that will surprise you.

LCHS is a nonprofit organization that provides informative and entertaining programs four times a year at no charge and open to the public. It also sponsors essay and photography contests that celebrate the history of Lunenburg County and an ongoing maintenance of the two restored historic law offices on the grounds of the Lunenburg Court House. The Heritage House Christmas house tour is the primary fundraiser for LCHS; thus, as always, a nominal admission is charged.

Step back in time while admiring the modern updates at Aspen Hill Farm, located in its rural setting at 2284 Wallaces Bridge Road, off Plank Road about 11 miles south of Kenbridge.

Aspen Hill can be accessed by following South Broad Street out of Kenbridge. Keep straight and this will take you via a short distance on Craig Mill Road to Plank Road where you simply keep straight while bearing to the right. Then follow Plank Road for 7.7 miles until you reach the right turn off Plank Road onto Wallaces Bridge Road. Stay on Wallaces Bridge Road for 1 mile and you will arrive at Aspen Hill Farm on the left.

From Victoria, travel on Routes 40/49 to Lunenburg Court House. In front of the Court House, turn left onto Hardy Road. Travel 1.9 miles and take a left onto Reedy Creek Road and travel 4.7 miles to the intersection with Plank Road. Take a right on Plank Road. In 1 mile, take a right onto Wallaces Bridge Road. Stay on Wallaces Bridge Road for 1 mile and you will arrive at Aspen Hill Farm on the left.