CREEDE— The Creede Early Learning Center set out signs along the list of homes participating in their annual fundraiser Tour of Homes event on Friday evening. Several historical homes were chosen this year to add a little spice to the already-popular event and offered a chance for participants to see the historical side of living in a rich heritage community. The event was well attended and the center was able to raise additional funds to help with operating costs for the next year.
For those who attended the tour, it was a unique chance to see how people who reside in historical homes around Creede spend their days and also gave them the opportunity to see inside some of the historical landmarks around Creede like the Wason Ranch Train Depot. Everyone who participated in the tour was amazed at the work and dedication it takes to restore and live in historical homes that were built almost 100 years ago. The addition to the regular home tour was a welcomed treat.
The tour is one of many fundraisers the center hosts throughout the year as they rely on donations and grants for operating costs, which in turn helps keep their tuition fees lower for parents. The center continues to grow and change as the years go by, bringing new and innovative learning to the youth who attend and offer a service to the community which is needed by many working families.
According to sources, the annual event changed from basic to historical homes in the area, because after several years of hosting the tour, the number of new homes has become less and less. The center began to get inquiries from homeowners who wanted to participate by opening their historical homes to help with the fundraiser. The idea took shape and the event took off to form this year’s Historic Tour of Homes.
The center was created almost 20 years ago by a group of local ladies who wanted to provide a learning environment for younger children not yet of school age. The house where the center resides was donated by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, rent-free. The location of the house is just outside of town and will add to the historical feel of the tour all on its own, having been a part of the area for many years.
In addition to other events happening throughout the weekend, the tour offered a reprieve from the busy streets and a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to see inside some of Creede’s most historic locations. Plans for next year are well underway, and the center hopes to have the historical tour of homes on the agenda for many years to come.