Parlor tour offers an insider’s look at Christmases past

SNOHOMISH — It’s been six years since the community got a glimpse of the interior of the 1903 Craftsman Tudor style home decorated for Christmas.

Inside Rich and Eileen Softye’s home, visitors will find a display of wooden Santas in a cabinet and eagles over the doorways of the sun room and study handcarved by Rich Softye, a former Coast Guard captain.

On the mantle is a ceramic nativity scene, created by his wife, Eileen Softye.

These wooden Santas were handcarved by Rich Softye, a former Coast Guard captain. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

The home, a former rectory for the local Episcopal church, is one of five on Sunday’s self-guided Christmas Parlor Tour, sponsored by the Snohomish Historical Society. The tour also includes a stop at Zion Lutheran Church, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2017.

“It’s a great, fun, tradition seeing the different decorations,” said Chris Gee, president of the Snohomish Historical Society.

Find desserts and coffee at the Blackman House Museum at 118 Avenue B and a crafts bazaar at the Waltz Building, 116 Avenue B.

A group called Somewhere in Time will dress in period costumes, Gee said.

The Softyes moved into their home in 1997, after Rich Softye retired from the Coast Guard.

The couple, who previously lived in the Silver Firs neighborhood near Mill Creek, would make frequent trips to Snohomish. “We used to visit after mass,” Eileen Softye said.

One day, Rich Softye saw the home on Fourth Street was for sale, and the couple decided to buy it.

The local builder who originally constructed the home later sold it in 1920 to the Episcopal church to be used as a parsonage until 1974.

Parlor tour offers an insider’s look at Christmases past

Five of the home’s rooms will be decorated for the event. A Christmas tree is decorated with handmade ornaments or others given to the couple as gifts during Rich Softey’s Coast Guard career.

On the stairwell landing to the second floor is an antique rocking horse. There are candles in the home’s windows.

“It’s a well-known house because of its association with the church,” Rich Softye said.

Pick up tickets in advance at Annie’s On First, 1122 First St., Joyworks, 1002 First St., and McDaniel’s Do It Center, 510 Second St. Day-of-tour tickets will be available beginning at 11 a.m. at the Waltz Building, 116 Ave B.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Snohomish Historical Society, including maintaining the Blackman House Museum and the Waltz Building.

“It’s a great way for people to start getting in the mood for Christmas,” Gee said. “It brings out the Christmas spirit.”

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.