BRAMWELL, W. Va. -Almost every year since 1983, the Town of Bramwell holds a tour of its houses and other buildings, with the Christmas season being an excuse to deck these historic halls. More than four decades since it began, the tour continues to attract visitors, giving guests a glimpse into how the millionaires who lived here spent the holiday season.
“Because it’s been going on for 40 years and people have heard about it and the story continues to build, you don’t have an opportunity to see this consolidated amount of grandeur in one small town. And since we have it here, it’s, it’s worth coming to do,” says Dennis Marcello from the Bramwell Town Council.
Marcello says being featured on this tour is a source of pride for many residents. We asked one Bramwell resident, Jimmy Bishop, who participated in the tour what made him want to invite people into his family’s home.
“If you walk through these houses, you see the, the craftsmanship, the woodwork. It’s, you know, it’s something that you don’t see a lot of anymore, especially in one area, one little town. And to be honest, as kind of a adopted hometown, I’m proud of this town and I want to do everything I can… to promote it,” says Bishop.
Bishop says the tour attracts large crowds to the small town, with many repeat visitors, some coming from out of state. However, this tradition also brings newcomers, including one who traveled from the Huntington area to take part.
“Oh, it’s super cute. We love it. We’re probably going to do this every year now. It’s our little mom thing…” says first time visitor Leesha, “…It’s really cute, especially if you like history and old timey stuff, which we do.”
However, this tour does more than teach history, it also raises money for the Bramwell Theater Corporation, who use it to keep the town ready for guests.
“The money that is raised from this… I mean, nobody makes any money off this tour. It all goes back into, you know, we painted the town cars. We, uh, put new awnings up on Main Street, so everything goes back into the town. So I just think that kind of focus of a small group in a small town is pretty special,” says Bishop.
Those we spoke to encourage others to come out to next year’s Christmas tour, with Marcello calling it a once in a lifetime opportunity to view this “Norman Rockwell town.”
If you would like to tour some of the homes in Bramwell, you may not have to wait until next Christmas season to take part. They will be holding their annual Spring tour in June.
You can find out more information by following the Bramwell Theater Corporation and Bramwell Town Hall on Facebook.
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