The Herlihy Christmas House opens on Thursday, Dec. 12 for tours of an extensive display of Christmas decorating and collecting. Tours of the home are available through Sunday, Dec. 15 from 6-9 p.m. each evening. Terri Herlihy noted that there are 30 trees this year with over 1,000 ornaments on the trees spread throughout six rooms.
The late Paul Herlihy loved Christmas and began decorating his bedroom in the family-owned funeral home when he was a young boy. His passion for Christmas continued into adulthood when he married his wife Sharon and they continued collecting ornaments and other decorations. Their daughter, Terri Herlihy, continues decorating the home that she now owns.
She invites visitors to visit the home at 170 West Second Street, Mansfield, located behind Herlihy-Chambers Funeral Home. In addition to the decorated trees, there are also trains and villages.
“It’s something that my dad started and I’ve continued since he passed away. I now only do this every other year,” said Terri Herlihy. It takes considerable work. Herlihy said she and her helpers have been decorating the home since late September.
“Paul was a Christmas fan. He died 14 years ago this past November. He loved the holidays; he would add trees every year,” added Sharon Herlihy, “There are so many people over the years who have enjoyed it and when the little kids come and you see the light of Christmas in their eyes, and then all of the work is okay.”
“One year,” she said, “a husband came and you could tell he didn’t want to be here.” But she described how he and his wife came back the next day and the next, bringing friends and family. His wife approached Sharon Herlihy and said, “I have to thank you. I really have to thank you.”
That year, for the first time, the man’s family decorated their Christmas tree as a family.
The cut Christmas tree that dominates the center of the Herlihy house was cut down on Nov. 23. It was donated by her friends Jim and Sandy Bishop from their home on Hanley Rd., Mansfield. The tree is the tallest one the Herlihys have put up, and to put a 24-foot tree up inside a house is quite a feat. Approximately two feet of the base of the tree had to be cut off before it was raised into the cupola of the great room. That took a crew of friends and family pushing and pulling to get it positioned on the third attempt.
The tree was planted when the Bishops’ daughter was four years old and they watched it grow.
“Jim’s helped put the tree up for years,” said Sharon Herlihy.
Terri Herlihy’s daughter Katelyn may be next in line to decorate the family home, but she’s only five years old this year. Terri Herlihy said her daughter was only three years old the last time that they decorated for the tour. She’s enjoying it all over again and said her grandmother’s anniversary tree was her favorite tree.
The home tour tradition started in 1987 when the Mansfield Symphony held a Parade of Homes. The following year the Humane Society asked to conduct tours and other nonprofits followed suit. Donations have been given to Toy Time and Hospice and now the proceeds are donated to A Special Wish Foundation, in addition to Toy Time.
For more information, contact Terri Herlihy at 567-303-5721 or visit their website.
“There are so many people over the years who have enjoyed it and when the little kids come and you see the light of Christmas in their eyes, and then all of the work is okay,” said Sharon Herlihy.
