AUBURN -- Hundreds of residents from Auburn and surrounding towns rediscovered the city during an annual Holiday Traditions series of open houses.

Auburn resident Marion Foreman hadn't visited the Seward House in years. The beautiful weather and festive spirit brought her there Sunday afternoon. She also planned to visit Willard Chapel for a concert later in the afternoon.

"This is just beautiful," she said as she listened to the singers. "I love how they show a historic Christmas. It's fabulous."

The Seward House first dropped admission fees and offered the open house in 1977. Other sites adopted the popular idea and created a multi-stop holiday classic.

The annual event always puts Foreman in the holiday mood, but only participates when the weather cooperates.

The festivities bring out the most visitors on a single day each year, said Jennifer M. Haines, curator of education and outreach for the Seward House. With the sunny day and temperatures in the 40s, she expected 700 to 800 spectators to walk the halls of Seward's former home.

Workers sprinkled Christmas decorations throughout the South Street house but tried to be true to the times. The staff poured over letters and diaries for clues of the family's original ideas, Haines said.

The large Christmas tree near the front winding staircase has pulled cotton on its branches, an inventive way to replicate snow long before plastic tinsel and white foam in aerosol cans.

Three drummers and two fife players performed for passers-by on the sidewalk in front of the home. The musicians were dressed in classic solider gear from the Civil War.

Inside the two-story home, a few women wore traditional dresses and a musical group sang carols with the help of a large piano.

"I have to think the Sewards would approve of this... They loved visitors and having parties and festivities," executive director Peter Wisbey said.

The Seward House was one of several historic sites and museums that invited visitors to stop in for free Sunday as part of the holiday celebration, including Cayuga Museum, Harriet Tubman House, Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, Willard Chapel and Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum.

Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Citizen.