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The Selma-Dallas County Historical Preservation Society has opened its “Holiday House” once again for the holiday season, commemorating its 46th anniversary.

The “Holiday House” which is also known as Minnie Sue’s Cottage is currently filled with a vast of things from handcrafted gifts to holiday decorations including sweet treats for the public to view and buy for the upcoming holiday season from Monday, Dec. 2, to Saturday, Dec. 14, in between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

About 13 rooms within the holiday house are decorated with items for sale, catching the eyes of shoppers who want to shop local and don’t have to steer too far away from home.

“We are very happy here,” said treasurer Candy Duncan of The Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society. “We’ll be here for now at 622 McLeod Ave. in Selma for 13 days straight.”

Duncan said the “Holiday House” as many know it today, started out several years ago with only a tour of Heritage Homes and a craft sale that took place in the John Tyler Morgan building which was then moved years later to The City of Selma Performing Arts Center Building and once COVID hit in 2020, the historical holiday event sponsored by the society ended up in the event’s current building after resident Christine Long gifted her home to the society to preserve.

“Throughout the years, we have had a lot of damage and things have changed and we had to move everything out that we have as far as furniture and stuff so that we could welcome more vendors to come in and set their things up,” Duncan said.

“This year, more vendors were a part of the society’s Holiday House than there were last year,” according to Duncan. “They have smaller items and overall, so far, we have 30 vendors. It may look like there’s less stuff in here this year, but it’s really more owners of the stuff. And we have missed many vendors this year as well that would usually attend because of health reasons.”

Duncan said for those who have never heard of “The Holiday House” are encouraged to come and check it out and said it’s a place where you can shop like you are at 30 different stores without having to walk that far.

“We’ve got a lot of talented people here in Selma that do that sort of thing that works somewhere else from eight to five and do their small business stuff in the evening so we have some items that are packaged small enough, you can take it home and enjoy,” Duncan said.

Two vendors in particular that are a part of The Holiday House are Laser Craft Gifts and the Tammy Cakes, Pies and Chicken Salad booth.

Both vendors are out of Selma, catering to two different niches. One is catered to feeding those in the community, and the other is catered to gifting souls’ homemade gifts and trinkets to warm hearts around the holiday season.

“I’m the cake lady,” said Tammy Johnson, who is an entrepreneur that started selling cakes, pies and chicken salad four years ago to feed her family when funds around the holidays started to appear low.

“I will cater anything dealing with food,” said Johnson. “But, I mostly do cakes, pies and chicken salad every week. I will also be at the Selma Flea Market every Saturday, at Table 32 and this helps me keep ahead, stay ahead instead of getting behind.”

Like Johnson, Andrew Truex is an entrepreneur as well, who started exploring personalized engraving services after his family business called Butler Truex Jewelers shut down in Selma, a couple years ago.

“This is my second year with the Holiday House,” Truex said. “Last year was my first year, and we did really well last year, so I decided to do it again this year.”

Truex said he does on-site laser engraving metal tumblers, and slate and court coasters including some wooden Christmas ornaments and silver jewelry, he can customize as well.

Johnson will be available at the Holiday House next Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for any interested in some tasty treats for the upcoming holiday season. Truex said he would be available at the Holiday House every day that the house is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about The Holiday House in Historic Downtown, contact 334-412-8550.