Christmas Open House at the Historic Hanby House

The Westerville Historical Society hosts a free Christmas Open House at the Hanby House, 160 West Main Street in Uptown Westerville, on three dates: Tuesday, December 1 and Thursday, December 3 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday, December 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The program includes house tours, music, refreshments and the gift shop.

The house belonged to the family of Benjamin Hanby, a 19th century Otterbein graduate who wrote "Up on the House Top," an early American song about Santa Claus landing on the roof, as well as the antislavery ballad "Darling Nelly Gray." At the holidays a cutout Santa climbs a chimney sign out front that credits the song to Ben Hanby, and singers gather in the front parlor. The Hanby family also sheltered freedom seekers here on the Underground Railroad.

The site is part of the Ohio History Connection network, and the Historical Society is marking its 85th year. Short evening hours make it easy to pair with dinner in Uptown.