LaPetite Maison, “little house,” located on South Main Street, was in the spotlight on Dec. 4, when homeowner, Vikki Day, opened her home for the Holiday House and Fruitcake Festival.

Day said she had planned the event to bring attention to the problem of spaying and neutering with the local pet population.

“We raised $829 to go to the animal shelter for use in its discretionary funds,” Day said. “I had been thinking about doing this for a while and realized that something had to be done to promote a spaying and neutering program here in Atmore. There are so many stray animals around the community that I wanted to do something to help control the situation.”

Those who attended the festival were treated to a variety of fresh foods, desserts and, of course, fruitcakes. Guests entered the house, designed by Day and her architect, Frank Perez, and were immediately welcomed by hand painted murals of her home and farm in Huxford, executed by artist Claire Fontaine. Everywhere guests looked there were antiques, such as the Empire marble petticoat table built in the 1800s and used by ladies of a bygone era to check to see if their petticoats were showing. The items on display were an eclectic showcase of items from around the world, from a German train that ran on the lawn to the large portrait from the 1800s over the fireplace of Bob Carney, an ancestor of Atmore’s founding father, William Carney.

There were antique glassware, silver, and even cookware. Every room became a treasure of small and large, not only antiques, but interesting items to catch the visitor’s eye. Everything was given a holiday look, including a huge Christmas tree, covered in antique ornaments, and a collection of nutcrackers and smokers.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the reading of Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” by John Mascara, who recited the short story from the balcony.

“He not only looked like Capote, he sounded like him,” Day said.

Day said the day’s events were successful.

“There are a lot of older residents on fixed incomes that just don’t have the funds to pay for having their pets spayed or neutered,” she said. “The funds raised will be used to get this much needed program established.”