CRANDALL — Grant Felty has been in and around the historic Colvard House for years. After all, his relatives, Marc and Penny Carpenter, have lived in the two-story home for nine years.

On Saturday, Felty played the part of tour guide showing several hundred guests the home’s master bedroom as part of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society’s Christmas Open House. The event is a major fundraiser for the society, which is facing financial trouble.

“The house really is a historic place,” said Felty, a 14-year-old freshman at Murray County High School. “I like coming out here and learning about all of the things that have gone on here and looking at all the antiques they have.”

Felty’s favorite story? The bathroom in the master bedroom was once a closet that had entry to a trap door leading to a high attic hiding place. Euclid Waterhouse, a Murray County landowner who built the home, was a Union sympathizer and hid in the attic from his adversaries.

Carolyn Luffman, president of the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, said the organization’s coffers have shrunk significantly. By late October, the society had just $3,761 in its general fund while its average monthly operating expenses are $2,711. A rummage sale last month raised money while private donations have come in as well.

The open house is expected to raise several thousand dollars. There’s another fundraiser planned: The Chief Vann House in Spring Place will host the annual holiday candlelight tours on Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night. The society has about 300 members and dues are a major source of income. Yearly dues should begin coming in next month, Luffman said.

“Right now, we’re just holding our own,” Luffman said.

Dalton residents Harvey Neal and his wife, Trish, made the 30-minute drive to the Colvard House on Saturday.

“We like these kinds of things, we love this whole area,” Harvey Neal said. “It’s really interesting to know that someone lives here. It’s very well kept up and I’d be interested to know the history behind the home.”

The home, originally called the Oakwood Plantation, was built between 1847 and 1852. It now stands at the intersection of Georgia Highways 2 and 225. Despite the home’s age, it maintains several original features including heart-pine floors and a brick summer kitchen. The house was the first in Murray County to electricity and telephone service.

Waterhouse sold the home to Civil War veteran Maj. M.D. McCroskey in the late 1800s. When his daughter married Dr. T.W. Colvard, the major deeded the home to her. The house was sold to Judy Boring in the 1990s and she undertook a restoration of the property. The Carpenters have since renovated and refurbished the home. Future plans include rebuilding the balcony, restoring the green plantation shutters and strengthening the north end of the slave quarters to prevent it from collapsing.

Penny Carpenter notes that such projects on older homes costs twice as much and usually take twice as long. When the Carpenters bought the home in 1999, they joked about undertaking an 80-year improvement plan.

“That leaves us 71 years to go,” she says.

Luffman, the historical society president, thanked the Carpenters for opening their home to so many strangers. The home was decked out in holiday decor complete with a 12-foot Christmas tree in the parlor.

“We’re real excited because this has been a landmark in the community for eons,” Luffman said. “Being invited into a private home like this, and the way it’s decorated, is perfect.”