On Friday Gail Webb was putting the finishing touches on the table in the dining room at the Gray Mansion as volunteers with the historical society were dolling the place up for Christmas.

The motif for that room was purple with purple crystal and roses on the table complementing the silver butterflies and silver service plates.

The drawing room off the foyer was Webb’s balliwick as well. But this time she went with the more seasonal color of red.

A ceiling to floor pine tree was covered with ruby red tassels and gold and red bows. Gold was also strewn on the room’s chandelier.

“I like red for Christmas,” she said. “It is a traditional color. Though sometimes I go wild in the dining room. Once I had black and white and gold.”

Joining Webb that afternoon was Peggy Karshner who was setting up a nativity scene in the foyer.

Bows and tin soldiers lined the staircase designed by Weber’s florists while

Laura Brown and Floye Cook decorated the upstairs medical room.

Across the foyer is the Nannie Kelley Wright room that Lou Pyles always decorates.

“I was trying to keep it in the time period,” Pyles said. “It is a little more primitive. They didn’t have all this glitzy decoration. I want to make it comforting when people come in. A little more homey. I know Nannie was into to entertaining., make it comforting when people come in A little more homey. I know Nannie was quite into entertaining and she would want to make people feel at home. I enjoy doing her room. She was so historical for the city of Ironton. I have really good vibes in that room.”