![silver-tree This is the "silver tree." It is one of eight Christmas trees at historic Middlebrook this season.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/silver-tree.jpg)
This is the "silver tree." It is one of eight Christmas trees at historic Middlebrook this season.
You haven’t really done Christmas to the max until you have done it at the historic Middlebrook, the beautiful circa 1845 residence owned by Rick Fox at 4001 Middlebrook Pike. Fox and his partner, Ralph Cianelli, every year transform the house into a Christmas wonderland with collections of ornaments from all over the world adorning eight Christmas trees.
And then the pair opens the house to benefit charities. We were there on Dec. 17 at a party sponsored by Jenny Hines and Tom Jester to benefit Hope Center at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. Hope Center was established to address the unmet needs of patients with HIV in Knox and 20 surrounding counties. Jenny started hosting this party four years ago in memory of her good friend Jeb Evans who died of AIDS. (She just invites a bunch of friends to attend the party and then suggests they make a contribution to Hope Center if they are so inclined.)
When we were there, it was the fourth night in a row that Rick and Ralph had hosted a similar event. And Christmas isn’t the only time they are generous with the beautiful treasure that is their home and that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Frequently throughout the year various charities and non-profits are beneficiaries of events there.
But, back to Christmas. These two guys love Christmas. And they love travel. And they love collecting things. That is part of the reason for the eight Christmas trees, each with a different theme. The party is a fun-filled, relaxed evening of food and cheer. A highlight is Rick conducting tours of the historic house which:
- played a role in the Civil War (there are horseshoe marks on the stairway because Union soldiers searched the house on horseback);
- is home to three ghosts, one of whom smells of vanilla extract;
- and was a plantation whose slaves took the name Middlebrook.
And that’s just for starters!
And now, again, back to Christmas!
![tree-in-living-room The first tree you see, the one in the living room, is traditionally decorated.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/tree-in-living-room.jpg)
The first tree you see, the one in the living room, is traditionally decorated.
![davidsons-and-jenny-earring Mike and Linda Davidsoon greet our hostess, Jenny Hines. Jenny and Linda are among a group of friends who have matching Christmas ornament earrings.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/davidsons-and-jenny-earring.jpg)
Mike and Linda Davidson greet our hostess, Jenny Hines. Jenny and Linda are among a group of friends who have matching Christmas ornament earrings.
![earring-closeup Here's a close-up of those cute earrings!](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/earring-closeup.jpg)
Here's a close-up of those cute earrings!
![guest-room-tree The tree in the guest room is the "gold tree."](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/guest-room-tree.jpg)
The tree in the guest room is the "gold tree."
![gold-tree-ornament Here's one of the gold ornaments.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/gold-tree-ornament.jpg)
Here's one of the gold ornaments.
![gold-tree-ornament-2 Here's another ornament on the gold tree.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/gold-tree-ornament-2.jpg)
Here's another ornament on the gold tree.
![our-hosts Middlebrook residents Rick Fox, left, whose family has owned the property for many years, and Ralph Cianelli](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/our-hosts.jpg)
Middlebrook residents Rick Fox, left, whose family has owned the property for many years, and Ralph Cianelli
![santa-tree This tree, in the music room, is the Santa tree.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/santa-tree.jpg)
This tree, in the music room, is the Santa tree.
![santa-one An ornament on the Santa tree](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/santa-one.jpg)
An ornament on the Santa tree
![santa-two1 Another Santa](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/santa-two1.jpg)
Another Santa
![gibson-marshal-styles-etc From left: John Gibson, Marshall Peterson, Amy Styles and Bob Rider](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/gibson-marshal-styles-etc.jpg)
From left: John Gibson, Marshall Peterson, Amy Styles and Bob Rider
My and Alan’s favorite tree was the “travel tree” which features ornaments from many of the exotic locations Rick and Ralph have visited.
![camel-on-travel-tree A camel ornament the guys made from a stuffed animal. (There aren't that many Christmas ornaments for sale in Jordan!)](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/camel-on-travel-tree.jpg)
A camel ornament the guys made from a stuffed animal. (There aren't that many Christmas ornaments for sale in Jordan!)
![paris-ornament Paris ornament](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/paris-ornament.jpg)
Paris ornament
![pyramid-on-travel-tree A pyramid ornament on the travel tree](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/pyramid-on-travel-tree.jpg)
A pyramid ornament on the travel tree
![richard-jeannie-alan Guests, from left, Richard Ford, Jeannie Dulaney and Alan Carmichael](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/richard-jeannie-alan.jpg)
Guests, from left, Richard Ford, Jeannie Dulaney and Alan Carmichael
![susan-madeline-barry From left, Susan Brown, Madeline Rogero and Barry Cleveland](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/susan-madeline-barry.jpg)
From left, Susan Brown, Madeline Rogero and Barry Cleveland
![childrens-tree The "children's tree" featured a toy motif.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/childrens-tree.jpg)
The "children's tree" featured a toy motif.
![toy-camera Toy camera ornament](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/toy-camera.jpg)
Toy camera ornament
![tin-man I loved this ornament of the Tin Man, a definite childhood memory.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/tin-man.jpg)
I loved this ornament of the Tin Man, a definite childhood memory.
![toy-top Of course there were toys beneath the tree, too.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/toy-top.jpg)
Of course there were toys beneath the tree, too.
![host-and-peterses Host Ralph Cianelli poses with Sylvia and Jan Peters.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/host-and-peterses.jpg)
Host Ralph Cianelli poses with Sylvia and Jan Peters.
![jester-tommie-jenny-jolly From left, Tom Jester, Tommie Rush, Jenny Hines and Richard Jolley](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/jester-tommie-jenny-jolly.jpg)
From left, Tom Jester, Tommie Rush, Jenny Hines and Richard Jolley
Ralph is from New York. So one mantel is decorated with a snow village depicting Manhattan, a place both Ralph and Rick love.
![manhattan A Manhattan snow village](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/manhattan.jpg)
A Manhattan snow village
![rocker-center Rockefeller Center in the snow village](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/rocker-center.jpg)
Rockefeller Center in the snow village
![guys-at-rocker-center Hahaha! They cut out photos of themselves and posed them at Rockefeller Center!](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/guys-at-rocker-center.jpg)
Hahaha! They cut out photos of themselves and posed them at Rockefeller Center!
![empire-state-bldg Empire State Building](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/empire-state-bldg.jpg)
Empire State Building
![king-kong With a King Kong added by Ralph and Rick! Love!](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/king-kong.jpg)
With a King Kong added by Ralph and Rick! Love!
![rockettes The Rockettes in a snow globe!](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/rockettes.jpg)
The Rockettes in a snow globe!
![hancocks Guests Becky and Steve Hancock](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/hancocks.jpg)
Guests Becky and Steve Hancock
![andrea-and-kyle Kyle Smith and Andrea White](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/andrea-and-boyfriend.jpg)
Kyle Smith and Andrea White
A collector is a collector, I guess. Ralph also collects refrigerator magnets from their travels.
![magnets Magnets from everywhere!](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/magnets.jpg)
Magnets from everywhere!
![bull-magnet One of my favorites](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/bull-magnet.jpg)
One of my favorites
One time, a guest rearranged all the magnets on the refrigerator. Ralph put them right back in their assigned spots in no time at all!
![hills-2 Mark and Cathy Hill](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/hills-2.jpg)
Mark and Cathy Hill
![mar-stribley Rosa Mar, left, and LeAnne Stribley](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mar-stribley.jpg)
Rosa Mar, left, and LeAnne Stribley
![napkin2 This house even has its own napkins. Before the current house was built in 1845, the farm existed with some lesser structures.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/napkin2.jpg)
This house even has its own napkins. Before the current house was built in 1845, the farm existed with some lesser structures.
One other note. In deference to Rick’s last name, there sure are a lot of foxes among the decor!
![fox-one Love this fox candleholder.](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/fox-one.jpg)
Love this fox candleholder.
![fox-two A Christmas fox](https://bluestreakprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/fox-two.jpg)
A Christmas fox
It’s a beautiful house, and you can literally feel the history throughout.
What a wonderful write up! You captured lots of great details.
My great great great grandfather, Gideon Hazen, built this house! I’d love to see it sometime…
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