NORWAY — The 19th-century Gingerbread House windows are being boarded up with plywood as the building goes into hibernation for its second winter at the upper Main Street site.

But as the year comes to an end — a year that included a new kiosk, successful fundraising efforts, rebuilt chimneys, removal of the old brown shingles, stories of ghostly inhabitants and a runaway car that damaged the brick facing — it may be a good time to sit back and read a good book.

“Christmas in the Gingerbread House” by local author John Governale seems like an appropriate choice.

“The story idea sprang from the title, which I came up with first,” said Governale, a columnist for the Advertiser Democrat, where the story was first published.

Although the family living in the Gingerbread House is fictional, the story provides details about the house itself, including a description of the tower, the dumbwaiter and other features that are still in the building, Governale said.

Limited signed copies of the book are on sale at Books N Things in Norway; proceeds will benefit the Gingerbread House rehabilitation.

Fundraising has been key for the restoration efforts at the Gingerbread House, which was built in the 1850s, particularly in raising money to put a new roof on the structure next year.

In November, Friends of the Gingerbread House brought “all things gingerbread” to sell at their DECA Holiday Craft Fair booth. The goodies included cookies, whoopie pies and gingerbread mix and ornaments.

In October, the group continued its “Buy-A-Bundle” campaign, started in August when the old brown shingles were removed to reveal the original clapboards and fish-scale shingles.

“Our ‘Buy-A-Bundle’ program has brought in about $8,000 worth of donations toward its goal of $10,000,” said Joan Beal of Friends of the Gingerbread House, for the roof work, which the group hopes to finish during the spring.

 ldixon@sunjournal.com

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