Ann Keen and her staff at Greenville Pediatrics didn’t set out building something that has become the talk of the city. They just wanted to win first place in the parade.

But the house they built – a miniature, (but still perfectly suitable for small children or pets), antebellum mansion inspired by the Camellia City’s own landscape of historic homes – has become much more than the first place co-win (a tie with Antioch East Baptist Church) it garnered in the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade held last Thursday: it’s become a money maker.

And for a good cause.

Greenville Pediatrics has donated the home to be raffled, with all the proceeds going to the Butler County Children’s Advocacy Center, or Safe Harbor. When approached by Chamber Director Francine Wasden about the possibility of raffling it off, the decision to do so was an easy one to make.

“We love what Safe Harbor does…it’s a free place, loving and caring,” said Keen. “They do such fabulous stuff with children. Not every town has such a great asset.”

Those wishing to catch a close-up view of the eight-foot wide, eight-foot tall, home can find it on a trailer in front of City Hall. Tickets are being sold for $10 at The Pineapple, Grayson’s of Greenville, Alabama Power, Greenville Pediatrics, and Safe Harbor. The winning ticket will be pulled on Christmas Eve at City Hall at noon.

Keen and employee Lisa Dicks scoured the Internet for ideas and drew out plans for the home. The house – built by Larry Heartsill, husband of Sandy, another Greenville Pediatrics’ employee – took an estimated 20 hours to construct.

Plexiglas windows, a chandelier, a shingle roof, electrical outlets, white paint, green shutters, and red door pulled it all together, with Greenville Pediatrics’ employees joining forces for a week at the Heartsills to put the finishing touches on everything.

Fake chickens and 14 trees rounded out the pastoral landscape and a fog machine pumped smoke through the chimney.

Dicks said they had to paint the porch three times because the Heartsills’ dogs kept tracking across it. And Keen, they joked, was adamant about everyone removing their shoes to work inside the home.

Keen said she already has ideas for next year, and even the year after that.

“We always try and top ourselves,” she said. “Because I’m in it to win it.”

Call 382-3251 for more information about the raffle.