Holidays at the Mansion at the Victorian House Museum

  • By Denice Rovira Hazlett
  • November 17, 2011
  • 280
                        
Summary: Holidays at the Mansion at the Victorian House Museum in Millersburg will delight visitors with room after room of holiday decorations, both tried and true, and some things new. Story: If you've visited the Victorian House Museum in Millersburg during Holidays at the Mansion over the past several years, and you think you've seen it all, think again. This year's displays promise to offer something new for even the most avid Victorian House enthusiast. According to Holmes County Historical Society director Mark Boley, visitors will notice a difference to the annual decorations before they even step inside the impressive front door of the 28-room Queen Anne style home, built in 1902 by industrialist L.H. Brightman. During Holidays at the Mansion, creative little elves from organizations and businesses in Holmes County sneak into the Victorian House, transforming it into a delightfully decorated holiday destination. While dedicated volunteers like Freada Zickefoose, who has been faithfully festooning the ever-popular Morning Room in Mrs, Brightman's suite since the event first began, have added something new to their displays, brand new decorators, like the Real Estate Showcase, who has created an absolutely enchanting foyer, are trimming the Victorian House trees for the very first time. "This year in particular, with quite a few new decorators, it will be a totally different look than you've seen in the past," said Boley. A very special addition this year, featured on the third floor ballroom, is the Faces of Santa collection, a gathering of more than 50 hand-painted figurines, from Old World to American, elegant to whimsical, lovingly crafted by Marvin Oswald, father of Greg Oswald of Millersburg. Boley said the very detailed pieces will delight everyone, from children to adults. "I was just thrilled when they put the collection in," said Boley, adding that the ballroom where the collection is housed also offers a completely different look with a spectacular 9-foot tree bedazzled by Anne Foster of Queen Anne's Lace in Berlin. This year, Your Human Resource Center and the Holmes County Prevention Coalition have proven that no space is too small to make a big impression, creating what Boley described as a phenomenal display in the tiny third floor bathroom. "Everyone who has seen it has said it's incredible," said Boley. Those looking for something to warm their tummies on Christmas morning will want to stop by the gift shop to pick up Victorian House's exclusive tea, blended especially for the mansion by Vickie Boley of World Cup Teas, who also beautifully decorated the dining room with a tea table prepared beside a tree adorned with teacups, with settings for Lena, Lessie and Lucy Lee and Mrs. Mary Brightman Boley said it's an exciting time of the year to visit the home, which has been featured in both Victorian Homes Magazine and on HGTV's Victorian America. "It's great to not only see the holiday decorations," said Boley, "but a lot of local people have never seen the collections of the Historical Society, whose mission is to preserve, protect and exhibit our rich history of the county." When a visitor views the historical artifacts at the Victorian House, what they see is only a fourth of what the HCHS has in storage, so the displays are always changing. "That's why we try to rotate things out regularly and create new exhibits," said Boley, who added that one of next year's exhibits will focus on the Flexible Company, a former Millersburg factory that manufactured what Boley described as the Cadillac of buses for big cities. "Anyone from the area probably had a family member who worked there, since they employed more than 1,000 people." Boley said the HCHS also has plans to create a display about the Millersburg Opera House which formerly occupied the parking lot east of Bags Sports Pub on the corner of Jackson and Monroe streets. To enjoy Holidays at the Mansion, visit the Victorian House Museum for self-guided tours Monday-Thursday from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. from now through Dec. 31. The Victorian House is closed on both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors 65 and older, $3 for students, and always free for children under 12. Group discounts are available for groups of ten or more who book in advance. For more information, visit www.victorianhouse.org or call 330-674-0022.


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