Our Olde Fashioned Community Christmas wrapped up yesterday. Sunday was less frantic than Saturday, but visitors arrived in a steady flow at the Clubhouse (Kid's Shopping and Crafts Bazaar) and New Lighthouse Park (horse wagon rides, 1905 House, and Gift Shop). At 4:00, as the crew packed up the decorations and swept the floors, people reported themselves exhausted but pleased with a most successful event!
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| A plastic fireman's hat proved a valued trophy for kids. |
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| The cookie table got a lot of trade... especially from me! |
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Blankets kept people warm on their horse drawn
wagon ride around New Lighthouse Park. |
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| The wagon ride was great fun for both children and adults. |
In front of Garrity Hall eager children (and equally eager adults) climbed aboard a bright red horse drawn wagon for a ride out to Lake Huron and then around the lighthouse circle. The stable which provided this service had agreed to work until 3:00, but with kids still waiting, they worked until nearly 4:00!
Inside the Hall Patrick Pokorski, chief of the Presque Isle Fire Department, kept busy handing out fire safety related materials to children, including firefighter badge stickers and coloring books. At the opposite end of the hall a steady supply of homemade cookies, coffee, and warm apple cider cheered and warmed up those chilled by their wagon rides.
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| Two flautists performed in the 1905 House parlor. |
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Keeper Elmer's office was decked out for the season.
Elmer even had his own plate of Christmas cookies! |
In addition to serving as photographer for the event, I was scheduled to work as a docent for the 1905 Keeper's House on Sunday afternoon. My colleague Morley, handsome in period costume, did much of the docent work while I went from room to room, making a visual record of all the Christmas decorations. The House was really magnificent! Decorations were provided by three florists in the area, and many were unlike anything I've ever seen before.
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| This Christmas arrangement included antlers! |
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| Spools of yarn anchored a seasonal arrangement. |
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| Toy train cars encircled one of the Christmas trees. |
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Among the artifacts at the 1905 House are Michigan and
Great Lakes books from the first decade of the 20th century. |
Jeni, our Artifacts Chairperson, has spent the past several weeks reorganizing the exhibit, bringing things out of storage and putting away more familiar items. These changes keep the 1905 House fresh for those who visit once or twice a year. Jeni also coordinated the Christmas decorations. For her, this is a labor of love.
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Jeni and Morley chat in the 1905's dining room. A neighbor
loaned her grandmother's china for the dining table. |
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We ask guests to sign in as a means of estimating visits.
This Christmas one could sign in as either "naughty" or "nice"! |
The 1905 House is now closed until Memorial Day, but behind the scenes the work goes on, including acquisition of new artifacts typical of a home in about 1905. •••
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