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House gives glimpse of Victorian holiday
The display is meant to show Christmas of generations long gone.
GIRARD — History buffs, teachers, students and even the mildly curious are invited to see how the Christmas holiday was celebrated by those living in the area years ago.
Members of the Girard Historical Society will open the doors of the historic Barnhisel House from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and again next Saturday and Sunday. Historical society members will be dressed in 1800s-period clothing, and light refreshments will be served.
“We want to show people what they did at Christmas in the 1800s and Victorian times. There are a lot of people who are simply interested in how people lived a long time ago,” said Colette Chuey, historical society member.
The parlor to the house is decorated with vintage stockings hanging from the fireplace and a large Christmas tree in front of the window with vintage gifts at the base of the tree.
Chuey said one major contrast between Christmas of the past and Christmas of today is the gift-giving and decorating.
She said decorations to mark the holiday in the 1800s would have consisted of some homemade decorations with the tree adorned with popcorn strings, cranberries and candles.
Gift-giving, Chuey said, also was much more simple in nature during the 1800s — even for the children.
“They just didn’t get a lot of toys and stuff, maybe a train set or a doll, but nothing like what kids get today,” she said. “A train or a doll would be about it.”
What would be considered the dining area of the house could be seen as somewhat of a tribute to those old toys and gifts. Vintage and newer trains supplied by the Riverside Railroad Club are a centerpiece in the room.
“Generally, there is always a train around the Christmas tree. Every boy wanted a train for Christmas,” said Joan Twaddle, railroad club member.
The oldest model train on display dates back to the early 1900s — minus the electrical bells and whistles. Chuey said including the trains in the Christmas display this year serves another purpose.
“We wanted to add the trains because sometimes it seems as if everything we do here at this time of year caters to women. We figured the trains would be much more appealing to men,” she said.
The dining area also includes vintage toys from various eras including a list of dolls, a windup drummer boy doll and a windup bear that actually eats pieces of candy.
The house display includes two additional Christmas trees — one with period decorations and a second with decorations from various countries around the world.
There are decorations and vintage items throughout the house including the old pump organ in the parlor, which will be played on weekends while the house is open to visitors.
The Barnhisel House was built by members of the Barnhisel family in the 1800s. The house, at the time it was built, was an example of fine living for the well-to-do, but as recently as a decade ago was on the verge of being destroyed. The historical society has completely restored the house, and it is currently valued at more than $228,000.
jgoodwin@vindy.com