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Arms Museum brings back memories
Photo
Robert Joshua, a former guide at the Arms Family Museum of Local History, and Tish Traficant relish the beauty of the twinkling Christmas tree adorned in crystals in the “Memories of Christmas Past” exhibit.
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
A 300- to 400-pound crystal Christmas tree twinkled in the library at the Arms Family Museum of Local History.
As the crowd floated through the museum Sunday afternoon for the “Memories of Christmas Past” exhibit, eyes twinkled, hearts fluttered and, like the tree, holiday cheer illuminated the place.
The tree is just one of the thousands of vintage pieces, many one-of-a-kind, that tug at memories and heartstrings.
“It’s just beautiful,” said Gloria Brown of Hubbard. “It’s so different from last year.”
Brown and her sister, Donna Latessa of Warren, went to the museum Sunday with their husbands. Their excitement over vintage ornaments, Santa Clauses and trees was evident as they went from room to room.
“It reminds us of the [older] things we leave in boxes,” Brown said. “Now we need to get out the older things.”
Anthony Worrellia, building and grounds superintendent for the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, is known as the Christmas architect. He is the mastermind behind the design of each room.
Worrellia developed the rooms to play off the theme “Making the season brighter.”
“I create these wonderful vignettes,” Worrellia said. “I plan each room individually.”
The reception room is trimmed with a real goose-feather tree topped with German ornaments. Above it are strands of lead tinsel that naturally come with a crinkled look. A display of Santas next to the tree was a main topic of discussion by visitors looking at the various facial marks. Many of those Santa decorations doubled as candy containers.
“The decorations in here fit the period of this house: 1905 to 1960,” Worrellia said.
Some other classics can be found in the solarium of the museum. The well-known, locally invented twinkler ornament as well as dolls from the former Strouss’ and McKelvey’s department stores are just a few items Mahoning Valley residents noticed as they walked through.
The sitting room is adorned with thousands of vintage bulbs including some from the World War II era without silver. Silver was withheld from the decorations to keep it for weaponry, Worrellia said.
To cover up areas in the dining room of the museum that were damaged from a waterline break in January, Worrellia used 16 photographs of Mill Creek MetroParks in the wintertime circa 1905.
“It has brought back a lot of good memories [for visitors],” Worrellia said of this year’s museum. “I can’t put that into words.”
Thousands are expected to visit the museum this season. On Sunday, more than 350 guests visited. The museum is open 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and closed on national holidays. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for children. Children under 3 and Mahoning Valley Historical Society members are admitted free.