Christmas memories at the Arms

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The decorations from the Arms Family Museum’s holiday exhibition were just being packed away last January when temperatures plummeted and a pipe broke, spewing water through the museum’s dining room.

The damage was extensive, and the ceiling and walls had to be stripped to remove the damaged plaster and wall coverings.

Restoring those wall coverings has proved to be a complicated project, so Christmas exhibit designer Anthony Worrellia came up with the idea to cover the damaged walls with some historic photos from the Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s collections for this year’s exhibition.

It turned out even better than expected. Visitors to the annual exhibit, titled “Memories of Christmas Past,” will now be treated to a mural of historic winter scenes from Mill Creek Park.

“It gave me goose bumps when I saw it for the first time — it was so beautiful,” said Jessica Trickett, manager of collections for the MVHS. “It’s the perfect complement to the Arts & Crafts aesthetic [of the museum, a turn-of-the-century mansion] and ties in to its themes of nature and the outdoors.”

“Memories of Christmas Past” uses antique decorations to give visitors a glimpse of how the mansion might have been decorated in decades past.

For this year’s exhibit, a large tree decorated with antique crystals that was last seen in 2011 has been brought back.

The museum’s solarium features the Plakie Twinkler ornament, which was made in Youngstown. Visitors who step into the room will feel like they’ve stepped inside the ornament.

“Memories of Christmas Past” opens Saturday and runs through Jan. 5. Hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.; and Thursdays, 1 to 8 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Admission for the exhibit is $7 ($6 for seniors and $5 for children age 3 to 18). On Nov. 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30, admission is half price for all who bring canned goods for Project Feed Our Valley. The museum is at 648 Wick Ave. Go to memories-ofchristmaspast.com or call 330-743-2589 for information and a schedule of special weekend events connected to the exhibit, including visits with Santa Claus, lectures and workshops.

Visitors take the self-guided tour at their own pace and can make multiple passes through the period rooms as well as visit the second floor local history exhibits.