Historic Christmas display returns
YOUNGSTOWN
Those who wish to turn the clock back a century or more and return to the splendor of Christmas past will again have the opportunity to do so at the Arms Family Museum, 648 Wick Ave.
Guests will be welcomed by the chiming of an 1895-vintage grandfather clock in the main entry foyer of the former Arms family mansion, known as Greystone, which was built in 1905 for Olive and Wilford Arms.
“Memories of Christmas Past” is the theme of the spectacular holiday decorations display, now in its eighth season. The exhibit is open now through Jan. 3.
The mansion, whose furniture consists primarily of the original holdings of the Arms family, is now the home of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, which is observing its 140th anniversary this year.
Seven rooms of the mansion are decorated with Arms family artwork, silver, ceramics and glassware, together with vintage holiday decorations from the historical society’s collection or lent by private collectors.
Planning for each year’s exhibit begins in January, with daily installation of decorations by staff and volunteers beginning in late September.
“All the Christmas decorations are historic, with the exception of the greenery,” said Anthony Worrellia, the museum’s buildings and grounds supervisor and exhibit designer.
Notable in the exhibit is a tree made in 1910 with real feathers, which bears German spun-cotton fruit ornaments.
Also notable is a rare, 28-inch, 1900-vintage Father Christmas candy container made in Germany. “The whole body would lift up, and there’s a tube inside there, and they would have filled it with candy and toys,” Worrellia explained.
“I love it. I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t a passion of mine,” he said of the annual project.
“This has been so popular, both for people in our community and people who visit during the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We had over 6,300 people last year during the holiday season,” said William Lawson, society executive director.
“What’s special about it is, first of all, the house. There’s no other house like this in the world. It was designed specifically for Mr. and Mrs. Arms,” he said.
“Anthony, over the last eight years, has used the house as the backdrop for just wonderful displays of vintage Christmas ornaments,” he added.
Visitors have commented the elaborate, self-guided holiday display is “like something out of New York City,” said Leann Rich, the society’s external relations manager.
They’ve observed the exhibit contains so much detail, it’s impossible to notice everything during one walk-through, said Rich, adding that guests are welcome to pass through the holiday display multiple times.
The seasonal exhibit is sponsored by The Vindicator, the Anne Kilcawley Christman Foundation, WYSU, Denise DeBartolo York, Fred Martin Ford, Vallourec Star, Turning Technologies and Virginia Dineen.