Claudia Peschiutta
BRAND PARK -- The Glendale Historical Society is getting ready to take
people back to a time when ornaments were status symbols and Christmas
cards were rare.
The group's seventh annual Candlelight Tours of the Doctors' House in
Brand Park will recreate a traditional Victorian Christmas, complete with
19th-entury ornaments and reenactments of typical scenes from the period.
Tours will be held Saturday and Dec. 18.
"It's a way of connecting with the past to maybe remind people of what
it was like when their grandparents were around," said museum curator
Isabelle Meyer.
The Queen Anne-style home -- built in the 1880s and once inhabited by
a group of prominent local doctors -- will be lighted with candles and
docents will act out scenes of Victorian life in every room.
"We really try to bring the house alive," Meyer said.
An event highlight will bethe Christmas tree in the parlor decorated
with handblown glass ornaments, the oldest of which date back to the
1850s, and with antique toys around its base. An artificial Christmas
tree, made of turkey feathers dyed green, will also be on display.
The free event, which will include sales of ornaments and baked goods,
is a fund-raiser for the society, a volunteer group that seeks to promote
historic preservation and education in the area.
OPEN HOUSE
* WHAT: Candlelight Tours of the Doctors' House Museum
* WHEN: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 18.
* WHERE: Doctors' House in Brand Park, at 1601 W. Mountain Ave.
* COST: The event is free but donations will be accepted.
* INFO: The Victorian home will be lighted with candles and decorated
with 19th century Christmas ornaments. Docents will act out scenes of
Victorian life in every room.
* CALL: For more information, call 242-4290.
