CHRISTMAS AT THE TAVERN
Squire’s Tavern, the home of the
Barkhamsted Historical Society, will be aglow with Christmas trees of
Christmas past and present. The historical society will host for the
third year Christmas at the Tavern. Patti Kierys is well versed on the
subject of Christmas. With the help of Linne Landgraf, a member of the
historical society, she will decorate a Victorian Christmas tree with
hand crafted ornaments of the period. Other trees to spark the
imagination of the viewers are various color feather trees, cookie tree
and a cotton batting tree. There will be vintage postcards, calling
cards, and other memorabilia on display.
Patti has designed
and decorated Christmas trees for the Smithsonian, National Museum of
American History, the Connecticut tree for the National Christmas Tree
celebration on the Eclipse of the White House, the Governor’s Mansion
and the Wadsworth Atheneum. Her ornaments are in the permanent
collection of the Mark Twain House. This is Patti’s third year of
sharing her collections and hand crafted ornaments with the historical
society for the public to enjoy through the holiday season.
Patti
is an award winning artist and Reiki Master, but during the holidays
and many months prior to this festive season, she is immerse in making
replicate ornaments of the 1800s and researching the library archives
for new stories to share with those who attend her lectures. Through
the years she has conducted Christmas talks and workshops for the
Smithsonian Associates in Washington, the Daughters of the American
Revolution, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Mark Twain House, Connecticut
Historical Society and numerous historical societies and women’s
clubs. Her joy of the season is felt by everyone who attends her
lectures.
This year she will be presenting a talk on
Christmas traditions of the 1800s during the historical society’s
opening of the season with a Holiday Social on Saturday, December 5th
and Sunday December 6th.
The Historical Society is open from
1:00 to 4:00 on both days with her talk beginning at 1:30 p.m. Because
of the popularity of the program, reservations are recommended and a
donation of $5.00, which will benefit the historical society. To make
a reservation, call 860-379-7362. The Christmas exhibit will run
through January 2, 2010. Squire’s Tavern is located on East River
Road in Pleasant Valley and is open on Wednesdays 9:00 to 12:00 and
Sundays 1:00 to 4:00.