Westmoreland Historical Society exhibit recalls Christmas memories
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The Westmoreland Historical Society hopes visitors to its holiday exhibit in the History Education Center at Historic Hanna’s Town will say, “I remember that!”
“The special exhibition presents objects and vignettes that will bring back fond memories of Christmases from the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s,” according to a release, including vintage Christmas decorations, ornaments, toys, a holiday kitchen scene, a mantel with vintage stockings and cards and a large layout with a village, landscaping and working mid-century Lionel trains.
“There’s so much in here that everyone will remember something,” said exhibit organizer Joan DeRose.
Running Saturday through Jan. 9, “Christmas Memories” is the society’s Christmas gift to the community after a challenging year, said society Executive Director Lisa Hays.
“It’s something happy and nostalgic for the community to enjoy,” she said.
Featured items come from the society’s collection and from the personal collections of members and volunteers, said education coordinator Pam Curtin.
“Pieces are arranged in little vignettes set up to reflect the period they’re focusing on,” she said. The vignettes are complimented with vintage photos from donors’ family collections.
In the center of the exhibit is a large scale model of a Union Pacific train engine, car and caboose built in the 1920s by A.R. Bower, a South Greensburg machinist. It was the centerpiece of The Westmoreland Museum of Art’s holiday model train display of yesteryear, which the historical society bought at auction, Hays said.
Model train enthusiast Dick Sheats of Ligonier provided a 1959 Lionel O gauge train for the exhibit, with a layout he said was designed to reflect one a young owner would have set up at the time, complete with model cars and other ‘50s-style touches.
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A corner kitchen vignette includes a Lorain Oven Heat Regulator gas stove, which was “the Cadillac of stoves” in the 1920s, DeRose said. The stove is accompanied by vintage and antique kitchen utensils, dishes and decorative items.
“Some of these are from my kitchen, and I still use them,” she added.
And, of course, there’s a Christmas tree decked with glass ornaments and strings of old-fashioned lights.
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Additionally, starting Nov. 28, visitors to the historic site at 809 Forbes Trail Road in Hempfield can take an outdoor, self-guided walking tour of the village at Historic Hanna’s Town. Interpretive signs placed along the paths near the log buildings will recount the history of Christmas in the 18th and 19th centuries, including the origins of the Christmas tree and Santa Claus.
Admission to “Christmas Memories” is free. Face coverings, hand sanitizing and temperature checks are required for visitors upon arrival.
November education center hours of operation are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sundays. In December, the center will be closed Wednesdays; other hours remain the same.
Holiday closures include Nov. 26, Dec. 21-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1.
Details: westmorelandhistory.org.