If you are looking for somewhere to go and see Christmas decorations, might I suggest a trip to our own “Union County Historical Museum.” This year, the museum has put up a display of Christmas Trees and they have done a magnificent job of decorating nine trees with each one having a different theme. Beginning in the main hall there are six trees, so let’s take a little tour to “whet” your appetite.
Let’s start with the “Princess Tree” that has been decorated with bright green ribbon, along with pink and clear iridescent ornaments. This has been accented with princess dolls, a tiara, a castle for a topper, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs Cottage, handmade ornaments with pictures of fairy tale princesses, butterflies, and a base with storybooks and a castle.
Next let’s move on to the “Elf and the Shoemaker Tree” that has been decorated with elves, cobbler’s tools, antique shoes, handmade shoe ornaments as well as red and green ornaments, and finished off with red ribbon bows.
The next tree is a blast from the past “Silver Aluminum Tree” decorated with all vintage blue ornaments. There is a color wheel set at the base that turns shining four different colors onto the tree continuously. This tree being silver with blue ornaments and from the 1960’s time period should make you ladies dream of Elvis singing his hit “Blue Christmas.” There is a figurine of Elvis and a copy of the album “Blue Christmas” at the base of the tree.
Moving right along to the next tree, there is the “Nativity Tree” that has been adorned with gold ribbon, angels, sheet music, ornamental musical instruments, and a “Nativity Scene” set within the tree. At the base there is a handmade manger built by Zack Stewart. The sheet music in the tree are traditional Christmas hymns. It is said that Christmas Carols were written and sung to tell people of “The Nativity Story” that could not read.
The next tree is known as “Victorian or Christmas Carol Tree”. It has been decorated with over sixty handmade ornaments furnished by Mrs. Lila Stewart and were given to her by her mother-in-law. They are silk balls that have been decorated with sequins and beads and each one is a work of art in itself. There are other handmade ornaments along with bead garland as well as four antique carolers at the base. A wooden chair and child crutches are place to the side of the tree to remind you of the character Tim from the story “A Christmas Carol.” The book “A Christmas Carol” was written by Charles Dickens to remind the people of the “Victorian Era” to be more charitable to those less fortunate.
At the end of the hallway stands the “Hiawatha Tree.” This tree is decorated with all natural ornaments. It has magnolia flowers made from corn shucks, flowers made from pine cones and slices of bodock balls, sumac berries, dried hydrangeas, and grape vine garland. These ornaments were crafted by the Union County Master Gardeners and the Museum Guild members. Things that were added are deer antlers, handmade bow and arrows, crafted by Zack Stewart, and a handmade “Teepee” crafted by Bill Wiggington. There are also some redbirds and small bird nests placed in the tree.
In the furniture gallery is the stately nine foot tree known as the “Night Before Christmas Tree.” This tree is covered with the older style lights, bubble lights, vintage ornaments from days of old and of course “Tinsel.” The base has a tray with cookies and a glass of milk left especially for Santa.
There is another tree out in the old store that is decorated with handmade handkerchief dolls that were crafted by ladies from one of the local churches. The last tree is out in the old Schoolhouse and is decorated with Santa’s crafted from corn cobs and cotton bolls.
Janet or “Mrs. Christmas” as she is affectionately known by those close to her has a passion for decorating and Christmas is her favorite time of year. I do hope you will make the journey to see all of these trees on display. You won’t be disappointed and while you are there ask “Mrs. Christmas” to give you a tour and be sure to ask questions on how these trees were decorated.
