Volume 18, Number 49 Thursday, December 12, 2002 “Stories of Christmas” Come Alive at the Barker Mansion by Paula McHugh Visiting the Barker Mansion at any time of year is a treat. At Christmas time, a visit to the jewel of Michigan City is a visual feast. Planning a tour of the majestic landmark at 8th and Washington should be on everyone’s must-do list, especially at this time of year. This year’s holiday theme, “The Stories of Christmas,” is the result of months of brainstorming among Director Cecilia Zubler and staff— Mary Kintzele, Elke Zimmerman, Terry Pabon, and Ann Jankowski. It’s a process Barker Mansion staff has repeat- ed for more than a dozen years: discovering new ways to use, reuse, and display the exquisite holiday trimmings among selected rooms in the 35-room mansion. This year, visitors are treated to a view of rooms decorated to portray classic Christmas stories new and old: Little Women, The Nutcracker, A Visit From St. Nicholas, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, A Christmas Carol, “The Christmas Dinner,” “The Gingerbread Man,” The Gift of the Magi, The Legend of the Poinsettia, A Cup of Christmas Tea, The Polar Express, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas “It’s a big undertaking,” Cecilia admits, adding that each staff member takes charge of carrying out the year’s theme in one or more of 15 rooms. This year, for example, Cecilia decorated “The Nutcracker;” Mary, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, and “Little Women;” Ann, the Cratchit home; Elke, Scrooge’s bed chamber from “A Christmas Carol”, and the “The Polar Express” foyer; and Terry, “The Gift of the Magi.” Other contributors to the labor-of-love-intensive effort included the AAUW Antiques Study Group, which transformed the kitchen into “The Gingerbread Man” theme; the Women’s Study Club, which decorated the French bedroom for “A Visit from St. Nicholas; Darlene Murphy, who set up “A Cup of Christmas Tea;” and the Children’s International Summer Village, which decorated “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” “It’s fun to do. We are like a bunch of kids (preparing the dis- plays),” Cecilia said. Staff receives help from community groups by way of donations of time and money, Cecilia explained. The Monday Musicale pro- vides music during the weekend viewings, and docent help comes from members of the Barker Mansion Guild. Cecilia, who admitted that she is already mulling ideas for next year’s display, said that preparations for the annual holiday event begin around Halloween. That is when members of the National Honor Society from Michigan City High School come over A dream comes true for a little boy whom Santa grants the to the mansion to set up the Christmas trees. After the last tour honor of receiving the first gift at Christmas. The story of on January 15th, the students will be back to take down the trees. “The Polar Express” greets you as you enter the foyer of the Barker Mansion. Barker Mansion Continued on Page 2 Page 2 December 12, 2002 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.bbpnet.com/ Published and Printed by THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also Subscription Rates delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. 1 year $28 6 months $16 3 months $10 1 month $5 Barker Mansion Continued from Page 1 In the library, “Little Women” Meg, Jo, Beth, and Fifteen Rooms of Stories to Enjoy Amy have awakened on Christmas morning to find “Many many hours go into the planning and set- that each has received a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress. up,” Cecilia said, adding that the house, a treasure Their neighbor, Mr. Lawrence, has given each of the itself, is a community gift whose tours try to include girls of modest means a bouquet of roses, which sit educational value and enlightening information. The on a table set for a bounteous Christmas tea. The tea- Barker Mansion’s “Stories of Christmas” is expecting cakes and ice cream, in reality crafted by Mary around 1500 schoolchildren to tour the holiday exhib- Kintzele of Styrofoam and frosting, will make your it. Last year, approximately 5,000 adults and children mouth water. Around the room, ropes of evergreens visited the crown jewel of Michigan City over the are embellished with dried hydrangeas from the holiday season. At a bargain admission price of $4 for mansion’s outdoor garden. adults and #2 for children, who can pass up the opportunity to explore this treasured masterpiece of elegance and finery? Not even an Ebenezer Scrooge would balk. The Beacher received a sneak peek of the displays and brought back photos for you to get a glimpse of what we saw. But mind you, the black and white photos cannot do justice to what is waiting for you when you visit. Nor could we take pictures of all the festooning and whimsy that you’ll discover when you visit. Your first encounter with your storybook visit begins in the foyer, where you will see the “Polar Express” exhibit. The one lucky little boy out of all on Santa’s list is amazed to be told that he has been cho- sen to receive the very first gift of Christmas. Here in the foyer, you’ll begin your silvery, sparkly journey A not-quite-put-together-yet Sugarplum Fairy stands beside the daintily through the seasonal wonderland with this Caldecott decorated tree in the drawing room, which features scenes from Award-winning story. “The Nutcracker.” Staff was working to put the final touches on this exhibit before the doors open for public display. A frail Beth is delighted with her gifts—a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress and a bouquet of roses from the neigh- bor. Amy, Jo and Meg, the other “Little Women,” also delight in their new book and bouquet. Clara and her feisty little brother Fritz stand near a table set for tea in the drawing room. Most visitors will recognize the scenes from “The Nutcracker.” December 12, 2002 Page 3 Enter the drawing room and witness the world of “The Nutcracker,” where the SugarPlum Fairy stands Open ‘til 6 p.m. near a tree filled with objects familiar with the story Evenings or ballet. Clara has wrapped her nutcracker gift that brother Fritz has broken. www.littlehousefashions.comElegant Apparel for the [email protected] Conscious Woman Women’s Apparel THE LITTLE HOUSE PRESENTS… The Twelve…Oops! Clara has put a bandage around Eleven Days of Christmas Sale! her precious nutcracker’s December 12th - December 24th, 2002 head, which her little brother Fritz ONE DAY ONLY SALES! had dropped th and broken. Thursday December 12 Denali Polar Fleece Blankets 25% Off j Friday December 13th Philippe Marques 30% Off Saturday December 14th Sak Purses 25% Off Monday December 16th Holiday Velvet and Velour 25% Off th On you way to the dining room you’ll see a magnificent Tuesday December 17 Heritage Lace 30% Off silver punchbowl awaiting a filling of wassail. Wednesday December 18th Pendleton 25% Off The dining room has been set to reflect a “Christmas k Dinner” as Washington Irving described the feast Thursday December 19th Christine Alexander 30% Off during the mid-1800’s. The table’s centerpiece, a wild boar’s head, is a showstopper. Friday December 20th Novelty Jackets 30% Off Barker Mansion Continued on Page 4 Saturday December 21st David Brooks Coordinates Washington Irving wrote about “The 25% Off Christmas Dinner” in a collection of stories Monday December 23rd Patriotic Apparel 25% Off in his mid-18th centu- ry Sketchbook. The th author described the Tuesday December 24 Karen Neuburger Sleepwear table’s centerpiece, a 25% Off wild boar’s head with a lemon in its mouth. The spectacular papi- ALL 30% OFF l er-mache display is Koret & Graff Coordinates • Dresses surrounded by food- stuffs that include Velvet Coordinates • Holiday Vera Bradley oysters on the half shell, applesauce, Holiday Sweatshirts 25% Off yams, and ham. The latter two (non-perish- st able, of course) food 15% Off Storewide Sale thru December 31 , 2002 items were made by art students (ceram- Sale good on regular priced merchandise only. Sale good on specified day ONLY. ics) from Michigan Sale prices not applicable on previous purchases. City High School some years ago, and Sale good on in-stock merchandise only. Sale will not be applied to special orders. are re-used in the 409409 AlexanderAlexander StreetStreet LaPorte,LaPorte, IN IN 326-8602 annual displays, as OnOn Hwy Hwy 35 35 - - 55 BlocksBlocks South ofof Lincolnway Lincolnway are most of the TTurnurn RightRight on Alexander Christmas items. MondayMonday-Friday - Friday 9:3010 to to 6 7 Saturday Saturday 9:30 9:30 toto 55 Page 4 December 12, 2002 Barker Mansion Continued from Page 3 And visitors will be introduced to the staff’s extra- ordinarily handsome new mannequin, which is dressed as the Squire of the manner. The 6-foot tall mannequin, the staff tells us, resembles Mary’s son, Adam. More mouthwatering delights appear in the The young nephew kitchen.The ladies of the AAUW have prepared the visits his frail and crippled aunt for “A kitchen for a day of baking, reflecting the folk tale of Cup of Christmas “The Gingerbread Man.” Tea.” Reluctant to visit his aunt after she suffered a stroke, the young man finds that his visit rekindles fond memories of Christmases past.