By Holly Johnson

Hormel Historic Home

I had the great opportunity this past week to watch more than 50 volunteers transform this great home into a beautiful Christmas wonderland.

With 17 area decorators using their talents to transform each room into a holiday showcase, it was next to impossible not to be caught up in the excitement.

We had businesses showing off their fun and creative products and ideas as well as several individuals who have a love of and an eye for adorning spaces like I could never do.

We also had staff members who spent lots of personal time displaying Frosty the Snowman in a humorous way.

After the votes were tallied our People’s Choice winner was Katie Brophy of Bright Ideas for Walls and Wood, who used her personal collections to create an early winter scene in the dining room.  From her table place settings to the antique tea set and vintage glassware and beautifully decorated trees, she set the scene for elegant holiday entertaining.  Congrats, Katie.

Also a big Thank You is due to all the volunteers who hosted rooms and worked hard in the kitchen to prepare and serve delicious soup and sandwiches and of course the famous cranberry cake with hot butter sauce.  The event has been a success for 25 years thanks to you all and to many more.

The Hormel Historic Home has a long history of hosting holiday events as recorded in the following article from the Austin paper dated Nov. 26, 1929.

 

“Thanksgiving Party at the Y”

“The Y.W.C.A. rooms were converted into a veritable Santa Claus workshop last night as the interested group of Industrial girls, under the leadership of Miss Ruth Sargent, busied themselves making various gifts for Christmas.  Bright colored cushions, boxes of futuristic design, various articles of needle-craft, and prettily shaped baskets were the results of busy fingers, as the group worked and visited together.”…..  “During the social hour various games and contest, appropriate to Thanksgiving were enjoyed, and pep songs were sung under the direction of Miss Ida Erickson…”

So 83 years later, Austinites are still getting together to enjoy the holiday season through crafting, decorating, and visiting.  I hope some things never change.

This Week at the HHH

•Social Concerns: Benefits of Yoga: 10 a.m. on Tuesday. Sign up to attend at 433-4243.  Shari Mason will be presenting the many benefits of adding yoga to your life.  She will also be leading the group in some beginner yoga moves that all can enjoy.

•Santa’s Mailbox: Santa’s Mailbox will be arriving on Wednesday so be sure to drop off those letters to Santa. He’ll be looking for mail very soon.