Hormel Historic Home, Inc.

Thursday, November 18, 1999

Hormel Historic Home, Inc., Austin will host four days of Christmas open house festivities this weekend.

The 12th annual Christmas open house begins Friday with a 5:30-8 p.m. premier followed by more activities Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. before the 12th annual celebration concludes Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday night’s premier event tickets are $7 and sold in advance only.

Daily tickets are $5 for adults and children and include dessert in the Carriage House. They may be purchased at the door.

"This lovely 1871-vintage historical home, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, will be decorated to the finest for the holiday look," said Evie R. Mohrfield, executive director. "Each year, 15 areas are decorated by merchants, florists and collectors from the area with a new theme each holiday season."

"A major fund-raiser, this event premiers Friday evening when guests will be entering the home with a parade of luminaries guiding their way," said Mohrfield. "They will be greeted at the door and take a leisurely stroll through the 15 areas of the two-story mansion."

The Friday evening premier will also allow guests to enjoy hors d’oeuvres in the newly decorated former Carriage house.

A new fireplace was installed this summer in the carriage house.

According to Mohrfield, the Christmas open house events last "only four days" before it comes to an end. "Then," she said, "the colorful displays are taken down and taken back to their stores so merchants can being their own busy holiday season."

The open house events bring together several talented artisans and decorators. The merchants include HyVee Floral, Johnson Floral, A Touch of Charm of Blooming Prairie, Ye Old Country Shoppe, JRJ Designs Plus of Hayward, Younkers of Austin, The Windfall, Hilltop Greenhouse of Ellendale, Lauren’s on 1st, Brick Furniture, Flower Box, Stivers Nursery and Greenhouse, Wildewood Cottages.

Collectors who will have exhibits include Jim and Nancy Grunewald and Arlene Hartwig.

Friday night’s hor d’oeuvres are courtesy of Cashwise Food and Drug, HyVee Food Store of Austin, rainbow Foods and Jim’s SuperValu.

Each day this weekend, a schedule of music and demonstrations will be held, including weaving, lefse-making, gingerbread cookies, art demonstrations and also traditional American (Dakotah) fry bread.

All proceeds from the fund-raiser go to the on-going restoration of the Hormel Historic Home, Inc., which was once the home of George A. and Lillian Hormel and their son, Jay Catherwood Hormel.

This year’s event is chaired by Diane Nelson and she is assisted by many volunteers.

Demonstrations, entertainment

The schedule of daily demonstrations includes:

Friday: Arlene Hein, rosettes (day and night) and Betty O’Brien, spinning (evening only).

Saturday: 10 a.m. to noon, Deanna Brekken, kringlas, 1-4 p.m., Kathy Askelson and mother, lefse-making.

Sunday: Noon to 2 p.m., Gladys Hanson, gingerbread cookies; 2-3:30 p.m., Lou Lyle, floral demonstration; 2-4 p.m., Tammy Schneider, artist.

Monday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cratice Boyd, biscotti; 1-3 p.m. Silver Palate, fry bread and wild rice soup.

The schedule for daily musical entertainment includes:

Friday, 5:30 p.m., Taylor Carlson, Miss Austin of 1999; 6:15 p.m., Insynque.

Saturday: 10 a.m., Jane Gibson, pianist; Noon-1 p.m., Country Carolers; 2:30 p.m., Cedars Kitchen band.

Sunday Noon-1 p.m., Bissen Family Singers; 1-2 p.m., Betsy and Rena Langowski, vocal and piano; 2-3 p.m. Ben Bednar Ensemble; 3-4 p.m., Laura and Janine David.

Monday: 10:30 a.m., Queen of Angels Catholic Church/School Choir directed by Jane Koch; 1 p.m., Shirley Cahill, pianist.

For more information, call Mohrfield at (507) 433-4343.