Historic yule set to come to life

Wood County museum seeks volunteers for Christmas scenes

11/26/2012
BY JENNIFER FEEHAN
BLADE STAFF WRITER
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    Period dresses surround curator Holly Hartlerode as she sets up a Victorian-era parlor for the holiday tour. The event, which annually attracts more than 1,000 visitors, is scheduled Dec.8-21.

    THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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  • Curator Holly Hartlerode steams a period dress while setting up a Victorian-era parlor for the upcoming Old Home Holiday Tour at the Wood County Historical Center and Museum.
    Curator Holly Hartlerode steams a period dress while setting up a Victorian-era parlor for the upcoming Old Home Holiday Tour at the Wood County Historical Center and Museum.

    BOWLING GREEN — The Wood County Historical Museum is once again looking for holiday-spirited volunteers to bring its favorite Christmas cards to life.

    Among the scenes making repeat performances from last year: A 1950s soda shop filled with teen-agers looking ahead to Christmas.

    “The 1950s room was a blast,” said Kelli Kling, marketing and events coordinator for the museum, which is housed in Wood County’s former infirmary just off U.S. 6 near the I-75 interchange. “One of the dads was a soda jerk, and all these high school kids came dressed in black leather jackets and slicked-back hair and poodle skirts. It looked like they just stepped out of a Happy Days episode.”

    An informational meeting for volunteers is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the museum, 13660 County Home Rd. Volunteers are needed to portray scenes at the Civil War, general store, and 1950s exhibits, to organize children’s craft stations, and to serve as museum greeters.

    The museum — with its rooms and halls decked for Christmas — will be open Dec. 8-21 for the Old Home Holiday Tour, which annually attracts more than 1,000 visitors. The Living Christmas Card program will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16 and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 20.

    Period dresses surround curator Holly Hartlerode as she sets up a Victorian-era parlor for the holiday tour. The event, which annually attracts more than 1,000 visitors, is scheduled Dec.8-21.
    Period dresses surround curator Holly Hartlerode as she sets up a Victorian-era parlor for the holiday tour. The event, which annually attracts more than 1,000 visitors, is scheduled Dec.8-21.

    Ms. Kling said the Christmas card program was developed last year as a way to freshen up the annual holiday events.

    “This idea came about to bring some of our exhibits to life and actually have costumed interpreters portray a scene,” Ms. Kling said. “We chose rooms that would be visually appealing and also have a great story.”

    Actors stayed in character as visitors passed through each room, she said.

    In the 1950s exhibit, the teens “weren’t just sitting there,” Ms. Kling said. “They were portraying kids hanging out in a soda shop, getting ready for Christmas, talking about what was going on in Wood County and in the world in the 1950s.”

    Local organizations and individuals are in the midst of decorating the brick mansion and museum grounds. Admission for the Old Home Holiday Tour is $5 for adults, $1 for children. For more information on times and events, go to woodcountyhistory.org.

    Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-724-6129.