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Chatting With Randy Fenoli of Say Yes to the Dress

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It seems that women of all ages just can’t help themselves when it comes to a certain reality show. They can’t say no to watching Say Yes to the Dress … over and over and over again!

Admittedly, I am one of them. If nothing is on television, I tune into TLC for what I call comfort viewing. It doesn’t matter that I’ve seen an episode five or six times; like a moth drawn to light, I’m in! I’ve become astute at differentiating a Pnina Tornai gown from one by Mark Zunino. Currently, I’m obsessed with designs from Hayley Paige.

When we were given the opportunity to do a telephone interview with the show’s main man, Randy Fenoli, I did a little research on his background. A line of gowns he designed for the Diamond Collection over 20 years ago came up in his resume. That sounded familiar, so I went into Lancaster County magazine’s archives and lo and behold, Diamond Collection did a photo shoot in Lancaster County in the summer of 1993.

It just so happens that during the early ’90s, Lancaster County was a fashion mecca as far as photo shoots went. Magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Spanish Elle used Lancaster’s iconic farmland as a backdrop for fashion features. In that period of minimalism, the Amish were fashion icons to designers such as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Jil Sander and Donna Karan.

The Vogue shoot was based at the Osceola Mill House Bed & Breakfast in Gordonville. At the time, it was owned by Robin and Sterling Schoen. The magazine was given access to the very hush-hush photo shoot. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to walk into the staging room and see all the fashions that had arrived throughout the week. Thinking back, it looked like a mini-version of the “closet” seen in The Devil Wears Prada. And, to see super model Christy Turlington in the flesh was mind-boggling.

The purpose of Diamond Collection’s visit was to photograph an advertising campaign that was set to appear in Modern Bride magazine. Once again, we were given exclusive access. Originally scheduled to be photographed on Long Island, photographer Jacques Malignon saw the Vogue photos and suggested the shoot be moved to Lancaster. “Amish Country gives us a setting that is very pure, very innocent and very romantic,” he explained during a break in photography. The Schoens once again hosted the crew and, thanks to the cooperation of their Amish neighbors, provided a range of locations for the shots. Randy recalls that the shoot’s location was “innovative and out-of-the box,” especially for the world of bridal fashions. “Nobody was doing that at the time,” he says.

Randy, who had recently graduated from design school, partnered with Robert Legere to design the line that featured ballgowns, halter-style gowns, a style that was a precursor to the mermaid, and something altogether new: short dresses that featured long, detachable tulle skirts. According to Randy, the body-hugging designs signaled the arrival of “an emphasis on physical fitness: women now have bodies to show off,” he remarked. Looking at the photographs now, the collection could be described as timeless.

Our telephone interview was in conjunction with Randy’s November 5 appearance at The Pullo Center in York. Due to a scheduling conflict, the show had to be postponed. It has been rescheduled for March 17.

Randy grew up on a cattle farm in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. He discovered his fashion-related talents at the age of 9, when he began creating his own designs and sewing his own pieces. “Where it comes from, I don’t know,” he says, explaining both his mother and father didn’t have the creative gene. “For me, it just made sense.” One of his first projects was a dress he made — in a day — for his mother. “She wore it to work the next day,” he notes. Randy’s talents eventually took him to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Upon graduating, he accepted a design position with Diamond Collection.

During the course of our interview, I told him about digging out the January 1994 issue and locating the pictures from the shoot. “Oh, my, gosh!” he exclaimed. “I totally forgot about that. You know, all I ever wanted to do is get off the farm and go to New York, and where do I end up for my first ever photo shoot? A farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania! I couldn’t believe it!” Still, he has fond memories of his first shoot, calling it “fun” and “quite the experience.” The person in one of the photos is definitely Randy, but 20+ years ago, he was rocking jeans and a T-shirt and had hair down to his waist.

Ironically, it was a trunk show at Kleinfeld Bridal that put him on the map. He began designing solo, creating two lines for Diamond. Then, he burned out. “I moved to New Orleans and went into real estate,” he recalls. He returned to New York post-Katrina and went to work at Kleinfeld’s.

Kleinfeld Bridal is a story unto itself. Founded in 1941, the Brooklyn-based store became the go-to destination for brides. By the mid-90s, however, the allure had faded. Enter Mara Urshel (a veteran of Saks Fifth Avenue), Ronnie Rothstein (an attorney turned business owner) and Wayne Rogers (who became involved in the world of finance after leaving the television show, MASH), who bought the company in 1999. With the help of investors and a move to a much larger and higher-profile location in Manhattan, Kleinfeld reclaimed its top spot as a destination for bridal fashions. The numbers are astounding: 200+ employees, 20,000+ brides per year and annual sales estimated at approximately $150 million.

Kleinfeld’s owners couldn’t help but notice Randy’s rapport with the customers. His “Hello, beautiful” greeting made women feel all the more special and put them at ease. “Oh, I guess you could say I’m part therapist and part style guide,” he says of working with brides. In 2007, he was promoted, becoming the store’s fashion director.

That same year, TLC and Half Yard Productions came calling with an idea for a reality show about the process a woman goes through in choosing the most important dress she will ever wear. The show was an instant success. Soon, brides from Main Street America were being joined by celebrities, professional athletes and international jet setters. Of course, tears, drama and unlimited budgets play key roles in keeping viewers riveted to the screen. Because it’s seen in 150 countries, Kleinfeld has become a bona-fide tourist attraction. “Visitors are welcome to come into the lobby and get a view of the salon,” Randy reports, adding that many of the consultants have their own fan clubs, as well. Vera, who heads up the alterations department appears on nearly every show. “You can tell what kind of day she is having by her hair,” Randy says of her loose bun.

Randy is of the opinion that Say Yes to the Dress is the closest thing to “real” reality on television. “TLC and Half Yard really put the applicants through a tough screening process,” he explains. The vetting process ensures that an applicant is truly getting married and is not someone who is simply trying to get her 15 minutes of fame. “There’s no money, no compensation, no discounts” he points out. According to Randy, a Kleinfeld appointment is usually scheduled for two hours; however, if filming is involved, three hours is typically allotted. If a bride walks out of the store empty-handed, that is how the appointment ended.

That brought me to point out to Randy that he has another Lancaster connection that was made through the show. In December 2011, Jacy Good appeared on the show. Randy remembered her immediately and grew quiet. “That was a very emotional story, appointment and show,” he says. Jacy’s consultant, Diane, was determined to provide her with the best service possible.

Jacy, as many of you probably remember, was on her way back to Lititz, following her graduation from Muhlenberg College in May 2008. At a traffic light on Route 222 near Allentown, a young man, who was talking on his cell phone, drove through a red light, prompting a truck to swerve and hit the Good family’s car. Jacy’s parents, Jay and Jean were killed. Jacy was clinging to life; she remained in a coma for the next two months. Through it all, her future husband, Steve Johnson, supported her efforts to recover from the tragedy. Today, the two are dedicated advocates for a program called Just Hang Up and Drive. Her show appears periodically.

While Randy is still associated with Say Yes to the Dress, he left Kleinfeld’s in 2012 in order to pursue other ventures, including a spin-off show, Randy to the Rescue. His speaking engagements and appearances take him all over the world. “I’m really excited about Season 15,” he says. Set to begin airing in January, he holds the opinion that “it is the best season yet.” Two episodes in particular may qualify as his all-time favorites.

Before saying goodbye, he had one question: “How far will I be from Lancaster when I’m in York.” When told he would be 30 minutes away, we could hear the wheels spinning in his head. So, if you see someone who looks familiar checking out market or dining in a restaurant in mid-March, you never know … it could be Randy Fenoli.

An Evening with Randy Fenoli will be held March 17 (7:30 p.m.) at the Pullo Center on the campus of Penn State York. For ticket information, call 505-8900 or visit pullocenter.york.psu.edu.

 

 

Randy’s Tips for Selecting the Perfect Wedding Gown from his book, It’s All About the Dress:

Establish a Budget

First, establish a budget for the wedding. Then, key in on the dress. This will help during the shopping process. However, if you find something beyond that figure, hopefully you’ll be able to “borrow” from the overall budget.

Establish Your Story

The dress sets the tone for the wedding and represents your style, i.e. modern, vintage, traditional, etc.

Start Shopping Immediately

Keep in mind that it typically takes six to eight months for a gown to be ordered and delivered.

Opinions Matter

Bring people to the appointment who love and support you and who are aware of the big picture (i.e., budget, etc.).

Say Yes to a Veil

As Randy often says on the show, “Without a veil, you’re just a pretty girl in a white dress.” The veil is the finishing touch that makes you feel and look like a bride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Hallowedding

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October 31, 2015   |   Heidi Derstler and Matt Eckman

A holiday that is fast becoming the domain of adults, DIY ingenuity and a band that included the father of the bride, helped to make this wedding one that guests are still talking about.

Heidi and Matt both grew up in the Mountville area. “We lived a mile apart,” she notes. But, their two-and-a-half year age difference prompted them to move in different social circles. Sometimes, however, their social circles would intersect or Matt would come to the Derstlers’ house with mutual friends. “I guess you could call us passing acquaintances,” she says. After graduating from high school, the two went their separate ways. Then, late in 2011, they reconnected through Facebook. A lunch date followed. They became inseparable. He proposed in April 2014.

As they were in the process of buying a house that would require a great deal of restoration work, they wanted a simple wedding. “If it was up to Matt, we would have had a pig roast in a park,” Heidi says. Wanting to take it up a notch, Heidi, who agreed with him on the outdoor aspect of a wedding, began exploring her options. Through The Knot, she discovered the Eicher Arts Center in Ephrata. Its rustic interiors and outdoor spaces were perfect. She also liked the fact that proceeds from weddings and other events help to support the Native American Museum Shop that adjoins the center.

The property is brimming with history. Its story dates to 1724, when Johann Conrad Beissel, the founder of the Ephrata Cloister, baptized members of Daniel Eicher’s family. In 1733, two of Eicher’s daughters became “sisters” of the Cloister and took up residence in a cabin he built for them along the Cocalico Creek. A year later, their father acquired a 100-acre patent for land and built the family homestead adjacent to the cabin. The buildings eventually fell into disrepair, and by 1983 they were slated for demolition. A group of concerned citizens took up the cause to save the Eicher buildings, with restoration successfully completed in 1985.

Heidi and Matt pose with her parents, Leo and Pat Derstler.

At the time Heidi visited in late 2014, only three Saturdays were available for 2015: two in August and October 31. “Fall is my favorite time of the year, so I chose October 31,” she explains. The more she thought about it, the more October 31 appealed to her. “I said to Matt, ‘It’s Halloween! Let’s go with it, embrace it and have fun.’” However, at the mention of costumes, he became leery. “I had to sell him on my ideas,” Heidi admits. But, as long as he didn’t have to do anything ridiculous and Heidi promised not to become a Bridezilla, he was game.

Heidi poses with her Flapper-inspired attendants.

On the other hand, Heidi’s mother, Pat Derstler, was unfazed. “Heidi is Heidi,” Pat says. “Nothing she does surprises me.” She and her husband, Leo, agreed to go along with their daughter’s vision.

Excited to get started, Heidi conducted a great deal of online research about how others planned and executed Halloween weddings that were both beautiful and boo-tiful (a word that was used in the couple’s LNP announcement). Orange became the theme color for the floral, decorative and cake aspects of the wedding. Black also figured in from a fashion perspective, as well as for the table linens and the cake.

Wanting the wedding party to look cohesive, Heidi settled on a Great Gatsby theme. For her dress and those for the attendants, she turned to Etsy.com, where she discovered Gatsbylady. Based in London, Gatsbylady has been working in overdrive for the past three years, providing “vintage-inspired, hand-embellished Flapper dresses” – worldwide – for everything from Downton Abbey-inspired weddings to Halloween and Roaring ‘20s-style costume parties. Heidi wore a shimmering white dress, while her attendants donned sparkling black designs. Matt and his groomsmen had an easier time of it. Gatsby-inspired tuxedos just happen to be in vogue and are readily available at local rental shops.

Guests got creative with their costumes and, yes, Elvis (actually there were two) was in the house.

Heidi also wanted her guests to get into the “spirit” of the wedding. The invitation specified, “costumes encouraged.” To honor her request, all 115 guests arrived in costumes. Pat initially decided to come as the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz. “A witch of a mother-in law!” she laughs. Unfortunately, the costume arrived on October 24 and was too small. “So, I ran to the costume shop at Park City and got a red Flapper dress and all the accessories for $30!” she says. Fortunately, Leo’s Charlie Chaplin costume fit just fine.

Even former District Judge Daniel Garrett, who conducted the ceremony, went with the flow and wore a rather dignified costume.

The internet also provided Heidi and Matt with ideas relating to their ceremony. They liked the idea of a unity ceremony but couldn’t agree on which one; therefore, they performed two. The first was a takeoff on the wine ceremony in which red and white wines are combined to create rosé. “We love beer, so we substituted beer for the wine,” Heidi explains. And, they added a Halloween aspect to the unity candle ceremony by lighting a monogrammed pumpkin.

Whenever Heidi hit a roadblock, she would post her questions on Facebook and wedding-related blogs. “Ideas and suggestions came flowing my way,” she says. And, through Facebook, Sarah Mohr volunteered her services as the event’s bartender. Longtime friend, Heather Meaney, who is a freelance floral designer, saw Heidi’s posts and offered to design and provide the bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces. The same is true of another friend, Jaclyn Sultzbach, who served as the hair/makeup stylist and fashioned Heidi’s headpiece.

Pinterest, of course, was a source for decorating ideas. Fortunately, Heidi and Matt are creative in their own rights. Heidi, who is a graphic designer at Albright College in Reading, designed the invitation suite, the cake and the wrapping on the candy bars that served as party favors. Matt, who is a glassblower, made the cake topper that glowed acid green with the help of a blacklight. He also created the glass ring holder that the ring bearer carried down the aisle.

Heidi designed the cake, which was then interpreted by Patty Mitchell of Cake Creators. Matt created the glass cake topper.

Friends and family also joined forces to help the couple. At the top of the must-have list was a cake from Cake Creators in Silver Spring. Heidi has been friends with owner Patty Mitchell’s daughter since childhood. Incredibly, it was Matt who suggested the cake flavor of pumpkin spice. It was’t in Patty’s repertoire, but she agreed to devise a recipe. Patty then replicated the designs Heidi provided for the orange-and-black cake. A variety of cupcakes was also available.

Matt’s sister-in-law, Jessica Eckman, directed the couple to Nancy Nissly, who operates Nanalyn’s Full-Filling Feasts. Thanks to Nancy, Matt got his pig roast.

The couple’s families also bonded during DIY parties in which they wrapped the candy bar favors and carved pumpkins. More than 100 pumpkins and gourds were purchased from area farms; 20 were carved, while the rest were used for decorative purposes. Guests were welcome to take them home at the end of the evening.

And, then there was Stu Huggens. He and his band, which Leo has been a member of for years, were slated to provide the reception’s dance music. But, when the CD player failed to cooperate before the ceremony, Stu jumped in and provided the background music as guests arrived and found their seats. However, he drew the line at performing Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which was slated to be Heidi and Matt’s recessional music!

Looking back – and ahead – Heidi says she doesn’t have any regrets about her wedding’s style and theme. “We just wanted everyone to have a good time, and I think we accomplished that,” she remarks. Pat verifies that sentiment. Just before Halloween 2016, she ran into a wedding guest who apparently had a wonderful time at the wedding. “He asked if Heidi and Matt could get married again,” she reports.

Credits
Photographer: David Naples Photography, Morgantown
Venue: Eicher Arts Center, Ephrata
Bridal Gown/Attendants Dresses: Etsy.com/Gatsbylady, London
Groom/Groomsmen’s Attire: Central PA Tuxedo
Cake: Cake Creators, Silver Spring
Floral Design: Heather Meaney
Tent/Arch: Tents for Rent
Invitation Suite Design: Heidi Derstler Printing: Pem-Cor
Specialty Glass: Matt Eckman
Catering: Nanalyn’s Full-Filling Feasts, Columbia
Hair/Makeup: Jaclyn Sultzbach
Entertainment: Stu Huggens Band

An Intimate Christmas Eve Celebration That Never Gets Old

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“Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.”

A wise woman named Edna Buchanan coined those insightful words that many of us have come to live by. It is an especially poignant sentiment during the holidays and particularly on Christmas Eve.

These dinner guests are a diverse group, coming together through the dinner’s host, Robert Fenninger, owner of FENZ Restaurant and a consultant in the restaurant/hospitality industry. From past and current co-workers to childhood friends, and those whom he has collected along the way through doing philanthropic work in the community and partnering in business, some have been enjoying the tradition for as long as 25 years. Now, a fully grown-up second generation joins in making the happy pilgrimage to Bob’s historic downtown Lancaster row home, meticulously decorated for the holidays.

Furnished in 18th- and 19th-century antiques and an impressive collection of artwork, both vintage and contemporary, Bob’s home is made even more opulent with lush holiday flowers and greenery in bounteous amounts. “I have traditionally chosen to work with cut amaryllis, hyacinths and peonies with lots of magnolia greens,” says Bob. “The Christmas ‘tree’ is an assemblage, made on-site with clipped assorted greens, fruit and long-collected tiny ornaments, formed on an antique topiary frame anchored by Oasis floral foam.” The perfect size for the tidy space of an 1885 city home.

Classic cocktails are the drinks of the night, paired with Bob’s curated menu of simple but luxe hors d’oeuvres with a European flavor: Jamon Iberico (the ultimate cured ham, a treasure of Spanish cuisine); triple crème cheese, Manchego; Spanish anchovies in sea salt; and a splash of caviar. As the cocktails dwindle, guests hear the festive pop of a Champagne bottle from the kitchen, and the group gathers for a toast before dinner.

 

As bob’s collection of friends-become-family has grown, the antique dinner table’s space reached its limits about three years ago. Trimming the guest list was unthinkable! So, the Christmas Eve celebration became a progressive dinner, moving from cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at Bob’s to the spectacular red dining room of up-the-street neighbors Skip Bickert and Andy Zimmer. A few Christmas carols, loudly echoing across Musser Park, and we’re there.

Having devoted 30-plus years to their careers as restaurant manager and pastry chef, respectively, Skip and Andy savor this special night, a brief pause in the holiday party season, to be at home. Their lavishly decorated home is decked indoors and out in sparkling, oversized snowflakes, shimmering ornaments and mercury glass. The center of the long dining table for the 14 guests is lined with sky-high arrangements of white branches and holly berries. The sumptuous treats of Bob’s traditional menu are staged in the kitchen as we find our seats, uncork the wines, and anticipate chapter two of another memorable Christmas Eve together.

Lobster and Shrimp Salpicon Recipe

Lobster and Shrimp Salpicon (a Spanish term meaning medley) begins the feast, followed by Italian Roast “Porketta” with savory garlic and rosemary seasoning, classic potatoes Dauphinoise and green bean and carrot bundles. Conversation rises as more wine is poured, and everyone takes a pause before the refreshingly light Limoncello gelato is presented.

Traditional English “crackers” – which date to the Victorian era – are part of the post-dinner festivities, where the guests link arms around the table and pop the pseudo-firecrackers. The enclosed trinkets are scattered across the table, exchanges are bargained, and everyone gets to wear their not-so-flattering paper crowns and look the goofiest they’ve been all year. But who cares? We’re friends to the end.

It’s All in the Details

_Party_Skip

_Party_Bob

 

 

 

 

 

The Long & Short of It

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I started debating what to do as Halloween approached. For the first time in my life, I find myself truly living alone. As my son bid farewell – this time it’s probably the real deal since there is a girl involved – on his way to a new job in Allentown, he had one question on that early October morning: Will I be putting a tree up this year? Huh?

I didn’t quite know how to answer that question. And, I’ve been grappling with it ever since. I mean, on my way back home from the Outer Banks in late August, I stopped at the Cotton Gin to “run in” (OK, it ended up being an hour) and snag yet another lighthouse ornament for my tree. Two months later, I’m telling myself, “It’s just me, so what’s the point.”

After reading a story in The Washington Post about boomers who are trying to downsize their holiday decorating to the disappointment of their grown children, it seems I’m a typical member of that generation from a decorating perspective, as I have always subscribed to decorator John Hughes’ philosophy of “why do when you can over do.” Indeed! A room in my basement is filled floor to ceiling with boxes that contain ornaments, lights, pinecones, wreaths, swags, stuff I made, stuff Charlie made, things I inherited from my mom (plastic poinsettias and avocado-hued candleholders anyone?), my angel collection, my snowman collection, candles, faux greenery, a train set … Like my fellow boomers, I put up several trees. And, it was like a lightning bolt struck when I spied John’s trick of decorating the chandeliers. When Charlie was little, the exterior of our house resembled Las Vegas.

Where I get it from, I don’t know. As a kid, we’d put a tree up the week before Christmas and religiously take it down on New Year’s Day. Outdoors, one lone evergreen was strung with lights.

However, my parents had a really nice collection of ornaments that dated to the late ‘40s. Each year, my mother would add to the collection. Unfortunately, we lost quite a few of them one afternoon in the ‘60s. On that fateful day, my sister, Ginny, and I were sitting on the sectional sofa in the living room and admiring the tree. Ginny’s cat was sitting beside her. Suddenly, the cat got this terrified look on its face and tried to make a beeline across the corner table. However, the heavily waxed surface afforded the cat no traction whatsoever, so it looked as if he was running in place. That’s when the tree came crashing down. Apparently, the cat sensed the looming disaster.

My sister and I looked at the tree, surveyed the broken ornaments, then looked at each other and finally gazed at the table that was now marred with long, deep gouges. We tried to cover up the evidence by artfully arranging magazines and the newspaper over the scratches. Of course, my mother noticed them immediately and was furious. However, as time went by, the Christmas mishap became a running joke, and we’d all laugh whenever we looked at the table, which eventually ended up in a relative’s basement when my mom got hip to the country look and redecorated. About 20 years later, I was gifted with the ornaments that survived that disastrous afternoon. I treasure them and love the patina they now exude. And, I worry what will happen to them, as my son has yet to express any interest in them.

I also inherited my mother’s nativity. It dates to the early ’50s. As she told the story, she saw a gorgeous one that she really wanted at Darmstetter’s, a store that was once located on North Queen Street. She told my father about it, but he said $5 was way too expensive. So, she ended up with a cardboard and wax-like-plastic model from Woolworth’s. It cost all of 50 cents. Each year, we’d haul it out of the grocery bag we stored it in and put it on display. On New Year’s Day, it would go back into the bag and on a shelf in my dad’s basement workshop. The tradition continues. The only upkeep required in all those years was glueing a donkey back into place.

I love decorating my trees. The pink-themed tree in my bedroom is filled with things I helped to make for floral designer Jim Showers’ trees at Longwood Gardens. I miss those weekends when we’d gather around Jim’s kitchen table and make ornaments out of the natural elements he had collected over the summer. From Jim, I learned, “When in doubt, use diamond dust.”

The table-top tree in my living room hearkens to my German ancestry. I place it on the same table that my great-grandparents and grandparents used for their trees. It’s then filled with Santa ornaments, including Christopher Radkos that Ron Tschudy (who managed the Radko store at Doneckers) gave me, and paper stars that a former co-worker (now deceased) made for me.

The tree in the family room is filled with ornaments and keepsakes that remind me of  family, friends, pets, my counted-cross-stitch obsession and places I’ve been. Dawn Fisher, who you will meet in this issue, probably says it best, “Hold an ornament, and memories come flooding back.”

You know what? I think Dawn has convinced me to decorate my house for Christmas. One, I simply enjoy the ritual and the way it makes the house look. And, two, I really won’t be alone after all. My family, friends and memories will be there to keep me company.

Sue Long 

Coffee, Casual Fare & More

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Offering a unique blend of craft coffee and artisan food, the Speckled Hen, which opened in July 2015, has become the go-to place in Strasburg for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in-between.

Owners Ryan and Janae Dagen can often be found welcoming guests. “We’ve created a community space; people make it their own,” Ryan says in describing the café.

The Speckled Hen seats 70 indoors and has a small outdoor sidewalk-type seating area. There’s also a conference room available that seats 12. Janae says that space is perfect for small business meetings, birthday parties, holiday get-togethers and other celebrations. Ryan adds that a number of clubs, whose interests range from books to knitting, meet at the café.

The café itself has a warm, inviting feel. Large front windows admit lots of light, even on a cloudy, cool day. There’s a counter to place orders as well as a sit-up coffee bar. Seating is mostly at tables, but there’s also a seating area in front of a fireplace. The Speckled Hen also boasts a kid’s corner. “It’s really become a focal point for kids and their parents or grandparents,” Janae says. “We want to provide a safe, comfortable space for people to meet and work,” Ryan adds.

As to how the café got its name, Janae explains that she grew up on a poultry farm – Runnymede Farm in Quarryville – hence the “Hen”. As for the word “Speckled”, Janae explains that it represents the diversity and uniqueness – or “speckles” – that define Lancaster County.

Janae’s farm experience, plus Ryan’s family heritage – his mother was born into an Amish family, and he grew up eating the farm-fresh favorites the county is known for – and having experienced working with a coffee roaster in the Midwest, provided the inspiration for the café’s concept.

Diverse is a word that can be applied to the menu as well. “We have craft coffee and artisan food. We scratch-make a lot of the items using simple ingredients, most of which are locally-sourced,” says Ryan.

Coffee is from Lancaster-based Passenger Coffee Roasting. “We like the fact that Passenger has a direct relationship with the farmers who grow the coffee, and they focus on quality,” Ryan adds. Speckled Hen’s signature coffee is Passenger’s Keystone blend. The café also offers several single origin coffees, and each cup can be ground individually at the pour-over bar.

Eggs used to create the Hen’s breakfast items are sourced from Janae’s family farm. Meat is supplied by Verdant View Farm, which is a short distance from the restaurant. Salad greens are hydroponic and grown locally by Meck’s Produce. “People appreciate the farm-fresh fare, no matter if they’re from the area or if they’re visitors to the county,” Ryan notes.

With regard to the menu, Janae points out that it’s updated seasonally, and it offers a lot of healthy options. Breakfast items are available all day. Lunch items are served from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Brunch is available both Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with other breakfast and lunch menu options. Brunch items include omelettes, French toast and quiche with a side salad.

Popular breakfast items include the signature Speckled Hen omelette (made with bacon, bell pepper, onion and basil), Greek omelette (made with feta, tomato, onion and spinach), baked oatmeal (served with steamed milk and seasonal fruit), and smoked Gouda egg sandwich. The fruit & yogurt parfait features seasonal fruit and house-made granola.

The lunch menu features such favorites as the smoked panini and the gluten-free chicken salad, which is made using Greek yogurt and candied walnuts. Ryan reports that the chicken salad, which is his favorite lunch-menu item, can be served as a sandwich or as a salad.

Tuesday is Taco Night, while Wednesday is Burger Night.

In addition to coffee, which can also be served iced, the beverage selection includes espresso, hot chocolate, tea, chai latte, frappes, fruit smoothies and more. The Speckled Hen also allows guests to BYOB.

Live music fills the cafe on Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m.  And, during Strasburg’s Holiday Home Tour on Saturday, December 3, the Speckled Hen will offer a discount to tour participants; just show tickets for the discount.

On-site and off-site catering are also available, as are box lunches and sandwich trays with advance notice.

Speckled Hen, 141 East Main Street, Strasburg. Call 288-3139 or visit speckledhencoffee.com. Hours are 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday.

The Choo Choo Barn

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While The Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg officially opened in 1961, its story begins in 1945, when George Groff, freshly home from World War II, bought his oldest son, Gary, a Lionel Train set for Christmas. He then helped 2-year-old Gary assemble the set. Like Gary, the display grew, eventually taking over the family’s basement.

Word of the elaborate train display began to spread, and in the ‘50s, the Groffs began to  open their basement to townspeople and school groups during the holidays.

A decade later, the Groff children were headed for college, and when a garage became available along Route 741, George and his wife, Florence, began to think their train display might help ease the financial burden of tuitions. Since the garage resembled a barn, George decided to name it the Choo Choo Barn. He opened for business on Thanksgiving Day.

As the years passed, George opened a gift shop and created a picnic grove on the property. The Groff children also became involved and incorporated their own ideas into the display. When George and Florence retired in 1979, they passed ownership to their youngest son, Tom, and his wife, Linda. Now, a third generation – their daughter, Kristi – is involved in the family business. As second-generation owners, Tom and Linda have continued the Choo Choo Barn legacy. They also expanded the scope of the business by opening the Traintown USA complex, which is home to shops and a restaurant, making it a lovely destination for visitors and rail fans alike.

The Choo Choo Barn offers something extra special for locals. Within the 1,700-square-foot display are a number of iconic landmarks such as replicas of the Strasburg Rail Road, Dutch Wonderland, a Turkey Hill Minit Market, and even the Groff family’s home, where the story began. In all, the display has a total of 150 hand-built animations with 22 moving trains.

Several years ago, Tom was inspired to add a touch of winter scenery to the mix for the holidays. On Thanksgiving Eve, the Groffs and their employees decorate, string Christmas lights and even have a quick indoor blizzard that transforms parts of the display into a winter wonderland. Of course, the holiday scenery wouldn’t be complete without the hunt for 55 Santa Claus figures that are hidden throughout the display. There’s one for each year the Choo Choo Barn has been in business. I’m told this year’s Santa will not disappoint.

The display is not the only holiday cheer you’ll find at the Choo Choo Barn: 2016 marks the 28th year of Canned Food Fridays. Bring a canned-food item, and you’ll receive one free admission, regardless of age, to the train display. Canned Food Fridays will be held December 2, 9 and 16 (9 a.m.-8 p.m.), as well as December 23 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.). During the last 27 years of Canned Food Fridays, the Groff family has collected more than 30 tons of food from more than 50,000 visitors. The food is donated to local food banks to help those in need.

The Choo Choo Barn is located at 226 Gap Road in Strasburg. This year’s holiday display will be on view from November 25-January 16. Call 687-7911 or visit choochoobarn.com.

Gifts for the Gardener

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It’s that time of the year when we can take a break from our gardening chores. However, if you subscribe to the notion that a gardener’s work is never done, I’m sure you’re already planning for next spring. And, you’re probably hoping that the gifts under the tree will help to fulfill your garden-oriented wish list.

On this month’s gardening journey, I’m providing several book suggestions that will inspire you to approach your planting in a fresh way. I’m also recommending several items of gardening gear. In this season of sharing, all would make thoughtful gifts.

 

 

Sprayer

I never use any pesticides in my country garden, but  I do regularly use an herbicide (Roundup™) to kill weeds around tree bases and stone foundations, as well as on very steep slopes. I also use it on expansive mossy areas I’ve established. The herbicides do not kill moss, but they take care of the weeds that are so tedious to remove. I do not apply it around my ponds or use it on windy days. For years, I’ve used a typical hand-pumped, 2-gallon green sprayer that one finds in every gardening center. It’s always challenging to use as it requires pumping every few minutes to restore the pressure, plus the spray frequently fails whenever a minute amount of debris gets into the system.

These annoyances are now a thing of the past. Last spring, I discovered Jacto’s compact, 2-gallon shoulder-carry sprayer that is perfect for home gardening and greenhouse use. For decades, Jacto has been a trusted provider of state-of-the-art commercial, tractor-powered, self-propelled and backpack (4-5 gallon) sprayers. The new 2-gallon model, pjb8c, weighs just over 5 pounds, and the spraying pressure is maintained constantly by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. No pumping!

The sturdy tank is made of high-density polyethylene with a stainless-steel spray lance. If it’s operated constantly, the battery is reported to last up to four hours, but I’ve never proved that since I tire or finish long before. (It takes six hours to recharge the battery.) I particularly like that there is an internal filter that ensures debris never gets into the lines.

The sprayer lists for around $200 and should be available from agricultural suppliers listed on the Jacto website,  jacto.com.

 

 

Bird Feeder

One of the many pleasures in our gardening journey is attracting songbirds to our gardens with feeders and enlisting our feathered friends’ help in controlling insect pests. Unfortunately, our feeders are often attacked by other pests! Sure, we can easily defeat the pesky squirrels with squirrel guards and position the feeders away from overhanging branches; however, the raccoons soon appear and effortlessly crawl around the guards. Large birds such as blue jays, pigeons and grackles also come calling and raid the feeders. What’s more, I’ve had a problem with deer sucking the seed out of my feeders!

This summer I came upon the perfect bird feeder that totally defeats all these pests. It is called a RollerFeeder. Now, I take great pleasure in watching the completely befuddled squirrels being ejected by the unique rolling mechanics of this feeder. Those larger birds cannot access the perch nor can deer suck out the seeds. Thanks to this feeder, I can now watch my favorite birds flock to perch or cling to feed at the double stations. I am able to fill this feeder with the more-expensive sunflower seed hearts because there is no waste. The clever design also ensures that none of the feed is exposed to rain or snow, which means there are never clogged seed ports or wet seed trays. It is easily filled by rotating the housing.

Granted, this  USA-made feeder is not cheap at around $75, but the housing is a high-strength aluminum alloy, the perches and hanger are coated steel, the bolts are stainless steel, and the perches are finished in a textured-powder coating. I figure it has quickly paid for itself with the savings on wasted feed. You can hang this feeder wherever you want. Watching the baffled squirrels try to figure it out is a gift in itself. It is available only from the website, rollerfeeder.com.

 

 

Hand Pruner

Many gardeners and arborists consider the Felco™ line of hand pruners to be the best, and I’ve recommended them in earlier gardening journeys. But, I’ve recently found a high-quality pruner that is made in Germany. Wolfgarten manufactures a line of high-quality gardening tools that is well known in Europe but is a bit harder to find here in the states.

There are several models of pruners. I use the RR 4000 “Premium Plus”, which is a basic bypass pruning model that sells for around $23 (less than half the cost of a Felco). The pruners have a perfect weight and balance, especially for a person with average or small hands. They are compatible for left- or right-handed users and have comfortable soft-grip handles. Your hands do not tire quickly, even when you’re out and about in the garden for hours. Unlike most pruners, there is no exposed spring that gets dirty and rusts. I especially like the way the lock button works; it is easy to use even when wearing gloves (a gardening rule for my helpers is that leather gloves must be worn when using pruners). The blade has an anti-rust, non-stick coating that makes them easy to clean. I bought mine from Amazon, but readers might find them in specialty garden center racks. WOLF-Garten.com.

 

 

Books

Chanticleer, in nearby Wayne (Chanticleergarden.org), has been called the most romantic, imaginative and exciting public garden in America. Unlike many public “display” gardens, it is filled with ideas and plants you can use at home, and since it is organized into many garden rooms, with the houses and structures integrated into the garden, the scale becomes similar to residential gardens.

Now there is a new book written by R. William Thomas, the director, and the Chanticleer gardeners: The Art of Gardening (Timber Press). While the history of the garden is included, most of the book is devoted to a discussion of Chanticleer’s plants, including essays written by the horticulturists about their specific areas. There are oodles of practical design ideas that home gardeners can actually accomplish on a smaller scale. All the plants discussed will grow in our area. The book is sumptuously illustrated and will help both the beginner and experienced grower design a garden that is filled with great plants and little surprises.

IMG_5440(2)Another recently issued design book I consider a must-read is Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West (Timber Press). This visionary book discusses designing for the future using naturally-occurring plant communities and building landscapes that reconnect people to nature. It suggests we study the way plants grow dynamically together in “nature” and embrace that wisdom.

The book provides practical and detailed information for selecting the appropriate plants for a variety of sites and how to vertically layer plants into a naturalistic planting. “Our gardens will flourish because we have accepted the conditions we have and have chosen a group of plants that would naturally grow in similar conditions in nature.” The authors not only offer advice on what to plant but also how to plant. The issues of climate change and invasive species are discussed in depth. It is a landmark book on translating the lessons to be learned from a wild plant ecology into a home garden culture. The book’s message is that we need to design differently with a new set of rules and techniques based on the way plants naturally interact in a site and with each other with less emphasis simply on ornamental characteristics.

Another selection, The Gardener and the Carpenter (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), comes from Alison Gopnik, a California professor of psychology who writes widely about and is a recognized leader in the study of the ways children learn and develop. The book’s main thesis is that “helicopter” parents are limiting their children’s potential by shaping and controlling according to a scheme, like a carpenter, their every activity, hoping to achieve a particular kind of person. A gardener, on the other hand, attempts to create conditions in which plants will thrive while acknowledging that plants grow under their own nature and exhibit characteristics not necessarily under our control.

The author discusses parenting on the gardener’s model: the importance of creating a protective but nurturing space, and letting children’s minds explore; that play should be encouraged but not micro-managed; and school should be less about filling in quiz sheets. She argues that our goal should be helping children develop into individuals who can thrive in a changeable world and not simply gain early admission to Yale.  It is a well-researched but very readable book that aims to correct the modern parenting model of constantly coaching and molding children by giving them opportunities to discover. This is a book to give to anyone you know who is a new parent (or grandparent). Actually, it should also be must-reading for teachers.

Reinventing Christmas Traditions

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The holidays are filled with traditions. Sometimes traditions need to change. As families grow and shrink, regular customs can be lost, forgotten or just unnecessary. I thought about starting some new traditions and wondered what was going on outside my own Yuletide.

 

 

GO

Get outdoors! The real winter winds of January and February are still a bit away. For December, Lancaster County has an average high temperature of 42 degrees, so there is still a chance to take in a hike at local parks and along trails. If you haven’t explored the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail, which now stretches between Columbia and Bainbridge, put it on your to-do list. Susquehannaheritage.org

If it’s too chilly on Christmas Day, you could always commune with nature indoors at Longwood Gardens.

A Longwood Christmas, which runs from November 25 until January 8, features 16,000 seasonal plants including poinsettias, cyclamen and anthurium inside the 4.5-acre, heated conservatory. At the center stage of the exhibit stands a 30-foot floral tree made up of poinsettias, euphorbias and white phalaenopsis orchids. A fully decorated 18-foot Fraser fir stands in a rotating music box in the Music Room, while a 22-foot tall concolor fir, decorated in red and gold, stands next to the antique baby grand piano. For those who love model trains, the Garden Railway operates during regular hours near the Terrace Restaurant.

Outdoors, more than 500,000 lights adorn 124 trees. The tallest tree is more than 90 feet high! One of the most popular displays is the Wildlife Tree, which is decorated with edible ornaments made from wheat, apples and birdseed for the local critters to enjoy. To keep visitors toasty, three fire pits created by local artisans are placed throughout the area.

Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square. Longwoodgardens.org

 

 

WATCH

One of the busiest days of the year for Penn Ketchum is Christmas Day. His 14-screen (plus one IMAX screen) Penn Cinema sells out many shows during the day.

“We have people of the Jewish faith. We have people who are not with their families, and we also have tons of families who come out before or after their Christmas dinners. It’s a big day,” says Penn.

This year, Lucasfilms kicks off the unofficial holiday run on December 16 with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The film has been embroiled with reshoots and brings speculating fans back to the time between Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (a.k.a. the original first movie). On December 23, six movies will vie for top billing, Passengers, a sci-fi featuring Jennifer Lawrence; Sing, an animated story of a koala voiced by Matthew McConaughey; Assassin’s Creed, based on the popular video game; Patriot’s Day, the historic drama set around the Boston Marathon bombings, with Mark Wahlberg; A Monster Calls staring Sigourney Weaver; and the surefire money maker Why Him? with Bryan Cranston and James Franco.

For those trivia buffs out there, the highest grossing Christmas movie to ever hit the screen was 2000’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which raked in more than $260 million in the U.S. alone.

Penn Cinema, 541 Airport Rd., Lititz. Penncinema.com   

 

 

EAT

The debate over which movie is the best Christmas movie will rage on eternal. Near the top of almost everyone’s list is A Christmas Story. The 1983 comedy of errors surely ranks among classics such as It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. Who can forget the scene at Chop Suey Palace when the Parker family is serenaded by kitchen workers, and their “Christmas turkey” arrives with its head still attached.

In keeping with that theme, one of my favorite places to gather with friends and family is Dragon Hibachi & Sushi Buffet, and they are open on Christmas Day. This neo-contemporary-designed eatery offers a big enough selection so that even picky eaters can get their all-you-can-eat fill. I go for the selection of raw oysters and the sushi, which is rolled fresh. The kids always love the massive selection of desserts and fresh fruit.

If I want a more refined and intimate setting, I go to Mojo in The Shoppes at Bloomfield Village. Open since 2008, Mojo was Lancaster County’s first Asian-fusion restaurant, combining cuisine from different parts of the eastern continent with a distinct flair for presentation and high quality.

Mojo offers all the standard items expected from a place offering carryout service – like shrimp with broccoli and General Tso’s chicken – but also makes some mean curry dishes. Of course, Mojo offers a delicious selection of specialty sushi rolls, but the star here is the Peking duck.

Served half or whole, the duck is slow roasted for hours to reduce the fowl’s thick layer of fat. The result is crispy skin atop succulent meat served with scallions and Hoisin sauce and thin crepes. Mojo is also open Christmas Day, and I guarantee the Parkers would be envious.

Dragon Hibachi & Sushi Buffet, 1858 Fruitville Pike, Lancaster. 617-2488 or Facebook

Mojo Asian Cuisine & Sushi Bar, 245 Bloomfield Drive #107, Lititz. 509-8998 or Mojolancaster.com 

 

 

STAY

While we’re on the subject of food, maybe a staycation is in order for a Christmas Day meal. No cooking, no clean-up! If you find that appealing, check in to the Eden Resort & Suites. Central PA residents are offered an exclusive discount offer: rooms at 25% off the standard rate. Using the hotel’s club card gets diners 25% off any meals purchased at Garfield’s, Arthur’s Terrace or Encore Lounge (a breakfast buffet for two is included in the package). “We are victims of our fantastic reputation,” says Teresa Roda, director of sales at Eden Resort & Suites.

Of course, the Eden is known for its Champagne Sunday Brunch. The Eden’s Christmas Brunch is also a hot ticket, but be forewarned that it sells out well in advance. The menu differs from year to year as the culinary team at the Eden highlights seasonal fare. The grand buffet includes items such as made-to-order omelettes, crab cakes and steaks. For dessert, citrus tarts, chocolate-covered pretzels and other confections indulge the sweet tooth.

After brunch, you can get a jump start on your New Year’s resolution and burn off some calories in the resort’s fitness center or relax by the indoor pool. To take advantage of after-Christmas sales, the Central PA Residents package includes a coupon for a Tanger Outlet discount book with over $500 in savings.

Eden Resort & Suites, 222 Eden Road, Lancaster. 569-6444 or Edenresort.com

 

 

And a Hip New Year

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The ‘60s were a time of dramatic change. A young, dynamic president took office. The racial divide took center stage. A man landed on the moon. War was being waged in Vietnam. The generation gap widened. College students demonstrated … against everything. Mother Earth became a rallying cry.

Yet, things stayed the same. In Lancaster during the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, the baby boomers turned out in force on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to welcome Santa Claus to town. Visiting Santa at Watt & Shand was a rite of passage.

Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, the Aluminum Specialty Company was in the process of creating a holiday icon – the aluminum Christmas tree. Tom Gannon, the company’s toy sales manager, happened to be in a five-and-dime store in Chicago in 1958 when he spied a homemade metal tree on display. Ideas began to spin in his head and upon returning to the company’s headquarters in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, he successfully presented his idea for a metallic tree to its management team. The company’s design team went to work.

In 1959, the company’s metallic tree hit the market. Consumers snapped them up at an unprecedented rate. After all, aluminum was perceived as being modern. It also embodied the look of the Atomic Age and epitomized the holiday decor one might find at the futuristic home of the Jestons. The fact that it was being touted as a “permanent” tree as opposed to an artificial one, appealed to a generation that was already looking for the convenience factor in their lives.

In the early ‘60s, the company’s designers went back to the drawing board and created an improved product that was christened the Evergleam. To quell customer complaints that the tree could not be strung with lights, the color wheel, which projected light onto the tree, made its debut.

The tree ruled holiday décor until an infamous night in 1965. Americans tuned in to their televisions to hear a boy named Charlie Brown rue our attachment to all things artificial – specifically pink-hued aluminum trees. He suggested we should honor living trees, no matter how misshapen or scrawny they may be. The shiny trees lost favor with the public, and production at the Aluminum Specialty Company ceased in 1969.

Down in the mountains of North Carolina, farmers rejoiced. They had discovered a tree that grows like a weed – albeit a slow one – in their corner of the South. The little-known tree was the Fraser fir. Co-ops were formed, helping the Tar Heel State become a force in tree production. (FYI: According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the top five tree-producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.) The Fraser hit the big time in 1970, when a North Carolina-grown tree was displayed in the White House.

Over the past 50 years, the popularity of aluminum trees has ebbed and flowed. The vintage craze has helped to revive interest in them. Fans of Christmas, whose homes feature multiple trees, often include them in their holiday decor. And, they do prove to be topics of conversation. People tend to love ‘em or hate ‘em.

Dawn Fisher’s tree, which typically goes up the week of Christmas because she is so busy working on clients’ homes or places of business, pays homage to the past in that it’s aluminum. However, it’s also very 21st century due to its fullness, the fact that it can be strung with lights, and its “needles” are a combination of silver and black, which adds texture and dimension. Last year, Dawn decorated it with a color that has become a hot holiday hue, turquoise. Pops of red were delivered with faux amaryllis blooms. “I kept it up through February,” she reports. Indeed, once she removed her Santas, the room took on a winter theme, as the snowflake-lined windows and snowmen demonstrated their staying power.

For Dawn, who is originally from Annville in Lebanon County, Christmas is a year-round project. “Whatever I look at, I ask myself how it could be incorporated into Christmas,” she says, whether she’s shopping in July or December. While many of us sleep in on December 26, Dawn is up at the crack of, well dawn, in order to hit the after-Christmas sales. “I invest my income in after-Christmas sales,” she explains. “I probably have enough ornaments to decorate 50 trees,” she says of her stash. Her newest endeavor is collecting harvest-related items. “A lot of my commercial clients now want to put up harvest trees,” she explains.

Dawn cherishes her relationship with Jim Morrison and the National Christmas Center. “Jim gets you excited about Christmas,” she says. She also shares that Martha Stewart is a fan. “She’s borrowed some things from the center,” she reports, explaining that the items often serve as the inspiration for the ornaments she designs for her brand. The National Christmas Center has also been featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine. “They were supposed to do a photo shoot at the Center on September 11,” Dawn recalls of that day in 2001. “I spent the entire night of September 10 working on one of the displays.” Dawn emerged around 10 a.m., only to learn what had taken place in New York. “I had no idea what people were talking about,” she says of being immersed in her own little world of Christmas. The shoot, of course, was rescheduled and Dawn likes to think that the staff’s eventual trip to Lancaster provided them with a pleasant escape from reality.

Merry Christmas …

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Many of today’s holiday traditions are rooted in the Victorian era. Greeting cards, handmade ornaments, feather trees and more can trace their beginnings to the 19th century.

Dawn Fisher (seated) and Jeanne Fisher collaborated on decorating Jeanne’s home for last year’s Columbia Victorian Christmas Tour. An interesting tidbit: In the Victorian era, shopkeepers attracted business by rewarding customers who purchased items with free candles.

Dawn Fisher (seated) and Jeanne Fisher collaborated on decorating Jeanne’s home for last year’s Columbia Victorian Christmas Tour. An interesting tidbit: In the Victorian era, shopkeepers attracted business by rewarding customers who purchased items with free candles.

Jeanne Fisher never does anything half way. When she was asked to participate in last year’s Columbia Victorian Christmas Tour, she decided to transform her home, which dates to 1846, into a holiday masterpiece.

Jeanne, however, had a slight problem. Since purchasing and restoring her Columbia home nearly 10 years ago, she had never celebrated the holidays there. Her home in the Philadelphia suburbs is a more convenient gathering place for her far-flung children. “The decorations I use for that house are far from Victorian,” Jeanne notes. So, she turned to the Internet in order to find authentic ornaments. However, she instantly encountered a roadblock: authentic Victorian ornaments and decor are outlandishly expensive. It would cost a fortune to decorate even a small tree.

Jeanne then strolled down the street to Garth Gallery. She was sure the gallery’s owner, Cle Berntheizel, would have some ideas. Indeed, it was Cle to the rescue. One of his friends, Dawn Fisher (no relation to Jeanne), is an authority on period decorating for the holidays. “For as long as I’ve known Dawn, she’s been crazy about Christmas,” Cle says of their friendship that dates back to attending the York Academy of Art together. As an added bonus, Dawn is very familiar with the Victorian architecture for which Columbia is known. For a time, she managed Angela House, an antiques consignment shop that was located in a building that was formerly home to the town’s Women’s Club. At holiday time, she pulled out all the stops to entice shoppers to visit the store. “Every window had a tree in it that was decorated with angels,” she explains.

The windows created a buzz, and soon people were asking Dawn to help them with their holiday-decorating projects. That led her to the National Christmas Center in Paradise, where she began assisting curator Jim Morrison with displays. Soon she was helping him decorate hotel lobbies and other venues that serve as a way to promote the center.

Guests for last year’s house tour were greeted by this festively decorated staircase.

Guests for last year’s house tour were greeted by this festively decorated staircase.

Jeanne was impressed with Dawn’s ideas – “she’s very meticulous,” she notes – and the two agreed to collaborate on decorating the house as it would have been during the Victorian era, which is regarded as the period 1837-1901. The game plan included a fully decorated, floor-to-ceiling tree, table-top feather trees, a display of Jeanne’s vintage greeting cards and greenery throughout the house. Cle volunteered to take care of securing a tree and placed an order with Snyder’s Market for a 12-1/2-foot Fraser fir.

Dawn estimated the project would require three days to complete. The first day would be dedicated to placing the lights on the tree. “I always start from the bottom and wrap each branch with lights,” she explains. However, the size of this tree prompted her to deviate from routine and instead wrap the trunk with lights (for more dimension) and then move to the branches.

Dawn also arrived with what Jeanne estimated to be “a million boxes of ornaments.” Inside the boxes was a treasure trove of Victorian-style ornaments that ranged from reproductions of the distinctive styles of Germany to replicas of the “handmade” designs that would have been crafted from scraps of fabric or spun cotton/wool. “I used everything I have, plus I borrowed things from the National Christmas Center,” Dawn notes. The reproduction ornaments came from companies such as Old World Christmas and Christopher Radko. The ornaments took the shapes of angels, birds, balloons, trains and Santa. The Victorian custom of placing treats, such as candy, nuts and fruit in baskets (often created from blown eggs) and small gift bags, and hanging them on the tree was also represented. Antique prisms and Moravian-like stars also brought some sparkle to the tree. Wax candles and icicles also decorated the tree.

“The tree was a spectacular specimen,” says Dawn. “It was my honor and pleasure to decorate it. I like to think the 1,000 ornaments I added only served to gild the lily. My only goal was to do it justice.”

While Dawn worked on the tree, Jeanne and her friend, Doryth Deisley, decorated the staircase that ascends from the foyer to the upper floors. Jeanne and Cle also decorated the porch and hung wreaths on the front doors. Two kissing balls, made by a florist in Philadelphia, added to the Victorian ambiance.

But, Jeanne wasn’t quite finished. She borrowed costumes from Columbia’s renowned designer Janet Wood – or as Jeanne calls her, “the Cecil B. DeMille of Columbia” – and recruited some friends to join her in welcoming tour goers to her home. “We had a lot of fun,” she reports. “The day was definitely special.” And, not to let all their hard work go to waste, Jeanne hosted several parties at the house over the holidays.

Information on Victorian Christmas traditions was found on the websites of the BBC and Golden Glow of Christmas Past.

 

 

Christmas letters were popular during the Victorian era. Bored with their nondescript look, Sir Henry Cole instructed painter/illustrator John Callcott Horsley to create something that better embodied the season. Horsley supplied Cole with an illustration of a festive family gathering. Vines and twigs framed the illustration. A message – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year – provided the finishing touch and became a popular verbal greeting at holiday time in England. Cole, who owned a lithography company, was so impressed with the results that he reproduced the image on 3×5 cards. Queen Victoria became a huge fan of the Christmas card and sent out thousands each year. By the 1860s, Christmas cards were a big business in England. The first American Christmas cards were printed in Boston in 1874.
For this mantle-top display, Dawn utilized Jeanne’s collection of cards that date to the early 1900s.

 

 

The Victorians decorated their homes with holly and other greenery at holiday time. They believed that holly brings good fortune. A holly tree in the garden was thought to protect a house from fire. Mistletoe was originally viewed by the Greeks and Romans as a holy plant in that it had the power to drive away evil and bring enemies together by embracing beneath it. The Victorians introduced the kissing concept to the superstition. In some cultures, kissing under the mistletoe ensures good luck. In others, it is believed that if a woman refuses the kiss, bad luck will follow. Note the reproduction fans.

 

 

Feather trees originated in Germany in the mid-1800s. The Germans preferred table-top trees, hence many of the country’s trees were being lopped off at their tops, letting the remainder of the tree go to waste. As a result, deforestation projects decimated the German countryside. Laws eventually protected the trees from the practice. In the meantime, the Germans had to improvise. Enter the world’s first artificial Christmas tree. Made to resemble a white pine, the trees were constructed of wire to which feathers (goose, turkey, ostrich or swan) were painstakingly attached. The feathers were dyed green to resemble pine needles.
Dawn decorated this feather tree with ornaments shaped like grape clusters, greeting and trade cards that were transformed into decorations with the addition of fringe and the requisite angel tree topper, which was typically made from  tinsel and porcelain or wax. The angel toppers represented childlike innocence and purity.

 

Prior to the reign of Queen Victoria, Christmas was a low-key celebration. In fact, it was business as usual on Christmas Day in England, as shops and offices were open and employees were expected to report for work. The queen’s husband, Prince Albert, played a major role in making Christmas a festive holiday in England. The German-born prince introduced England to the custom of decorating a tree. The first tree at Windsor Castle was erected in 1841 and was filled with German-made ornaments. In 1848, a drawing of the royal family gathered around a Christmas tree was published in the Illustrated London News, prompting Christmas trees to become an English tradition.
Gift giving also became customary. Children received such items as dolls and trains. Fruit was a cherished gift, as well, due to the fact that it was out-of-season and was quite expensive. “If you received an orange for Christmas, it was a big deal,” Dawn explains.

 

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