Spend the holiday season at the Col. Wm. Bond-Jesse Hawley House

Get the whole family in the mood for the holidays at a fantastic annual event, “A Winter’s Fest Eve,” at the Col. Wm. Bond-Jesse Hawley House.

The Col. Bond/Jesse Hawley House Museum, a National Register museum-home, is dressed up for the holidays by co-curators Gloria and Becky Pittler.

The event includes a full tour of each of the 12 rooms beautifully adorned for the season in period decoration. Enjoy Christmas music performed by Randy Andropolis and friends, as they sing and play timeless Christmas carols.

Feast on the delicious delicacies of fancy cookies and hot-mulled cider. The younger set is welcome to take part in special children’s activities in the library while mom and dad tour all of the other rooms. All tours and events are open to the public and families with children age 8 or older are encouraged to attend.

Christmas at the Col. Wm. Bond/Jesse Hawley House is a subject that has recently gained national attention through an impressive photo-article in the Christmas Edition of “Early American Life Magazine.” The visiting journalist opined that Col. Bond raised seven children, who no doubt enjoyed spending holiday time in the “well appointed brick home, furnished to the Empire period.”

Many of today’s favored keepsake ornaments find their inspiration in holiday objects from the past.

Once inside, visitors have remarked that the home still feels “lived in.” Winter’s Fest Eve is a chance to walk in the footsteps of former owners Col. William Bond, Jesse Hawley or Kate Chase Seymour.

A donation will be accepted at the door to help the History Center with this and many fine programs presented throughout the year.

The History Center is finishing up its 92nd anniversary year with a wonderful taste of 19th century Christmas.

This great event will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 6. For those who are unable to attend Winter’s Fest Eve, additional open house hours are scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in December, ending Dec. 16.