24th annual Victorian Christmas, artisan market coming up Nov. 17-19

The spirit of a bygone era returns to the city as Preservation Williamsport hosts its 24th annual Victorian Christmas Nov. 17 through Nov. 19.

"I actually served on the committee in the junior league who bought the Peter Herdic House and saved it from the wrecking ball," said Nan Young, one of the founders of Victorian Christmas. "What we want to do this year is show how we have restored buildings. So, that's our theme, restoration and preservation."

Young started the annual event with a crew of just four organizers.

"It started just sitting at the bar at the Herdic House with Gloria and Marsha Miele, Ted Lyons and myself. Unfortunately, Marsha and Ted have passed away, so Gloria and I are the last remaining original members," Young said.

Victorian Christmas has seen tremendous growth since that day in the bar, with a committee of 23 members now organizing the three-day affair.

A presentation by the aptly named "The Preservationists" will open the festivities on Friday, Nov. 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. when Dan Ford, owner of Ford Custom Renovation, will take the podium at the Krapf Gateway Center at Lycoming College.

Ford has been extensively involved in the restoration of local homes and businesses.

A second "Preservationists" event will cap things off on Sunday, Nov. 19, with a five-person panel featuring Bob Kane, Tony Visco, Matthew Shauer, and Selina and Vince Pulizzi.

"Bob Kane is probably the finest restorationist we have in our city, and Tony Visco is an architect who was responsible for the Park Home," Young says.

Sunday's panel will be moderated by local author and historian Elaine Decker.

Between the two panels will be two full days of events harkening back to the days of the Victorian era.

While features from years past will make a comeback, including a tour of historic houses, sites and churches as well as the annual Williamsport Christmas parade at 6 p.m., all on Saturday, several new additions will keep the event fresh.

"Something new this year is that we're going to have horse and carriage rides," Young said.

The rides, offered from 10 to 4 p.m. on Saturday only, will depart from the Rowley House Museum's east side driveway.

"We will also have a sleigh, which has been restored by J. Scott McNeil, located outside of the YWCA, where photographer Eric Beiter will be set up to take people's pictures with Father Christmas," Young said. The photos will be available for purchase.

"The Williamsport Music Club will be performing as strolling carolers, which is new this year," Young said. "We've had strolling people in years past, but never carolers."

The hallowed halls of local churches will again fill up with the joyous sounds of the season as concerts are held throughout the city.

"Williamsport is so full of musical talent," said Meg Smith, who helms the artisan market. "They perform at the local churches, so people will get to see some of the top musicians."

"The Repasz Band will hold a free concert in the rotunda of the James V. Brown Library at noon on Saturday, featuring Victorian-themed books," Young says, "and that's new this year."

"As soon as the tour ends at 5 p.m., The Billtown Brass will perform in St. Mark's, and that's a really special thing," Young added. "After going on the tours all day, people are so glad to sit down and hear some beautiful music."

Train enthusiasts can look forward to the 32nd annual Will Huffman Toy Train Expo at 800 Park Place and the Thomas T. Taber Museum on West Fourth Street. The expo will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

In addition, several local dining establishments are participating as "food around town" sponsors, including The James Restaurant on Pine Street and Backhouse Café Coffee & Tea across from the Taber Museum.

With the growing popularity of Victorian Christmas, the annual artisans market has been expanded to a two-day event.

"We chose to do two days to allow people who are going to the tour to visit the artisan market at their leisure the following day," Smith said. "It's held at the YWCA, which itself is a work of art. The rotunda was painted by Marguerite Bierman, who was a dearly loved artist in town, who recently passed away, sadly."

"It started 10 or 15 years ago with a handful of artists that would be placed in a home or building that was on the tour in some little nook or cranny," Smith added. "But the artists are an important part of Victorian Christmas, so we wanted to provide it a more permanent home. We worked with Dawn Astin at the YWCA, and she was very kind to let us use her space. We started out with just the two front rooms in 2017, and we've grown now to 30 artisans that fill up the full first floor, including the gymnasium."

After all these years, the allure of Victorian Christmas holds a special place for Smith and Young.

"Some of these homes have a personal, family history, so that's a big thing for me," Smith said. "I go back five generations, and many of my forefathers were business owners, and many of them built these homes."

"I grew up in a Victorian home. I love the personal artistry that goes into every one of these homes," Smith added. "You just don't see it anymore, and it really needs to be preserved because they can't afford to build that way, and nor do we have the craftsmen."

"I think it's called passion," Young said. "I am so impressed and fascinated with the details on our 19th and 20th century houses."

"The Cupolas, moldings, carved staircases, parquet floors, solid carved doors, mantels, rounded wood door frames, window trims, eyebrows, all these made by the lumber from our forests long ago. These features are irreplaceable in many cases because of availability and cost."

"That's why we want to preserve what wonderful architecture and buildings Williamsport has," Young said. "We are proud to say many of these great houses are preserved for future generations."

For a full list of the weekend's events and pricing, visit victorianchristmaspa.com.