'Drawn to the mansions'
Christmas at the Mansions Tour
LITTLE FALLS - Little Falls resident Janell Staab holds the Helen Room in the Richard "Drew" Musser mansion on Linden Hill close to her heart.
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Staab's mother, Helen, died of lung cancer in 2005. So when Staab had to decide which room in the Musser or the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser mansion she wanted to decorate for this year's third annual Christmas at the Mansions tour in Little Falls, there was no question.
Mary Bindewald (left) and Carol Potter, members of the Friends of Linden Hill, decorated a small Christmas tree in the kitchen in the Weyerhaeuser mansion with red bows and cookie cut-outs. The Christmas at the Mansions tour will run daily from 1-6 p.m. Nov. 27 through Dec. 6, with Saturday tours ending at 8 p.m. » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Staab decorated the Helen Room is her mother's Christmas decor, including her Christmas Villages and ornaments.
Staab, tour planning committee chair, said the annual tour is a kickoff for the holidays and a chance to check out the historic mansions. Staab borrowed a quote from Walt Disney in reference to the Little Falls tour: "Do what you do well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends."
If you go
What: Christmas at the Mansions tour.
Where: Linden Hill, 608 Highland Ave., Little Falls.
When: Nov. 27 to Dec. 6. Tours run from 1-6 p.m. daily, 1-8 p.m. Saturdays.
Cost: $10 per person, $8 with a food shelf donation and free for children 12 and younger.
More information: Call the Friends of Linden Hill at (320) 616-5580. No reservations are needed.
"This is what we hope for," Staab said. "People tell us that they've been on the tour before and don't need to come again. We tell them that each year is different and they should bring their friends to experience the love of the mansions. There are people who live here who haven't been to the mansions and once you see it you want to come back. People are drawn to the mansions."
The tour will run daily from 1-6 p.m. and Saturday's from 1-8 p.m. Nov. 27 through Dec. 6. Cost is $10 per person, $8 with a food shelf donation and free for children 12 and younger. Proceeds from the tour will be used for the preservation of Linden Hill. No reservations are needed.
Mary Bindewald (left) and Carol Potter, members of the Friends of Linden Hill, decorated a small Christmas tree in the kitchen in the Weyerhaeuser mansion with red bows and cookie cut-outs. The Christmas at the Mansions tour will run daily from 1-6 p.m. Nov. 27 through Dec. 6, with Saturday tours ending at 8 p.m. » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Participants will tour all four floors of the historic Musser and Weyerhaeuser mansions that will be decorated for Christmas. This year's theme is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Staab said the theme is related to Laura Jane Musser's connection with Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch in the "Wizard of Oz."
Staab said decorating the mansions will take nearly two weeks. Staab said each volunteer - from community to business members to Friends of Linden Hill members - takes a room to decorate. Decorating began early this week. The music room in the Musser mansion was decorated with silver doves and numerous white boa feathers.
Mary Bindewald (left) and Carol Potter, members of the Friends of Linden Hill, decorated a small Christmas tree in the kitchen in the Weyerhaeuser mansion with red bows and cookie cut-outs. The Christmas at the Mansions tour will run daily from 1-6 p.m. Nov. 27 through Dec. 6, with Saturday tours ending at 8 p.m. » Purchase reprints of this photo.
On Tuesday, Mary Bindewald and Carol Potter, both members of the Friends of Linden Hill, were decorating the kitchen in the Weyerhaeuser mansion. They placed red bows and cookie cut-outs on a small Christmas tree.
The Minnesota Fishing Museum decorated the seasonal porch in the Weyerhaeuser mansion, and Laura Jane Musser's American Indian collection will be featured in the lower level of the Musser mansion.
Mary Bindewald (left) and Carol Potter, members of the Friends of Linden Hill, decorated a small Christmas tree in the kitchen in the Weyerhaeuser mansion with red bows and cookie cut-outs. The Christmas at the Mansions tour will run daily from 1-6 p.m. Nov. 27 through Dec. 6, with Saturday tours ending at 8 p.m. » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Lori Stang, Linden Hill program director, said the Christmas tour fundraiser takes about six dozen volunteers helping with decorating, tour guides, admissions, greeting, kitchen work, snow removal - if needed - and office work.
Last year, more than 725 visitors made the tour and 919 pounds of food were donated to the local food shelf. Linden Hill also generated more than $1,000 from the sale of surplus items in Laura Jane's Shoppe. The shop will be open again this year.
Mary Bindewald (left) and Carol Potter, members of the Friends of Linden Hill, decorated a small Christmas tree in the kitchen in the Weyerhaeuser mansion with red bows and cookie cut-outs. The Christmas at the Mansions tour will run daily from 1-6 p.m. Nov. 27 through Dec. 6, with Saturday tours ending at 8 p.m. » Purchase reprints of this photo.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.