Decking the halls, and rooms, and ...

ITTLE FALLS - Follow the yellow brick road.

• Photos

Back | Next

Back | Next

Back | Next

That's what Christmas at the Mansions tour-goers will do at the Richard "Drew" Musser and Charles A. Weyerhaeuser mansions on Linden Hill in Little Falls.

Christmas at the Mansions - Linden Hill's second annual Christmas tour - was to begin at 1 p.m. Friday. The tour will run daily from 1-6 p.m. through Dec. 7. Cost is $10 per person, $8 per person with a food shelf donation and free for children 12 and younger. Cost includes hot apple cider and cookies. All proceeds from the tour will be used for the preservation of Linden Hill. No reservations are needed.

The Gumdrop Tree in Little Falls decorated a Christmas tree with toys in the Richard "Drew" Musser mansion in Little Falls.

» Purchase reprints of this photo.Brainerd Dispatch/Jennifer Stockinger

Linden Hill program director Lori Stang said Little Falls historian Marilyn Brown came up with the idea of using the yellow bricks that were donated to Linden Hill for the tour. Stang said the clay that was used to build the yellow bricks was made in Little Falls. Participants will follow the bricks as they tour the mansions.

All four floors of the two mansions are decorated for Christmas. Stang said last year, people had the option of touring all levels, but only the main levels were completely decorated.

"People really are going to be amazed with the mansions this year," Stang said. "It takes an army to decorate the mansions and they've done a phenomenal job."

A fireplace in one of the bedrooms in the Linden Hill mansions in Little Falls was decorated with snowmen for the Christmas at the Mansions tour.

» Purchase reprints of this photo.Brainerd Dispatch/ Jennifer Stockinger

Stang said dozens of merchants and community members have taken part in decorating the mansions and each room has a theme. Themes include White Christmas, Old-fashioned Christmas, Gold Christmas, Modern Christmas, Patriotic Christmas and Up North Christmas.

Laura Jane Musser's American Indian collection is featured in the lower level of the Musser mansion. Stang said the collection of handbags, statues, framed pictures and totem poles was in storage. The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls decorated the music room in the Musser mansion with their handmade works.

If you go

- What: Christmas at the Mansions tour.

- Where: Linden Hill in Little Falls.

- When: Today-Dec. 7. Tours run from 1-6 p.m. daily.

- Cost: $10 per person, $8 per person with a food shelf donation and free for children 12 and younger. Cost includes hot apple cider and cookies.

- More information: Call the Friends of Linden Hill at (320) 616-5580. No reservations are needed.

Also this year, Laura Jane's Shoppe will be open for the first time to tour participants only. Friends of Linden Hill received Little Falls City Council approval this month to sell Laura Jane memorabilia that had been stored in the barn and schoolhouse on the Linden Hill property. Items for sale in the gift shop include knickknacks, handmade purses and comforters.

Stang said the Christmas tour at Linden Hill helps with operating costs at the two mansions, showcases the mansions, celebrates Christmas and helps get the community involved at Linden Hill.

The entryway at the Richard "Drew" Musser mansion on Linden Hill in Little Falls was decorated for the Christmas at the Mansions tour.

» Purchase reprints of this photo.Brainerd Dispatch/ Jennifer Stockinger

Stang said that, last year, more than 600 toured the mansions, $4,000 was raised and more than 120 bags of food were collected. Stang anticipates that the tour will attract even more people this year.

"I've been getting a lot of inquiries about the tour this year," Stang said. "And there is so much more to see than there was last year, so even if someone came on the tour last year, they may want to come again to see all the new holiday rooms."

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.