SCHWENKSVILLE PA – Holiday tours offered now through Jan. 8 (2023; Sunday) provide “a breathtaking range of Christmas décor sure to take you back in time,” advocates claim, at Pennypacker Mills, the Schwenksville homestead of former Pennsylvania Gov. Samuel Pennypacker. Admission is free Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. at the mansion, 5 Haldeman Rd.
Visitors will uncover the story behind Christmas of the past (1850), present (1910) and the future (1920), and how each time frame coincided with Pennypacker’s life.
Tours include:
- An 1850’s Christmas scene when Samuel Pennypacker was a young boy, and there were a few homemade ornaments on the Christmas tree and gifts of the era;
- A 1910-style Christmas tree decorated with handmade and purchased ornaments, gold, and red beads for shine, and presents under the tree; and
- In the 1920s, visitors can see how Christmas decorations changed with the use of electric lighting, telephones and the first radio broadcast. Guests can also view early examples of printed gift wrap and tinsel garland.
Throughout the mansion Christmas is celebrated with decorations that reflect the influence of ladies’ magazines, such as Lady’s Home Journal. A large centerpiece graces the dining room table along with a turkey, which was enjoyed every Christmas Day.
And there’s more
For a comprehensive list of upcoming historic site and events, see the county’s calendar here.
Photo of Christmas past at Pennypacker Mills provided by Montgomery County
