The Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County, 
425 S. 12th, celebrates its 30th Christmas Candlelight Tours with Vignettes of Christmas Past.

Decorations will sparkle in gold and silver and candles will provide period atmosphere. Musicians Eric Steitz and Tony Blackford will provide music on the hammered dulcimer and flute.

This year’s theme will provide in one vignette, a glimpse of the Wood family and friends at a holiday dinner, and in another vignette, a look at the household staff as they prepare and serve the Governor and his guests. Visitors will gather in small groups at the Visitor’s Center and be escorted to the Mansion to eavesdrop on the family conversations, remaining at each venue for approximately five-minute intervals. This is a new opportunity for visitors to see the vignette format and experience first person interpretation in the Governor John Wood Mansion.

Free public and member tours will be offered Dec. 26 and 27 and will take place from 5-7 p.m. each night.

Quincy’s History Shop will also be open each tour night from 5-7 p.m. and offers a wide selection of gifts to please friends and family at Christmas and beyond.
 For further information, call 222-1835 or visit the website at www.adamscohistory.org.

Judith Winkelmann

Parlor of the Quincy Musuem at 1601 Maine.

Dining room of Quincy Museum at 1601 Maine.

After being closed during the month of November for decorating, the museum will reopen Saturday, November 27, with holiday decorations throughout the historic Newcomb-Stillwell House.

This year the decorations at the Quincy Museum will focus on Children’s Christmas Wishes. Be sure to wander throughout the museum and see displays of dolls and trains. Local florists and museum volunteers decorate the museum’s beautiful rooms for the season. Florists already signed on include Flower Country of Mendon, Hy-Vee on Broadway, Ben Franklin of Quincy, Wellman’s Florist, County Market and Adam Florist. A special exhibit will be installed in the second floor gallery for the holidays.

Friday, December 3, the museum will host its annual Members Only Christmas Party. Members will be treated to wonderful hors d’oeuvres, musical entertainment and a silent auction. Members find this a great way to kick off the holiday season!

The museum will also offer its usual Christmas classes for area school children and other groups. As always, participants in the Christmas programming will receive a guided tour of the first floor exhibit areas focusing on Victorian Christmas traditions and will participate in a special hands-on activity related to the theme of Children’s Christmas Wishes that they can take with them. These classes are available beginning Monday, November 29, and will continue through Thursday, December 30.

For more information or to schedule a class, call 224-7669. Regular museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children.

Barbara Wilkinson

October begins with a special showing of the “Abraham Lincoln: Self Made in America” traveling exhibit opening at the museum Oct. 1 and closing Oct. 15. The “Abraham Lincoln: Self Made in America” learning station exhibit has been traveling the United States since September 2008.

“We applied for this exhibit several years ago and are delighted to be bringing it to the tri-state area,” Dick Walz, museum president, said. “The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is in charge of the exhibit and announced to the Gardner Museum that it would be hosting it in Quincy. This exhibit is composed of seven learning stations and has been designed for public spaces, libraries and other cultural or educational institutions as part of their community outreach.”

Museum hours are from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children.

Special tours will be available for groups of 10 or more by appointment during other days and times. Visitors will also be able to tour the museum’s six other exhibits at that time.

Vicki Ebbing