Decking the Halls
Jack Emler of the Roscoe Landscaping Department helps trim the main tree at the Roscoe Village Visitor’s Center on Tuesday, Nov. 12. In keeping with tradition, most of the decorations used are handmade and include some dried flowers from the Village.
COSHOCTON – The Roscoe Village Visitor’s Center has been transformed into an old-fashioned Christmas. On Tuesday, Nov. 12, employees at Roscoe and volunteers gathered at the Visitor’s Center at 8 a.m. to decorate for the upcoming holiday season.
But the people at Roscoe don’t decorate with just any kind of Christmas decorations. Every Christmas tree, down to the last ornament, is authentically historic, including the beautiful dried mums or the delicate Queen Ann’s Lace which hangs on the main tree. No lights adorn the trees, but candles are placed on the branches as they would have been many years ago. Most of the decorations were handmade, including a special small tree that is covered with hand-crocheted ornaments made by Theda Jones.
Phyllis Rice, a cousin of Theda Jones and also a long-time volunteer at Roscoe, said she enjoys volunteering her time at the Village and helps with events all-year round, although her favorite time of the year is Christmas.
“I just love to come here and decorate for Christmas,” said Rice. “I love decorating for Christmas. It’s my favorite time of the year.”
However, decorating for the Christmas season doesn’t start in November. Picking, drying, and preserving flowers for decorating starts in mid-summer. Only the most beautiful flowers are hand-picked for the Christmas season and all are grown in Coshocton County. These locally-grown flowers are a testament to the late Mrs. Montgomery.
“This is the way Mrs. Montgomery did it when she decorated,” said Diana Swigert, decorating coordinator. “She used quite a few dried flowers and all of the flowers had to be locally-grown.”
Swigert’s goal is to continue Mrs. Montgomery’s traditions at Roscoe during this season of the year and for many years to come.
“Diana puts a lot of thought into what she does here with the decorations and the theme and keeping everything natural,” said Connie Miller, landscape manager. “She’s pretty amazing when she comes up with the ideas that she has.”
The decorations will be on display until Jan. 6, 2014. The public is invited to come and view them during normal Visitor Center hours.
“It’s always fun to put everything together and see how it all comes together,” said Judy Norris, employee at the Landscape Department for 10 years. “It’s fun. We have lots of volunteers who help us, so that’s a good thing, too.”
beth@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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