Cumberland makes plans for historic holiday tours
CUMBERLAND, Md. – The Allegheny County Historical Society, 218 Washington St., Cumberland, Md., announces the following holiday events for the Gordon-Roberts House and the Thrasher Carriage Museum. The holiday season begins with open houses at both museums on Friday, Nov. 29. The Gordon-Roberts House will host an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. prior to the downtown Cumberland tree lighting. The open house for the Threasher Carriage Museum will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. during the Frostburg tree lighting festivities. Traditional Christmas carols will fill the air, and light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public.
A Victorian Christmas tea will be hosted at the Gordon-Roberts House on Sunday, Dec. 1, from 1 to 3 p.m. with advance ticket purchase. The event includes a high tea, harpist, program and tour of the 1867 home.
The theme for decorating this year is “Golden Splendor” and highlights the “guilded age” of the Victorian period. A 12-foot decorated Christmas tree sets the stage for the tour of the decorated home featuring decorated trees, mantles and stairways.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, a “Deck the Halls” children’s tea will be held at the Gordon-Roberts House from 1 to 2:30 p.m. with advance ticket purchase. Children will decorate miniature trees to take home, tour the house and enjoy a Christmas tea.
The final event of the season, Boxing Day, will be held on Dec. 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is based on an English tradition of giving servants the day after Christmas off to go home to their families with boxes of presents and food. The admission for the day is canned goods, which will be donated to a local food pantry. Participants will be looking for special boxes on their tour of the house.
The Gordon-Roberts house offers tours throughout the holiday season on Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with tours on the hour and the last tour at 4 p.m. All visitors enjoy a cup of tea and cookies as part of the tour experience. The Thrasher Carriage Museum will offer “jingle bell” tours with costumed docents on Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15 and 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For additional information on the holiday events or either museum, contact the historical society at 301-777-8678 or on line at hhouse@allconet.org.