Historic Nemacolin Castle to sparkle during Christmas candlelight tours
BROWNSVILLE – This weekend Nemacolin Castle in Brownsville should garner its biggest crowds of the season as it begins its Christmas candlelight tours. “The first weekend is the busiest,’ said Nellie Mammarella of the Brownsville Historical Society, which operates the castle. “It depends on the other weekends. We never know. It’s hard to say what days will be the busiest.’
But there will be plenty of opportunity to see the castle in its Christmas finest. The Christmas candlelight tours will be offered every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the first weekend of January. The final tour is Sunday, Jan. 4.
The tours begin today and will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. All other Fridays, the tours will be offered from 5 to 9 p.m. Tours on Saturdays and Sundays will take place from 2 to 9 p.m.
Visitors will have an opportunity to see a variety of Christmas themes as decorators try to keep to the timelines presented in each of the rooms. The castle, which overlooks the Monongahela River on Brownsville’s North Side, was built in periods during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The castle can trace its roots back to Fort Burd, a French and Indian War stronghold that was built on this site in 1759.
Jacob Bowman established a trading post on the remains of the fort in 1789. Eventually, it was absorbed into a room of the house that the Bowmans built on the property.
Bowman was Brownsville’s first postmaster and a wealthy businessman. He added onto the house as his wealth increased. Eventually, the home contained some amenities as a conservatory and library and such luxuries as crystal chandeliers.
The Bowman family retained ownership of the home for more than 170 years before Fayette County purchased it in the 1970s. The Brownsville Historical Society operates the structure and has conducted the Christmas candlelight tours for more than 20 years.
Guests who make the Christmas tour this year will be treated to a special display.
“We’ll have winter scenes of Brownsville throughout the castle,’ Mammarella said.
There is also the traditional stop for refreshments – wassail and cookies – in the sitting room.
This first night, the castle will also operate a food booth with hot dogs and sauerkraut, kielbasa, coffee, hot chocolate and pop, Mammarella said.
She also noted the grounds will be covered with luminarias the first night.
There is a small admission charge for the Christmas candlelight tours. Groups of 20 or more should make reservations in advance by calling the castle and leaving a message at 724-785-6882.