The Ohio Historical Society opens the Ohio Village for special events. At Christmas, the Village is open and staffed with volunteers dressed in Victorian garb. This is an evening event, and the Village is only lit with gas lights and candles.
When we walked into the Village, we felt like we had stepped back in time. Be careful; and watch where you step. To help you see where you are going, the staff lines the walks and steps with luminaries and lanterns and tries to keep them lit. The first person that greeted us was Old St. Nick himself dressed in a Victorian St. Nick costume. He was very helpful and showed us how to use our map of the village to visit all the open sites.
The staff was all friendly. Any time we showed any interest in participating in activities, they were quick to get us involved. While the activities may be designed for kids, we participated and learned a lot about how the Victorians celebrated Christmas. We made mummers masks, hand tinted a Christmas card, made cranberry and popcorn chains to hang on a tree, and played parlor games.
The Historical Society also provided some entertainments that were similar to those the Victorians might have attended. There was a mummer performance, a story teller who told ghost stories, and a performance by Charles Dickens himself. Through out the evening we met the Ohio Village Singers who strolled through the village singeing carols. They also gave two performances in the town hall. We also met Bob Marley several times during our walk around the village. You could tell he was coming when you heard the chains clanging.
We also learned how to give a Cobweb Party. This is a fun activity that involves stringing yarn around a room—one color for everyone playing. Attached to the strands of yarn are little gifts like candy. When you reach the end of your strand of yarn, you get a bigger gift. This sounds like lots of fun and I am going to try it with my family.
The American House and Hotel was serving a limited menu of light meals like sandwiches and mac and cheese. The tavern was serving selected beverages. A local Boy Scout troop sold roasted chestnuts and hot cider. We had a good time and enjoyed celebrating Christmas without electric lights and expensive presents
Hours: Two week ends in December. Watch for ads next year.
Location: Ohio Village next to the Ohio Historical Society Museum
Fees (if applicable): $10/adult OHS member, $7/child OHS member, $12/adult nonmember, $9/child nonmember, $4/parking fee for nonmembers.
Additional information: Ohio Historical Society: Dickens Christmas
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Byesville Scenic Railway
The Byesville Scenic Railway is a work of love by a dedicated group of volunteers who are descendents of the coal miners who used to dig coal in the southeastern Ohio area. The 1 hour rail trip uses the train and cars that the miners used to get to and from the mines.
Guides ,dressed as coal miners including coal dust, will point out traces of the old mines and tell stories about the history of the area and how the miners and their families lived. Listen carefully and you will learn what the miners used for toilet paper in the mines.
The Christmas trip is really nice. The guides explain how the miners and their families celebrated Christmas. Decorations were very different because they didn’t have electricity and artificial Christmas trees. Since they didn’t have much money, Christmas was more about the religious reason for the season and not so much about presents. People tended to make gifts for each other out of materials they had at home. The trip was a nice antidote to the hustle and bustle of today's Christmases.
Guides ,dressed as coal miners including coal dust, will point out traces of the old mines and tell stories about the history of the area and how the miners and their families lived. Listen carefully and you will learn what the miners used for toilet paper in the mines.
The Christmas trip is really nice. The guides explain how the miners and their families celebrated Christmas. Decorations were very different because they didn’t have electricity and artificial Christmas trees. Since they didn’t have much money, Christmas was more about the religious reason for the season and not so much about presents. People tended to make gifts for each other out of materials they had at home. The trip was a nice antidote to the hustle and bustle of today's Christmases.
- April-May: school charters accepted
- May through December--Saturday and Sunday 1:00 and 3:00
- Check their web site for special trips and times such as: Wine Tasting Excursions, Fathers Day Special, Fall Steam Weekend and Coal Miners Festival, Halloween Excursions, and Christmas Specials.
Location:
- Byesville, Ohio
- Map and directions
- Adults $10.00
- Children 3-12: $7.00
- Children under 3: Free
Dickens Village--Cambridge, Ohio
During the month of December and the first week of January, Cambridge, Ohio, hosts the “Dickens Village." One of the highlights is over 40 life-sized sculptures of Victorian and Dickens characters that line the main street. Cambridge has a lot of buildings on main street in the Victorian style. The figures fit right in and make great photos especially when there is a little snow in the air. We started our visit in the Dickens Welcome Center which offers Dickens Village souvenirs and an opportunity to have your picture taken while you are dressed in Dickens era clothing. Watch for costumed street vendors selling local goodies as you tour the street.
At the rear of the welcome center is a tea shop which is open on Saturdays from 1-6:00pm. The shop serves a Victorian tea. On the day we were there, the tea included a choice of three types of tea, scones with lemon curd and clotted cream or raspberry jam, strawberry soup (yumm) hot chicken salad, onion brioche, cucumber sandwich, zebra cake, coconut cream bites, thumbprint cookies, and finally a large slice of delicious cheesecake with lemon sauce. The staff will teach you how to eat scones in the proper Victorian way. The tea gave us a chance to rest our feet.
There were 5 bus tours in town the day we visited which made for a nice holiday bustle. Stores were busy but not crowded. There is lots to do when you visit—wander through several of the older buildings which have been converted into small shops selling lots of different items. Several specialize in antiques and collectables—Cambridge glass is especially popular and there is often a good selection of Roseville or Weller pottery. On the court house lawn are a group of Dickens shops. Local vendors—different every week-end—offer a variety of items with special Dickens Village prices.
At 5:30-9:00pm, the courthouse light and music show will begin. This is new this year and is fantastic. There are three different 12 minutes shows and Cambridge’s old-fashioned, wedding cake courthouse is the perfect setting. Check out a sample of the show at this You Tube site .
Good places to eat include Theos—right across from the Welcome Center. Try their famous coney dog or chili fries—served with chili and cheese. I recommend their spicy chili soup and their pork chops. On the side street to the left of the courthouse, the Courtside Deli offers sandwiches and soups and daily specials. Or drive east down Wheeling toward Interstate 71 and pull in to Mr. Lees for a meal. They make great chimichangas and offer a big selection of home cooked items. Head away from the courthouse to Rt. 209 and you will find the usual franchises and another local restaurant—The Forum. Their Greek sampler is great and so are the fajitas and pizzas.
If this is not enough action for one day, you can take the Byesville Scenic Railway trip which is offered on Saturdays at 1:00 and 3:00pm in Byesville.
Related sites: Dickens Victorian Village
At the rear of the welcome center is a tea shop which is open on Saturdays from 1-6:00pm. The shop serves a Victorian tea. On the day we were there, the tea included a choice of three types of tea, scones with lemon curd and clotted cream or raspberry jam, strawberry soup (yumm) hot chicken salad, onion brioche, cucumber sandwich, zebra cake, coconut cream bites, thumbprint cookies, and finally a large slice of delicious cheesecake with lemon sauce. The staff will teach you how to eat scones in the proper Victorian way. The tea gave us a chance to rest our feet.
There were 5 bus tours in town the day we visited which made for a nice holiday bustle. Stores were busy but not crowded. There is lots to do when you visit—wander through several of the older buildings which have been converted into small shops selling lots of different items. Several specialize in antiques and collectables—Cambridge glass is especially popular and there is often a good selection of Roseville or Weller pottery. On the court house lawn are a group of Dickens shops. Local vendors—different every week-end—offer a variety of items with special Dickens Village prices.
At 5:30-9:00pm, the courthouse light and music show will begin. This is new this year and is fantastic. There are three different 12 minutes shows and Cambridge’s old-fashioned, wedding cake courthouse is the perfect setting. Check out a sample of the show at this You Tube site .
Good places to eat include Theos—right across from the Welcome Center. Try their famous coney dog or chili fries—served with chili and cheese. I recommend their spicy chili soup and their pork chops. On the side street to the left of the courthouse, the Courtside Deli offers sandwiches and soups and daily specials. Or drive east down Wheeling toward Interstate 71 and pull in to Mr. Lees for a meal. They make great chimichangas and offer a big selection of home cooked items. Head away from the courthouse to Rt. 209 and you will find the usual franchises and another local restaurant—The Forum. Their Greek sampler is great and so are the fajitas and pizzas.
If this is not enough action for one day, you can take the Byesville Scenic Railway trip which is offered on Saturdays at 1:00 and 3:00pm in Byesville.
Related sites: Dickens Victorian Village
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