NEW GLASGOW, N.S.
Members of the board of directors for the Carmichael-Stewart House Museum located on Temperance Street in New Glasgow hope to channel the spirit of Christmas past and share a bit about PIctou County’s history this holiday season.
Board member Susan MacIntosh said the museum is looking forward to opening its doors to the community Dec. 12 to Dec. 14 for open houses.
Evening tours of the home will be given between 6 and 9 p.m. with sweets served, such as cider, short-bread cookies and oat cakes.
“We’ll have people in period clothing like the Carmichaels and the Stewarts,” she said.
Throughout the former home, which is now a museum, will be displays which paint a picture of what Christmases would have been like in the 1800s. Carollers will perform each night.
While the museum has hosted teas and other events in the past, this is the first time they’ve tried this type of event, says MacIntosh. They got the idea after being asked by the Town of New Glasgow whether they’d be willing to host guests taking part in the Christmas Lights Bus Tour. Rather than just opening the doors and decorating for the one day, they decided to turn it into a three-day event called “Christmas with the Carmichaels and Stewarts.”
She hopes people will leave with a better understanding of the town’s history.
“There’s so much history in here,” MacIntosh said. “Every time you come in you see something different.”
Barrie MacMillan, former New Glasgow mayor and board member of the museum, said he is looking forward to the event.
“It just seemed to be a shame to have this wonderful home closed over the Christmas holidays," he said, while praising the work of people like MacIntosh, who have put in hours of time to decorate.
“It makes it feel like there are people living here," he said. “This is our history and we want to preserve and put it front and center to the public.”
The cost to attend will be $5 per adult. Children under 10 will be admitted free of charge. Proceeds from the tours will go towards maintenance of the building. A raffle will be also held on a silk flower bouquet courtesy of Zelda’s Flower Studio.
