Have a Visit to Christmas Past
The Adams County Historical Society has curated a new exhibit at the Historic P. & I.N. Depot sharing Christmas history in Meadows Valley during the years of 1876 - 1912.
Displays feature historical artifacts and written information referencing December happenings and Christmas traditions. Descriptions of a meaningful holiday, a special meal shared with family or nearby friends, handmade decorations and gifts, and simple joys abound. The exhibit also includes notes on the hardships pioneering homesteaders faced in this time period.
Menus may have included trout or salmon, venison, various poultry, or pork along with preserved foods and baked goods. Settlers could use foraged items like mushrooms and berries for the meals and plants, herbs, or flowers for gifts, decorations, medicine, or tea. Gifts were often hand made or cherished objects. The exhibit describes this saying, “A pair of knitted mittens, a cap, a wood carving, the pride of a young child’s gift of a hand scripted signature, written words or a song sung was sufficient when the world was what you made it long ago.”
Offering a glimpse into the past, visitors will see items like crafting tools, housekeeping implements, and keepsake cards. Historical society members put together new versions of ornaments and decorations settlers may have made. These include strings of painted salt dough ornaments and decorations made of pine, scrap material, wood, and other ends people may have on hand or find outdoors.
Excerpts from the old local newspaper, The Meadows Eagle, are featured as well including personal stories and advertisements for gift ideas.
The Historical Society provides a recipe in the exhibit for the salt dough ornaments which could be a fun new tradition for people of all ages.
The Depot Museum is open to visitors for this self guided exhibit Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Saturdays in December 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Depot is located at 101 S. Commercial Avenue in New Meadows.
