By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
Oranges, apples, fresh greenery, cotton bolls and pine cones were abundant Tuesday as Historic Bath State Historic Site prepared for this weekend’s Christmas open house.
Members of the Historic Bath Garden Club, other volunteers and site staff were busy crafting wreaths, centerpieces and assorted decorations in anticipation of the event, which is set for Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
“This is a long-standing tradition for us,” said Leigh Swain, site manager. “When I worked here as a teenager, we had Christmas open house.”
While most of the work was scheduled to be done Tuesday and today, the decorations will be “tweaked” Thursday, according to Swain.
Preparations actually began months ago.
“Even back when cotton was in bloom, Jerol Selby let me cut cotton from his field,” Swain said.
Gathering fresh, natural materials becomes almost a community effort.
“George Chrismon helps us with the cutting of greenery, and Henry Tripp got the magnolia,” Swain said. “Jean Bowen and Margaret Midgette gave us greenery. You have to find people who are willing to let us cut out of their yard. It’s a joint venture, and we appreciate every single person who contributes.”
The foraged materials — which included boxwood, cedar, pine, yew, statice, red berries, yarrow, red and green apples, clove oranges and oyster shells — are put to good use. The yarrow, by the way, is grown in a historic-site garden during the summer and dried for use in holiday arrangements.
When the last wreath is hung, three historic houses will be festooned for the Christmas season. Being readied for the open house are the Palmer-Marsh House, Bonner House and Van Der Veer House.
“We appreciate people coming, and it does put you in the Christmas spirit,” Swain said. “The Ad Hoc Players will perform colonial music in the Palmer-Marsh House, and we’ll serve hand-pressed apple cider and fresh-baked gingerbread.”
Even if the weather is less than perfect, the event is still worth a trip to Bath.
“It’s a lot of work for the volunteers, and whether or not it rains it doesn’t diminish their efforts,” Swain said.
For those who are unable to attend Sunday’s open house, there will be another opportunity to view the decorated homes.
“We’ll keep the houses decorated for a few days, but because we’re using fresh materials we do intend to start dismantling everything next week,” Swain said. “So, the sooner you can visit, the better.”