Oliver Mansion hosts ’12 Days of Christmas’

Published 11:56 am Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The Oliver Mansion

The Center for History’s annual Christmas at Copshaholm will take place in the 38-room Oliver Mansion on Dec. 4 and 11.

In this year’s production, set in 1920, costumed performers portray Oliver family and friends preparing for their version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

But everything seems to be going awry. The maid has mistaken the three French hens for three “fresh” hens, the nine ladies dancing and 10 lords-a-leaping are arguing over who gets to use the stage for rehearsal, and someone has lost one of the five gold rings.

The story was written by local author Roger Chrastil, who has scripted past Christmas at Copshaholm specialty tours as well as the Center for History’s “Mystery at the Mansion” plays.

Tours begin at 12:30 p.m. Admission is $10 adults; $8 seniors $6 youth ages 6 to 17 and $5 members. Advance tickets are recommended to guarantee a place on a tour, and tickets are limited. Call (574) 235-9664.

As visitors tour the 12,000-square-foot Copshaholm, they can also enjoy the mansion, decorated for the holidays. The three-story historic house is shown in its Yuletide finery and showcases more than eight Christmas trees for the season. Mistletoe holly and garlands of greenery drape fireplace mantels and stairways. Victorian-style trees in other areas of the house complete the holiday embellishments.

The Oliver family moved into the 38-room house on Jan. 1 1897. The Victorian mansion would be home to the family for the next 75 years. All of Copshaholm furnishings are original, showing the hosue as it appeared when the family lived there.

For information, call (574) 235-9664 or visit www.centerforhistory.org.