Great Barrington — The Great Barrington Historical Society’s museum, located at 817 South Main Street, is hosting its fifth annual Old-Fashioned Christmas exhibit. The exhibit features vintage toys, trees, decorations, and antiques on loan to the Society by residents.
One of the many rooms in the museum is dedicated to a variety of decorated Christmas trees, with 20 decorated trees all throughout the building, while other rooms include vintage toys and dollhouses of historical eras.
In one part of the building, a full working model railroad is on display in its own miniature Christmas village.
Historical Society Executive Director Robert Krol told The Berkshire Edge that the idea behind the exhibit is to conjure up nostalgic memories of Christmas past. “Our goal is to have people rekindle their Christmas spirits by learning about our traditions, where they came from, and how they developed,” Krol said. “We also want visitors to be able to relate to our town’s history to different eras.”
Krol said that one of the areas of the exhibit includes a section called “My Favorite Things,” which allows residents to put up items from their holiday past.
“It’s wonderful seeing people putting up these displays,” Krol said. “To me, Christmas isn’t a season. Christmas is a feeling. When the season comes around, the memories come rushing back, including the memories of families. Those feelings are unlike any other time during the year.”
The Society’s museum is open on Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The exhibit will be on display until New Year’s weekend and admission is free.
For more information go to the Great Barrington Historical Society’s website.
