Departure 10:00 AM From Insalaco's Shopping Center Wyoming Ave. West Pittston
July-
Sugar's Tea Room & Gift Shop
Saturday July 12, 11:00 AM Forty Fort PA
August- Garden Victorian Tea at the Ochman's Home West Pittston, PA
Date & Time TBA.
September-
Steam Town National Historic Site, Scranton PA Restored Steam Locomotive Ride & Museum Tour
Date & Time TBA.
April Meeting: North Fork Pets Antiques
Antique Pet Items
North Fork Pets Display At Stegmaier Mansion
Antique Veterinary Book
North Fork Pets Antique Bird Cages
APRIL MEETING:
Guest Speaker- Greg at North Fork Pets & Antiques
Member Greg at North Fork Pets & Antiques was our much anticipated guest speaker for the April meeting of the Victorian Friendship Society of PA. It was held in the historic Stegmaier Mansion, in the newly restored library.
We appreciate Greg taking time out of his busy schedule from his shop in New Hope, PA. The antique shop is filled with the most unique and unusual pet antique artifacts, photos, books and much more. Many items of which we were delighted to experience during Greg's program chronicling pet keeping history.
NorthForkPets.com is the worlds largest dealer of antique birdcages, vintage pet supplies and antique Veterinary collectibles, with many of his artifacts going to museums, movie sets and other media world wide. With an enormous working Library of Pet and Livestock ephemera dating back to the 1600's, Greg's talk was well researched. Among the many interesting and unusual items shown were Antique Victorian Bird Cages, Veterinary Tins, rare Victorian Pet Photos, early Veterinary Medicinal Bottles, and rare antiquarian Books. A 19th century Squirrel Cage and numerous antique Veterinary Medical Tools amazed members. Greg explained that Pets were quite popular in Victorian times, especially squirrels. Nearly every boy in rural America at the turn of the century had a pet squirrel.
It was common to have photo cards of children, or families, but very rare to have a picture of the family and the family pet. These are highly collectible and sought after today. Several dozen rare Victorian photographs were shown. One of the Veterinary tins Greg showed us was featured, along with several other artifacts, on the front cover of Antique Week magazine this summer.
Guests marveled at the unusual Vet. tools and their uses. Comments from the audience included: It was a very interesting program, what a great niche Greg has found. I enjoyed it very much, the Bird Cages are beautiful! My husband and I loved it; the old photos with the pets were so unusual to see. Greg has many wonderful things, we can't wait to visit his antique shop! Thanks Greg for an enjoyable evening!!
The Luzerne County Historical Society is celebrating its Sesquecentennial this year and has many special events planned.
JANUARY- This month's meeting proved to be interesting for those of us native to the area, and to our visitors. Luzerne County is celebrating its Sesquecentennial this year.
Administrator Clara Hudson put together a wonderful display highlighting points of interest and artifacts notable to this area.
We were treated to a tour of the home as Clara explained the history of the home and the Luke Swetland family.
Docent Nancy took us through the dining room sharing one of the challenges of cooking in the 1800's; trying to regulate the temperature of the stone oven.
She explained that if the hair singed on your arm when you stuck it in the oven than it was ready for baking.
The home is filled with marvelous furnishings, paintings of the Swetland family, and various accoutrements found in a well to do 1800 home. The pianoforte is an exquisite piece alone, and well worth seeing.
The rooms were laid out as if the family still lived there. Each room had a mannequin dressed in Victorian fashions which displayed the popular and wealthy style of the era.
The parlor is where a Victorian funeral re-enactment is held each October. You can see pictures by clicking on the Swetland Home Mourning page above.
After our tour we made our way upstairs to the meeting room. The guests were treated to an antique estate sale where they could purchase items. Everything from furniture, Limoge China, to Victorian greeting cards were for sale.
Clara's dessert table was laden with assorted sweets, fruit punch and a crowd favorite, Bourbon brownies.
The serving table was decorated in red hearts for Valentine's Day. A nice touch was the authentic Victorian Valentines adorning every table.
After everyone was served we played our parlor game What is it? The items included an antique cigar cutter, poison ring, darning egg, bustle form, cigarette purse, embosser, handkerchief skirt holder and an electric massage instrument.
This meeting marked the last day for administrator Clara Hudson. She is taking a new position in Virginia. Clara has done a tremendous job over the years at the Swetland Home. It has always been a pleasure for me to work with her, she will be greatly missed in the society!
Her very capable daughter Marciana willl be taking over the administrator position at this time. We wish them both much success!
December:
Have you ever had so much fun that you didn't want to leave? That was the mood at our Victorian Friendship Society's December meeting.
Held at The Stegmaier Mansion B&B, owner Joe Matteo did not disappoint us with his gracious hospitality. The Mansion was decked out in its Christmas finery, as only Joe can do.
Refreshments were elegantly displayed on a large two tiered framed mirror as the serving table.
Friendship member Sue's Pecan Tassies were a favorite, as well as my frosted Banana Bars. We encourage members epicurean generosity.
Other delights included shrimp coctail, finger sandwiches, crudites with dip, smoked almonds, candy, and Christmas punch in a stunning crystal pedestal punch bowl. We also availed ourselves to coffee, assorted teas and gourmet hot chocolate.
Twas a perfectly cozy evening, despite the cold, damp weather outside.
In true Victorian fashion we sat in the luxurious 19th century dining room and played a parlor game . Members were asked to bring unusual Victorian or Edwardian items for us to guess; What InThe World Is It?
You never saw such an odd lot in your life. We were stumped by many of the items, a cuticle pusher, pocket door key, Ostrich feather curler, Victorian medical enema tools and the strangest item perhaps...a Victorian Ram Scarer.
In one of the photos I am holding up the two studded wooden balls on chain. These were hung under a female sheep as graphic birth control. Believe it or not! Thanks to Greg from NorthForkPets.com for that unusual item and great Society photography.
The game evoked hilarious laughter at what we thought things were. The birth control balls were not an ancient necklace! You get the picture. We had so much fun with the game that we are encouraging you to bring more vintage items to the next meeting in January at the Swetland Home.
After the game we delighted in refreshments, and a tour of the Stegmaier Bed & Breakfast Mansion, www.stegmaiermansion.com for photos. Our host and innkeeper Joe amazed us with his incredible skill on the baby grand piano. I have never heard The Carol Of The Bells played with such skill and cresendo. Bravo Joe, you are a man of many talents!
Thank you to all of the members that take time out of your busy schedule to make the Victorian Friendship Society a success. We are already forming new friendships and rekindling old ones.
I am delighted to be your director and look forward to a fun and enriching 2008! We are still accepting new members!!
Happiest of holidays to you and yours, Warmly, Victorian Lady Lisa Lewis
Victorian Friendship Society News - Holiday 2007 Welcome to our new members Lisa & Pat! It�s hard to believe that we just had our first meeting in September and here it is almost Christmas! Our paid membership total is 16 with three more pending! My goal is 30 members by this summer. Membership is still open, so tell a friend.
Some Highlights So Far: September - Innaugural meeting at the Frederick Stegmaier Mansion. We were given a grand tour of the 1870 mansion and enjoyed wonderful refreshments in the old fashioned kitchen. If you missed the fun you can see pictures on my blog site at http://victorianateasociety.zoints.com.
October - Event at the Swetland Home; a Victorian Funeral. Yours truly was dressed in authentic 1890�s Widows Weeds as we portrayed a funeral in the late 1800�s. Jenn, another one of our members was also dressed as a Victorian mourner. Our member Greg, who owns www.teardropmemories.com graciously loaned the Luzerne County Historical Society several mourning items from his collection to display. The most admired piece was the ornate Victorian hair wreath. Thanks Jenn & Greg for your help!
November - Antique shopping & lunch in historic New Hope, Pa. A fine time was had by all in scenic New Hope, nestled along the Delaware River. The weather was great for this time of year and the fall foliage on the ride down was beautiful. Amazed at the myriad of shops, we hit the ground running. Everyone came home with some new little treasure, sometimes two or three! I bought a crystal beaded hanging candle holder. Peggy liked it so much she went back and bought the other one! The old fashioned bookstore was very enjoyable, as well as the various quaint shops, many already decorated in their Christmas finery. Lunch at renowned restaurant Esca was worth the trip to New Hope, one of the ladies remarked. The owners and staff were very attentive and the food and ambiance were to be remembered. Watching the fireplace as we dined was especially warm & inviting. The portions were very generous and everything was homemade, right down to the pasta. Dessert was the best with cr�me brulee, lime cheesecake and my favorite, decadent chocolate torte, drizzled with melted chocolate and clouds of real whipped cream. I�d go back to Esca just for the dessert and espresso coffee! We stayed until night fall as we continued to visit each shop, each one more delightful than the other. Many of the shops along Main Street were lit up outside with twinkling lights. It was reminiscent of an old movie. We had such an enjoyable time that we plan to go again in the spring when the museum is open, perhaps even taking a horse drawn carriage ride through town. I�ll keep you posted on a future date. Since this is your society, suggestions for programs or ideas for trips are most appreciated. We can be as active a society as you want to be.
December - Our next home meeting at the Frederick Stegmaier Mansion is Monday evening, December 10th, 2007 at 7:00PM. We will play our parlor game, What is it? so remember to bring your unusual Victorian items, and bring a friend! I look forward to seeing you again,
September 17th 2007, a warm fall night, was perfect for the inaugural meeting of the Victorian Friendship Society. Stepping through the massive double doors of the Frederick Stegmaier mansion, members were transported back in time to the gaslight era of the 1870's. Grateful for the support, I was delighted to greet our 23 new friends.
Innkeeper Joe Matteo, gave us a detailed tour of the historic mansion. Joe began his painstaking restoration six years ago with an apartment building with plain bare white walls. What he accomplished in his restoration is nothing short of amazing. Highlights were the intricate wallpaper designs on the staircase, gilded moldings and ceiling medallions and the profusion of antiques throughout. Members were especially interested in the secret passageway on the first floor staircase landing. Used during Prohibition by the Stegmaier family, famous for Gold Medal Beer Brewery.
The main attraction was the enchanting recent bedroom addition. Friends fell in love with the romance and elegance of this room! One member said that she wanted to book the room for her anniversary. To better appreciate bedroom & mansion log on to www.stegmaiermansion.com.
After the picture-perfect tour we were treated to a charming display of refreshments in the old fashioned Victorian kitchen, complete with a coal stove and tall built in cupboards. We enjoyed assorted finger sandwiches, sushi arranged on a lovely framed mirror, savory spice cake, assorted cheese and crackers, mint fudge and decadent chocolate truffles.
A brief meeting followed; members voted that we be a social society. Lisa Lewis will schedule and coordinate events. Each person will be responsible for their own costs. Discussed; upcoming tours at various Victorian events in Pa. hosting costume & tea socials, and featuring guest lecturers who specialize in the Victorian era. We will focus on Victorian antiques, lifestyle, architecture, Victorian fashions, food, etiquette, mourning customs, dance and more.
Exciting things are planned November 10th including a trip to historic New Hope, Pa.There we will find the most wonderful antique shops, restaurants & gift shops in scenic Bucks County. A trip to the Parry Mansion Museum in on the agenda as well. While there you might visit one of our member's shops; TearDrop Memories, located at 12 W. Mechanic St. New Hope, PA.
Contact me for more information:
Victoriana Lady Lisa Lewis
NEED A VICTORIAN SPEAKER?
Contact Lisa Lewis at (570) 655-8392 E-mail Lisa @victorianalady.com
