PRESS RELEASE

November 6, 2012

“SOUTHOLD HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT TOUR ANNOUNCED!”

 SOUTHOLD, NY.  With Santa and his elves in the old Pine Neck Barn and the blacksmith beating away in the Cleveland-Gagen Blacksmith Shop it must be time again for the Annual Candlelight Tour and Tree Lighting at the Southold Historical Society.  The Tour takes place the day after Thanksgiving, November 23, 2012, from 3 until 6 pm at the Society’s Maple Lane Museum Complex in Southold.

“This is one of the most fun and entertaining events of the year,” stated Society Director Geoffrey K. Fleming, “It gives the Historical Society a chance to show off the great ingenuity and decorating expertise of its volunteers,” he continued.  Each year a different group of local residents decorate the various areas of the Museum Complex.

The Tour is as exciting for children as it is for the adults.  Each period building is expertly decorated and arranged for visitors.  Carefully placed candles and lanterns light the way through the grounds where tour guides in period hat and costume help the visiting public maneuver between the many buildings.  While adults marvel at the decorations, children patiently await their visit with Santa, who is aided by his elves in the Pine Neck Barn.

Each year the Candlelight Tour is different, and no two buildings are decorated in the same manner.  Greens, swags, and red holiday ribbons flow over the mantels and furnishings in each of the historic buildings on the Tour.  In addition to these decorative treatments, special Holiday themed objects from the Society's rich collections will appear in these displays.

At the Thomas Moore House early Christmas traditions and period music dominate the cozy interior.  At the Ann Currie-Bell House there will be demonstrations of traditional holiday craft making, including embroidery, rug hooking, and knitting.  In the Bay View Schoolhouse the old fashioned cast iron stove will rumble away as children seated nearby create custom ornaments to decorate the school tree.

Musicians stroll the grounds in period costume while visitors wander between the many other buildings, including the Print Shop, Blacksmith Shop, Corncrib, Icehouse, and others.

A special group of refreshments will be available to all who attend the Tour in the Pine Neck Barn Annex.  The lighting of the Hamlet Christmas Tree, which is looked forward to by all, will take place in front of the Ann Currie-Bell House at 5:00 pm.

At the Society's Prince Building, located on Main Road opposite Rothman’s Department Store, the Society’s consignment shop, the Treasure Exchange, will be open late (till 6 pm) for all those who wish to shop for the perfect Christmas gift or holiday item as will the Museum Gift Shop which is stocked with all sorts of wonderful holiday gift ideas, including ornaments, books, children's toys.  The Society's new building, the Reichert Family Center &  Cosden Price Gallery, will also be open for visitors to see the current exhibition of paintings by Orient artist George W. Hallock (1916-1984). 

New this year, many of the village merchants in Southold will also be open late, with special treats at their locations.

The Candlelight Tour takes place at the Society’s Maple Lane Museum Complex which can be reached via Main Road (Rte. 25) in Southold.  No reservations are required and the tour is free to all members of the public who wish to attend, though donations are graciously accepted.

For further information on the Tour and the Society please call (631) 765-5500 or visit us on the web at www.southoldhistoricalsociety.org.

*Please place this info. in your calendar and/or list of upcoming events*