×

History for the holidays

NILES — History lessons, cookies and hot cocoa were aplenty Saturday at the sixth annual McKinley Christmas celebration.

Attendees were sent back in time as a Mill Creek Park Cohasset trolley drove them to one of the three locations: the McKinley Birthplace Home, the McKinley Memorial Museum or the Niles Historical Society’s Ward-Thomas House. The event kicked off at noon with the President William McKinley welcoming speech at the McKinley Memorial Museum. McKinley was portrayed by impersonator Mike Wilson.

The event is a collaboration among the three locations, and the theme for this year was Santa.

“The event is in its sixth year and I think it’s going great,” said Michelle Alleman, director of the Niles McKinley Memorial Library and organizer of the event at the McKinley Birthplace Home.

Attendees were able to tour the historical buildings, listen to local musicians and have holiday-themed treats. Kids also were able to meet Santa, participate in a read-along with Mrs. Claus and craft a melted snowman ornament.

The event did offer something new this year — a Christmas passport.

“One thing we added was a passport. You go to all of the sites to get a stamp and you even get a stamp for donating a box of cereal. Once you collect all four stamps, you’re entered into a raffle for a gift basket,” Alleman said. The cereal box donation will benefit the food pantry at Niles Community Services.

“We offer this event to not only teach our residents history, but to give them something fun to do. We added a Santa Search event for the kids. Their job is to see how many Santas we hid around the house,” said Anna Marie Beagle, organizer of events and historical society president at the Ward-Thomas House. “I don’t know how many we put out — it has to be over a hundred.”

“It’s important for people, especially the kids, to learn the history of the city they live in,” said Amber Farris, director of the McKinley Memorial Museum.

bshiller@tribtoday.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today