AUBURN – “Visions of Christmas” is the theme and music will fill the air when the Woman’s Literary Union holds its holiday open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8, 9 and 10, at 19 Elm St.

The WLU clubhouse is the former Foss Mansion designed in the federal style. All the rooms will be open to the public and will be decorated in a festive manner by members and friends of the organization.

“Blue and Silver Dust” will greet all who enter the main room, decorated by Tonie Ramsey and Doug Davenport, along with Ramsey’s Basket Boutique. Depicting “An Old Fashion Christmas,” Earl Fournier and Bob Allen have adorned the grand staircase with garlands and white lights. Trees decorated with bright red cardinals and snow grace the grandfather clock on the staircase landing.

Santa sits in his red sleigh atop the grand piano in the foyer along with a floor-to-ceiling tree decorated with ornaments reminiscent of “Christmas Past.” “The Night Before Christmas” is presented in the library by Cheryl Perino. Kirsten Larsson-Turley and the Garden Club have a romantic “Midnight Supper for Two” in the solarium. Melanie Ness has decorated the dining room with “Heavenly Angels.”

The upstairs foyer features “Christmas Vignettes” by Evelyn Larrabee. “Christmas Morn” in one of the upstairs bedrooms by Marilyn Wilkinson with a train set surrounding the children’s tree is just waiting for the first giggles of the morning. The remaining bedroom will be “A Victorian Christmas” by Tonie Ramsey and Evelyn Larrabee.

While the public tours the rooms, the background music from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, will be that of Norma Rice Gould with her piano students, Darby and Jon Tuttle, Paige Weber and Patrick Buzza. From 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, Mitchell Clyde Thomas will be at the piano with his selections for Christmas. Harpist Christina Tourin will provide background music from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Martha Feeley with students, Audrey, Sophie and Muriel Schwinn, will provide music.

Admission will be $6 for adults, $2 for ages 6 to 12, and children age 5 and under, free. Refreshments will be available. Evelyn Larrabee, WLU president, is chairwoman of “Visions of Christmas, 2006.”


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