Christmas in the Canebrake

      

       For the fifth consecutive year, Gaineswood is co-hosting "Christmas in the Canebrake" with Bluff Hall.  The 2001 edition, themed "Yuletides of Yesteryear," will be Thursday, November 29, 5:30-8:30 P.M.  Admission to the open-house event at each house is $2 per person, ages 12 and up ($4 for both houses).  Under 12 free.
       This annual event allows visitors to experience 19th Century period entertainment and atmosphere at both Demopolis houses.  Programs are scheduled every half-hour at both homes.  Gaineswood will also offer guided tours at reduced prices Friday-Saturday, capped by another open-house Saturday afternoon.

       Site Director Matt Hartzell said ongoing restoration of the domes, roof, and decorative plaster at Gaineswood "will not restrict activities inside, since the rooms being restored have always been roped off to visitors anyway.  The only difference this year is there will be no decoration inside those rooms."

    Inside the drawing room during "A Candlelight Evening" at Gaineswood Thursday night will be historian, author, and storyteller Dr. W. Stuart Harris at 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 P.M., and writer, speaker, and educator Joan Broerman at 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 P.M.


Candlelit decorations like the topiary above are among the many beautiful decorations featured at Gaineswood during "A Candlelight Evening."  The decorations will remain in place throughout the weekend.
       W. Stuart Harris has authored many books on Alabama History, including an Alabama History book for use in elementary schools.  He is also a noted authority on 19th Century steamboat travel in Alabama.  He also authored Dead Towns of Alabama, which will be for sale at "A Candlelight Evening" and may be autographed.  Dressed in 19th Century period clothing, Dr. Harris will play Christmas music on his autoharp and relate anecdotes about 19th Century Christmases past.  Dr. Harris' previous programs at Gaineswood have been well-received, and his presentation November 29 promises to be fun for all ages.  Dr. Harris' programs will repeat at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 P.M.

       Joan Broerman, author of Weekend Getaways in Alabama, will step back into an earlier weekend when Christmas at the Canebrake sets life to bustling at Gaineswood, as family and friends prepared for the festivities.  Her talk will be for children of all ages and will focus on state history and include audience participation.  A published writer of children's stories, Broerman has taken her interactive writing workshop series, "We Love to Write", into schools and libraries across the Southeast for more than 15 years.  After each program, she will sign her book and donate part of the sales to the Friends of Gaineswood.  Broerman's presentation will repeat at 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 P.M.


The Gaineswood Belles will make their debut at "A Candlelight Evening" and will ride in a mule-drawn wagon in the Children's Day Parade 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Saturday.  The Belles are (L-R) Andrea Robertson, Shamika Whatley, Hannah Willis, Stephanie Wilkinson, Amelia Willis, and Ashley Rogers.

     "A Candlelight Evening" also marks the official debut of six Gaineswood Belles Amelia Willis, Hannah Willis, Stephanie Wilkinson, Ashley Rogers, Shamika Whatley, and Andrea Robertson.  Each Belle will wear hoop skirts typical of those of the 19th Century.  During the evening, Gaineswood Belles will act as hostesses and provide visitors with information about the rooms and decorations.

    Weather permitting, the Demopolis High School choir and area church choirs will sing outside from 5:30-6:30.  Demopolis High School Coach Joey Browder and fellow Civil War re-enactors will be on the grounds

shooting their long rifles and greeting visitors from 6:30-8:00 P.M.  Refreshments will be served, while they last, throughout the evening.

       Through the evening, Gaineswood's interior will be decorated in natural fruit and greenery, illuminated by candlelight.  Digitized music of Nathan Bryan Whitfield's 1859 Flutina (Barrel Organ) will play intermittently.

       For persons who cannot attend Thursday night but wish to see the decorations, Gaineswood will offer guided tours on the hour at the reduced admission of $3 per adult and $1 per child Friday, November 30, 10:00A.M.-3:00P.M., and Saturday, December 1, at 9:00 and 10:00A.M.  The Gaineswood Belles will ride in a mule-driven wagon in the COTR Day Parade Saturday 11:30A.M.-12:30P.M.  The house will close for the Day Parade but re-open 12:30-3:30P.M. for continuous open house visitation at the reduced admission fees.

       For more information, contact the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce at 334-289-0270 or Gaineswood at 334-289-4846.

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