25 years of Christmas at the Conrad

By CANDACE CHASE/The Daily Inter Lake

What outshines the Conrad family's palatial estate decked out for the annual Christmas at the Mansion bazaar?

Kate Daniels, executive director of the Conrad Mansion Museum, has the answer.

It's this weekend's 25th anniversary edition of Christmas at the Mansion, with several decorated trees, multiple musicians and veteran vendors plus new artisans with unusual gifts for sale.

The celebration features special displays providing a retrospective of Christmases past.

"There will be three different trees displaying the history of our decorations," Daniels said.

Owned by the city of Kalispell, the mansion is located on Woodland Avenue between Third and Fourth Streets East. It's operated by a nonprofit organization that raises money to support and maintain the historic attraction.

Billed as the major Conrad benefit of the year, Christmas at the Mansion begins with a preview party, limited to 200 tickets, from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. For $50, guests mingle at the mansion with live music, champagne, hors d'oeuvres and first choice from the crafts inventory.

"We usually sell out but we still have some tickets," Daniels said.

Following the preview, doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday for the holiday gift bazaar spread throughout the Victorian mansion's 13,000 square feet. As in years past, the ticket price is $5 a ticket for adults or $1 for children.

"We want to make it so that everyone can come," Daniels said. "We usually have over 2,000 people."

The concept has stood the test of time since 1983 when Lorraine Stenseth, then owner of Woodland Floral and a board member for the museum, devised the idea of decorating the mansion, renting rooms to vendors and taking a percentage of sales to support the museum.

Stenseth recruited Nikki Sliter and Shirley Miller to help. Fulfilling their vision, the home was decked out for a Victorian Christmas, following the Conrads" tradition of using evergreens and magnolias and placing an 18- to 20-foot-tall tree to fill the two-story great hall.

Also recalling the Conrad family's custom, volunteers decorated the tree with candles (never lit), gifts, cranberries and popcorn. Vintage toys and the Millers" teddy bear collection overflowed from beneath the tree.

A history of the event compiled by Sliter recalls some learning experiences from the first event. One important lesson, discovered after the body heat of the collected shoppers set off the mansion's fire alarm, was to set a capacity limit.

Sliter remains a vital volunteer for the fundraiser.

"Nikki heads it up," Daniels said. "So much work goes into this event but it runs like a well-oiled machine."

The schedule called for the tree to arrive last Friday, via Clint DeLong of Snow Line Tree Co. DeLong keeps an eye out each summer for a tree of the proper proportions to fill the great hall.

He brought extra trees this year to display a special group of hand-cut and hand-painted ornaments created one year by Miller and her husband, Moose. The collection includes more than 200 ducks, geese, bears and assorted other creatures.

According to Sliter's history, Rita Fitzsimmons and her husband, Lee Kozlowski, took charge of tree decorating after the Miller era. The two began a collection of Radko ornaments.

These glass ornaments mirror the Victorian style in vogue at the turn of the 20th century. Daniels said Suzy Williams recently donated additions to the collection.

In addition, Stew and Shannon Redfield (son and daughter-in-law of former Conrad Director Lynn Redfield) donated 157 Radko ornaments plus more than 200 other glass ornaments from Lynn Redfield's collection.

For most of the 25-year decorating history, an angel provided the crowning glory on the two-story tree. Artist Polly Johnson designed the piece, including swan wings donated by Beth Watne.

As per Sliter's schedule, volunteers decorated the tree Sunday evening. Fitzsimmons continues decking the halls this week by arranging mantel displays. One special display features the Conrad's silver collection.

"It includes silver candlesticks and serving pieces artistically displayed," Daniels said.

Once again, the outside gazebo provides a platform for the 1983 papier mache creche created by Irene Little, Rosalie Heinecke, Lois Himsl and others.

By Friday evening, volunteers will have the Norman-style estate ready for vendors including longtime displayers Katy Brennan (the hat lady) and truffle specialist Jane Boettcher. The sale features many new artisans such as Lois Wisher, who makes children's barrettes, Arlene Labere, who brings quilts, Janelle Buchanan with jewelry and Ricky Hartung with engraved ornaments and crafts.

Daniels said the museum has enlisted a variety of musicians to perform at the preview and the two-day sale. Harpist Gwenn Hensler and flute player Beth Pirrie play at the Friday party.

Pianist Erik Dye has coordinated a cavalcade of musicians to entertain during the Saturday and Sunday sale, with different musicians each hour.

After the holiday bazaar, the mansion opens for holiday tours Friday through Sunday, beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving. Interested people should call 755-2166 for details.

Other holiday events include:

. Christmas Teas and Tours at 1 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 29 to Dec. 27 ($25 per person).

. Crumpets and Couture at the Conrad, Dec. 7, 1:30 p.m. Tea and fashion show featuring artist/designer Katy Brennan's wearable art based on vintage designs ($30 per person)

. Children's Christmas Event, Dec. 17. Holiday photos with Santa under the arch of the Great Hall by Karen Weyer Photography. Reservations are required for the event, which includes a brief children's tour and small gift, with all proceeds donated to the mansion. ($10).

. Glacier Chamber Singers, Dec. 21, 3 p.m. Special holiday performance and mansion tour with desserts and other refreshments ($25 each or $40 per couple).

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.