Mansion gift bazaar brings holiday cheer

All is lit up with holiday cheer at the Conrad Mansion this weekend, where the halls are truly decked with boughs of holly for the 26th annual Christmas at the Mansion holiday gift bazaar.

Thirty-five to 40 people are selling their crafts at the house, said Nikki Sliter, chairman of event organizers.

"It's a juried show with high-quality stuff," Sliter said. "A real variety of exceptional goods."

The bazaar is the main fundraiser for the mansion, which has been a museum since 1974. The house was built by Charles E. Conrad for his family in 1895.

"In these harder times, this is sustaining the mansion," Sliter said. "It's a tradition now. This is the only time of year you can actually wander the house."

In the entryway of the mansion stands an enormous Christmas tree adorned with sparkling lights and shiny ornaments. It embodies one of the many Christmas traditions of the Conrads that are carried on today.

"On Christmas Eve the Christmas tree had beeswax candles," said Mike Kofford, the mansion's executive director. "They had a house boy to stand and watch the candles until they burned down because it was such a fire hazard."

Kofford said the Conrads also wanted to reach out to the community by inviting people who had nowhere else to go on Christmas to dinner, carol singing and sleigh rides. In 1913, more than 100 underprivileged children were invited to the house for Christmas and each was given a small gift. This tradition continues today in the Children's Christmas event held Dec. 17.

"We're trying to promote the spirit of the family and the house," Kofford said of the bazaar and other holiday events. "It's a community event that's fun and positive."

BETH DUNCAN, who owns Montana Silver Spoon, kept shop in the attic of the mansion, surrounded by hat-makers, a blown-glass ornament booth and a stand selling wooden toys for children.

Duncan creates bracelets, earrings, wind chimes, key chains and letter openers among many other things from silverware and silverware handles.

"It helps the mansion. It supports the community," Duncan said of the event, at which she has been selling at for seven years. "It's a good atmosphere for people to come out to. It gets them in the holiday spirit."

The twinkling lights, sprays of pine wrapped with festive bows and soft Christmas music fill the mansion, which bustled with people Saturday afternoon. Hundreds browsed through paintings, quilted pieces, hand-dyed silk, ornaments, ceramic platters and fabulous hats.

Nancy Nei, who perused the wares with granddaughters Mia and Ella Vanvlack, said they enjoy coming to the mansion to look at the beautiful crafts.

"We have lots of friends who do crafts for the show," Nei said. "You just never know what amazing things people are doing."

For Katie Haas, 10, who worked with her mother on the second-floor landing, the show was so enjoyable she said she planned to return next year.

"I love doing craft shows," Haas said. "It's fun to be able to make stuff and get money for the stuff you make."

Shoulders draped with a black-and-white shawl, Haas agreed mightily with her mother that dressing up in Victorian-period clothes, as most of the vendors had, was great fun as well.

The bazaar continues today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $5 for adults or $2 for children ages 12 and younger. For more information about the Conrad Mansion, visit www.conradmansion.com.

Reporter K.J. Hascall may be reached at 758-4439 or by e-mail at kjhascall@dailyinterlake.com