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| We Welcome You To Join The Victorian Friendship Society |
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| Director Lisa Lewis & Proprietor of Stegmaier Mansion Joe Matteo Monthly Meetings of the Victorian Friendship Society: Monday, January 28th, 2008 at 7:00 PM The Swetland Home 885 Wyoming Avenue Wyoming Pa. We will be having a tour of the Swetland Home and learn what part the Swetland family played in local history. Light refreshments will be served. Bring an unusual vintage item for our parlor game, What Is It? We hope you can join us, and bring a friend! Sunday, February 3rd 2008 at 7:00 PM Frederick Stegmaier Mansion 304 South Franklin St. Wilkes-Barre Greg from NorthFork Pets will be our guest speaker. Come and enjoy seeing Antique Bird Cages and Victorian Pet and Veterinary items, some very unusual! Sunday March 2 , 2008 at 1:00PM Historic Prince Hotel & Restaurant 45 East Tioga St. Tunkhannock Pa. Antique shopping at Apple Wagon Antiques and in downtown Tunkhannock Victorian Friendship Society News - Holiday 2007 It’s hard to believe that we just had our first meeting in September and here it is almost Christmas! Our paid membership total is 16 with three more pending! My goal is 30 members by this summer. Membership is still open, so tell a friend!  Victorian Society Planning Meeting Some Highlights So Far: September - Innaugural meeting at the Frederick Stegmaier Mansion. We were given a grand tour of the 1870 mansion and enjoyed wonderful refreshments in the old fashioned kitchen. October - Event at the Swetland Home; a Victorian Funeral. Yours truly was dressed in authentic 1890’s Widows Weeds as we portrayed a funeral in the late 1800’s. Jenn, another one of our members was also a Victorian mourner. Our member Greg, who owns www.teardropmemories.com graciously loaned the Luzerne County Historical Society several mourning items from his collection to display. The most admired piece was the ornate Victorian hair wreath. Thanks Jenn & Greg for your help! November - Antique shopping & lunch in historic New Hope, Pa. A fine time was had by all in scenic New Hope, nestled along the Delaware River. The weather was great for this time of year and the fall foliage on the ride down was beautiful. Amazed at the myriad of shops, we hit the ground running. Everyone came home with some new little treasure, sometimes two or three! I bought a crystal beaded hanging candle holder. Peggy liked it so much she went back and bought the other one! The old fashioned bookstore was very enjoyable, as well as the various quaint shops, many already decorated in their Christmas finery. Lunch at renowned restaurant Esca was worth the trip to New Hope, just for lunch. The owners and staff were very attentive and the food and ambiance were definitely to be remembered. Watching the fireplace as we dined was especially warm & inviting. The portions were very generous and everything was homemade, right down to the pasta. Dessert was the best with crème brulee, lime cheesecake and my personal favorite, decadent chocolate torte, drizzled with melted chocolate and clouds of real whipped cream. I’d go back to Esca just for the chocolate torte and espresso coffee! (A week later a friend and I did!) We stayed until night fall as we continued to visit each shop, each one more delightful than the other. Many of the shops along Main Street were lit up outside with twinkling lights. It was reminiscent of an old movie. We had such an enjoyable time that we plan to go again in the spring when the museum is open, perhaps even taking a horse drawn carriage ride through town. I’ll keep you posted on a future date. December - Our next home meeting at the Frederick Stegmaier Mansion is Monday evening, December 10th, 2007 at 7:00PM. We will play our parlor game, What is it? so remember to bring your unusual Victorian items, and bring a friend! Remember to check out my web site for Victorian articles and events. www.victorianalady.com E-mail: Lisa@victorianalady.com I'd love to hear from you! |
Victorian Christmas 2007
Have you ever had so much fun that you didn't want to leave? That was the mood at our Victorian Friendship Society's December 10th meeting.
Held at the magnificent Frederick Stegmaier Mansion B&B, owner Joe Matteo did not
disappoint us with his gracious hospitality. The Mansion was decked out in its Christmas finery, as only Joe can do.
Refreshments were elegantly displayed on a large two tiered framed mirror as the serving table.
Friendship member Sue's Pecan Tassies were a favorite, as well as my frosted Banana Bars.
We encourage members epicurean generosity.
Other delights included shrimp cocktail, finger sandwiches, crudites with dip,
smoked almonds, candy, and Christmas punch in a stunning crystal pedestal punch bowl. We also availed ourselves to coffee, assorted teas
and gourmet hot chocolate.
Twas a perfectly cozy evening, despite the cold, damp weather outside.
In true Victorian fashion we sat in the luxurious 19th century dining room
and played a parlor game . Members were asked to bring unusual Victorian or Edwardian items for us to guess; What InThe World Is It?
You've never seen such an odd lot in your life. We were stumped by many of the items, a cuticle pusher, pocket door key, Ostrich feather curler, Victorian medical enema tools and the strangest item perhaps...a Victorian Ram Scarer.
In one of the photos I am holding up the two studded wooden balls on chain. These were hung under a female sheep as graphic birth control. Believe it or not! Thanks to Greg from NorthFork Pets for that unusual item and great Society photography.
www.NorthForkpets.com
The game evoked hilarious laughter at what we thought things were. The birth control balls were not an ancient necklace! You
get the picture. We had so much fun with the game that we are encouraging you to bring more vintage items to the next meeting in January at the Swetland Home.
After the game we delighted in refreshments, and a tour of the Stegmaier Bed & Breakfast Mansion, www.stegmaiermansion.com
for our new members. Our host and innkeeper Joe amazed us with his incredible skill on the baby grand piano. I have never heard The Carol Of The Bells played with such skill and cresendo. Bravo Joe, you are a man of many talents!
Thank you to all of the members that take time out of your busy schedule to make the Victorian Friendship Society a success. We are already forming new friendships and rekindling old ones.
I am delighted to be your director and look forward to a fun and enriching 2008.
We are still accepting new members for 2008!!
What In The world Is It? Parlor Game
Victorian Friendship Society:
September 17th 2007, a warm fall night was perfect for the inaugural meeting of the Victorian Friendship Society. Stepping through the massive double doors of the Frederick Stegmaier mansion, members were transported back in time to the gaslight era of the 1870's. Grateful for the support, I was delighted to greet our 23 new friends.
Innkeepper Joe Matteo, gave us a detailed tour of the historic mansion. Joe began his painstaking restoration six years ago with an apartment building with plain bare white walls. What he accomplished in his restoration is nothing short of amazing. Highlights were the intricate wallpaper designs on the staircase, gilded moldings and ceiling medallions and the profusion of antiques throughout. Members were especially interested in the secret passageway on the first floor staircase landing. It was used during Prohibition by the Stegmaier family, famous for their gold medal beer brewery.
The main attraction was the enchanting recent bedroom addition. Friends fell in love with the romance and elegance of this room! One member said that she wanted to book the room for her anniversary. To better appreciate the bedroom and the rest of the mansion log on to www.stegmaiermansion.com.
After the picture-perfect tour we were treated to a charming display of refreshments in the old fashioned Victorian kitchen, complete with a coal stove and tall built in cupboards. We enjoyed assorted finger sandwiches, sushi arranged on a lovely framed mirror, savory spice cake, assorted cheese and crackers, mint fudge and decadent chocolate truffles.
A brief meeting followed; members decided by vote that we be a social society.
Lisa Lewis will schedule and coordinate events.
Each person will be responsible for their own costs.
Discussed briefly; upcoming tours at various Victorian events in Pa, hosting costume & tea socials, and featuring guest lecturers who specialize in the Victorian era. We will focus on Victorian antiques, lifestyle, architecture, Victorian fashions, food, etiquette, mourning customs, dance, and much more.
Exciting things are planned November 10th including a trip to historic New Hope, Pa.
There we will find some of the most wonderful antique shops, restaurants & gift shops in scenic Bucks County. A trip to the Parry Mansion Museum in on the agenda as well.
While there you might visit one of our member's shops; TearDrop Memories,
located at 12 W. Mechanic St. New Hope, PA.
Please click on Photo Album link above for more society photos.
Friday, October 12, 2007 From 6:00 to 9:00 PM
The Swetland Homestead Wyoming Ave. Wyoming, Pa
Death & Mourning Exhibit
Dressed in full Victorian mourning attire, our own Victoriana Lady,
Lisa Lewis will be the tour guide!
Contact me for more information:
Victoriana Lady
Lisa Lewis
(570) 655-8392