Victorian-style mansion in Fairfield open for Christmas tour this weekend

See the Elisha Morgan property at Gilbert Farms Park from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
This is one of three decorated fireplace mantles in the Elisha Morgan mansion, which will be open from 1-4 p.m., Sunday, in Fairfield's Gilbert Park. FOUR SEASONS GARDEN CLUB/CONTRIBUTED

This is one of three decorated fireplace mantles in the Elisha Morgan mansion, which will be open from 1-4 p.m., Sunday, in Fairfield's Gilbert Park. FOUR SEASONS GARDEN CLUB/CONTRIBUTED

Visitors walking through the doors of the Elisha Morgan mansion on Sunday will be taken back to Fairfield’s earliest history.

The mansion — built in 1817 — will open to the public from 1-4 p.m. for the Christmas at the Mansion open house. There is no admission fee.

The annual event dates back more than 20 years and is put together by the Four Seasons Garden Club, the Fairfield Historical Society and Friends of Elisha Morgan.

Located at Gilbert Farms Park, 6181 Ross Road, the mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of Fairfield’s oldest structures.

You won’t see blinking lights framing windows or inflatable reindeer on the lawn. Decorations will be simpler, subtle, and more organic as the interior and exterior of the two-story home is decorated as it would have been in the Victorian era.

“We try to decorate it Victorian style like it was when it was built,’’ said Beccki Hull, co-chairman of the decorating committee of the Four Seasons Garden Club.

That means evergreen wreaths on each of the five windows in front. And handmade swags with bows on the light fixtures. Each of the three interior fireplace mantles are decorated with candles, greens and burgundy colored bows. The stairway to the second floor is lined with greens and bows – burgundy and gold.

The Christmas tree in the Elisha Morgan mansion in Fairfield's Gilbert Park, is decorated as it would have been when the house was built in 1817. FOUR SEASONS GARDEN CLUB/CONTRIBUTED

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There is a live Christmas tree with ornaments included crochet bells, pine cones,

“There are handmade ornaments like they did in Victorian times,’’ Hull said.

“We do a lot with nature (in all decorations) pine cones and things like that.”

Besides decorations, those going through the home will see displays of the history of the area. Children will be able to do a craft. And there will be a hospitality table with simple refreshments.

“It’s a great opportunity to bring the whole family and explore Christmas in the Victorian style,’’ said David Sheldrick, Fairfield’s marketing specialist.

The staircase in the Elisha Morgan mansion in Fairfield's Gilbert Park is decorated for Christmas with burgundy and gold ribbons mixed with greens as it would have when the home was built. FOUR SEASONS GARDEN CLUB/CONTRIBUTED

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