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RALPH WILSON\/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
\nAlexander Martyniuk, left, and his parents Nick and Iryna joined Nan Young and other members of the Victorian Christmas 2025 Committee at a recent gathering in preparation for the upcoming annual event.
\nAlexander will be performing at 522 W. Fourth St. which will be open for tours on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 9:00 to 4:00pm during the weekend-long holiday celebration.
\nSeated from left are: Alex Martyniuk, Nick Martyniuk, Iryna Martyniuk and Nan Young.
\nStanding from left are: Hallie Luppert, Charles Luppert, Phylis Reynolds and Dawn Astin.<\/p>\n
The sights and sounds of a bygone era will fill the streets of the city as Preservation Williamsport hosts its 26th annual Victorian Christmas from Nov. 21 through Nov. 23.<\/p>\n
The theme of this year\u2019s celebration is Trees, Teas and Tours.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe work from Jan. 1 until the last day of Victorian Christmas every year,\u201d said Preservation Williamsport Committee member Nan Young, of the all-volunteer committee.<\/p>\n
Envisioned by Young, Ted Lyons and Gloria Miele, Victorian Christmas held its first event in 1999 with around 150 people in attendance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt grows every year, and each year, there could be over 2,000 visitors. We have people that come in from Erie, from all over the state and even from out of state,\u201d Young said.<\/p>\n
Victorian Christmas will kick off with a presentation on 723 Park Ave., known as The Tiniest Mansion in Williamsport, beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, at The Krapf Gateway Center at Lycoming College.<\/p>\n
The home is currently owned by Joseph Potts \u2014 affectionately known as the \u201cMayor of Park Avenue,\u201d and his wife, Susan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe person who built it was a staircase carver, and his name was William Slack, and he would carve staircases in that house and then take them, piece by piece, over to certain buildings and insert them,\u201d Young explained.<\/p>\n
Slack\u2019s work can be seen in many properties around the area, including the James V. Brown Library, the Herman House and the Mussina House.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe educational lecture will tell the history of William Slack and show slides of the staircases that he has done,\u201d Young said.<\/p>\n
A fan favorite of the three-day event is the Trolley and Bus Tour Stops, giving revellers an up close and personal look at some of the most historic houses and churches in the area.<\/p>\n
The houses along the tour are rotated in and out on a six to seven year basis in order to keep the tour fresh for returning attendees.<\/p>\n
New to this year\u2019s line will be what Young calls \u201cindustrial conversions,\u201d historic buildings housing both businesses and living spaces, one of which will be The Pajama Factory, 1307 Park Ave., which hosts a number of shops, galleries and more.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fascinating, because it\u2019s so huge, and they started out making kids sneakers, and yet, there are lofts that people live in,\u201d Young said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re absolutely beautiful, and two of them will be open. One of the residents is a man from New York who has these wonderful antiques,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Another will be Suscon & Diamond Drinks Inc., located at 600 Railway St., which produces a wide variety of drinks for nationally known private label brands.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was Trimtex, and the top floor has been turned into this wonderful apartment and it has a lot of Williamsport history in it,\u201d Young said, calling the new addition \u201can interesting twist.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve never branched out as this way, but we also like to include houses and buildings of architectural interest, so we\u2019re not only doing residential housing,\u201d Young said, adding that Victorian Christmas has moved beyond the historic district Millionaires Row into South Williamsport and Loyalsock, in order to keep the event \u201ccommunity minded.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other properties of interest to be featured along the tour include The Cochrane\/Lyon?Tate House, 1005 W. Fourth St., The Samuel Jones\/Munson Metzger house, 870 W. Fourth St. and The Enchanted Sight Foundation, 345 Mulberry St, which previously housed Dr. Norman Wenger\u2019s Practice of Chiropractic and Marguerite Biermann\u2019s Studio for Decorative and Fine Arts.<\/p>\n
Biermann was an artist of great renown, known for, among other things, painting the ceilings inside the YWCA, Young explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be like a museum, but the public hasn\u2019t seen it yet, so this will be the first time it\u2019ll be on the tour. Fortunately, the young man who is going to be running the museum wanted to do something publicly, and our timing just meshed,\u201d Young said.<\/p>\n
Just across the street, at 426 Mulberry St., sits the Christ Episopal Church, the second oldest Episcopal Church, according to Young, who despite its understated outward appearance, the inside is an \u201cincredible museum.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year will see some international flavor added to the festivities as 16-year-old Montoursville High School student and cellist Alexander Martynuik performs at The Hiram Rhodes House, 522 W. Fourth St, owned by Bob Elion, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Alexander, who began playing at the age of nine, and his parents, Iryna and Nick, recently emigrated from Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Martynuik will perform between approximately 10 and 11 a.m., and again between 2 and 3 p.m., Young said.<\/p>\n
Returning favorites during the celebration include the artisans market at the YWCA, 815 W. Fourth St., and the 34th Annual Will Huffman Toy Train Expo at Park Place, 800 W. Fourth St.<\/p>\n
Young has been pleased with the success of Victorian Christmas and its continued growth, particularly among men and children she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt keeps moving forward and keeps growing the committee, hopefully attracting younger and younger people to keep it going,\u201d Young said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of us are in our 80s, and we\u2019re hanging on, but somebody has to take over,\u201d she said, stressing that the committee is always looking for fresh faces and talent to ensure the preservation of Victorian Christmas, along with the rest of the area\u2019s treasured history.<\/p>\n
To view a full itinerary or to learn more about Victorian Christmas, visit www.victorianchristmaspa.com.<\/p>\n
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