Visit Copshaholm to Experience a
Victorian Christmas The Oliver Mansion’s Dining Room is one of many rooms where visitors can enjoy Christmas decorations. The mansion is part of The History Museum. 8 | Michiana House and Home | December 2021 |
Festooned fireplace mantels and stairways are a highlight of the Oliver Mansion’s Main Hall at the holidays. The mansion is part of The History Museum.
By BethAnne Brink-Cox, house & home feature writer
There is nothing like a beautifully decorated home to warm the spirit at Christmas, and when it is a historic home the pleasure is multiplied giving a peek into bygone days and traditions, wonder and delight. Copshaholm museum curator Kristie Erickson said, “For me personally, my favorite is the traditional tree in the Den with its candles and toys all around. You can just imagine the Oliver family gathering around during the season!” Copshaholm, 808 W. Washington St., South Bend, was originally known as the Joseph D. Oliver House, and was built for the Oliver family, founders of the Oliver Chilled Plow Works. Copshaholm was the name of the Scottish village of the patriarch. Erickson said, “The museum has always done some level of Christmas decorations for the public! In the 1990s we celebrated St. Nick’s Night, an old tradition in early December where children put their shoes out for St. Nicholas to leave gifts in them. For the mansion, this meant decorations and special Christmas tours. In 2003, we began Christmas at Copshaholm, where guests could see actors performing a play during their tour. Every year we try to do something a little different and special for people to see. “We only know a few things about what the Olivers did historically for Christmas. James Oliver remarked in his diary once that his son J.D.’s home looked “like a toy store” when he visited
