Irish Tea at Edwards Place

Wear your green and join us for a "cupan tae" (cup of tea) in the beautiful parlors of historic Edwards Place on March 5, from 2 to 3:30!

The Tea Ladies will be on hand with a presentation that celebrates the history and culture of Irish immigrants during the Victorian era. Enjoy the stories of the brave men and women who crossed the ocean to start new lives in a new country, and learn about domestic service in the 19th century from an "Irish maid"!

Guests will be served delicious sandwiches and sweet treats from Cafe Moxo, as well as the ever-popular PG Tips tea - the Queen's favorite! An event not to be missed!

Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by calling 217-523-2631 or emailing collections@springfieldart.org. Deadline to reserve is February 28.

Edwards Place presents the Lincolns' Love Story

Abraham and Mary Lincoln's relationship is legendary - and not for its romance. Stormy from the start, this famous couple broke off their first engagement for reasons no one has ever uncovered, reconciled in secret, and married so abruptly that their guests only had a day's notice.

Was their marriage a happy one? Scholars have been arguing that question for more than a century. Some maintain that Lincoln's life was a domestic hell on earth, citing recollections from friends and neighbors that Mary threw frequent tantrums during which she screamed at her husband, chased him down the street with a knife, poured hot coffee on him, and whapped him in the nose with a piece of kindling, among other instances of misbehavior.

Others cite recollections from different friends and neighbors that Lincoln would rush home to his wife during thunderstorms to comfort her, missed her terribly when he was travelling, and was thoroughly devoted to his wife.

So which version is more accurate? Decide for yourself at Edwards Place on February 5, 2011 from 2 to 3:30 p.m! Curator of Collections Erika Holst will draw upon her experience as a research associate with the Papers of Abraham Lincoln to discuss the Lincolns' courtship and marriage. Afterwards, stick around for tea and cake with Mary Lincoln herself, who will be happy to answer questions about what her marriage to Lincoln was like!

Tickets are $5 per person. Call 217-523-2631 or email collections@springfieldart.org to reserve by January 31.

The Threads of History's Lore: Illinois Folk Tales at Edwards Place

Join us on January 22 at 2 p.m. as acclaimed storyteller Cathy Mosley presents "The Threads of History's Lore," a rendition of Illinois folk tales. Sure to appeal to lovers both of history and good stories, these tales come to us across centuries from immigrants who first brought their unique cultures to Illinois in the 18th and 19th centuries. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public!

Holiday Tours of Edwards Place

Step back in time to 1867 this holiday season at Edwards Place! Peek into the world of Helen and Benjamin Edwards and their daughters as they prepare to celebrate the holidays. You'll see the house decorated for Christmas, 19th century style - lots of greenery, but no electric lights! As you move through the house, you'll learn fascinating tidbits about early Victorian holidays - how the Christmas tree became a tradition, how Santa Claus became popular, why people exchanged presents on New Year's Day rather than Christmas, and why nothing said Victorian Christmas like a head cheese boiled from your very own pig's head.

After the tour, be sure to stick around for some shopping at Holiday Hall, where arts and crafts from more than 50 artists are on display. Find the perfect something for that special someone, and rest assured that your purchase is one-of-a-kind!

Holiday tours of Edwards Place are offered on Saturday, December 4 and Wednesday, December 15 at 6, 7, and 8 p.m. These tours are free and open to the public.

Helen Edwards Condell's dress comes home to Edwards Place

A chance conversation between two strangers led to the Springfield Art Association's acquisition of Helen Maria Edwards's Civil War-era day dress on long-term loan.

Curator of Collections Erika Holst went to the Dana-Thomas House in late October for that site's Halloween event. While there, Erika began chatting with a volunteer, Mrs. Manning, and happened to mention that she worked at the Art Association. In a happy burst of serendipity, Mrs. Manning declared that she had a dress in her closet which had belonged to Helen Maria Edwards Condell during the Civil War.

Helen Maria was the daughter of Benjamin and Helen Edwards. She moved to Edwards Place in 1843 as a three-year-old child and lived there until her marriage to Moses Condell in the summer of 1861, at which point she moved into a house her parents had given her as a wedding present, just across Fourth Street from Edwards Place. She was a frequent visitor to her parents' house throughout the Civil War, and it is easy to imagine the brown taffeta of her skirts spread out over the Edwards's parlor sofa as she took tea with her mother.

Helen Maria went on to have six children, including a daughter named Eliza Condell. Eliza, born in 1872, lived to be 103 years old. Mrs. Manning became acquainted with Eliza Condell in the 1950s. At one point, when Mrs. Manning needed a Civil War-era dress for a school performance, Eliza Condell loaned her one that had belonged to her mother. Eliza then insisted she keep the dress, and Mrs. Manning had it ever since.

Just before leaving for the Dana-Thomas House, Mrs. Manning happened to glance at Helen's dress in her closet and think to herself that she really should do something with it. Lo and behold, a few hours later she crossed paths with Erika, and the rest is history!

The dress will be displayed throughout the Christmas season. Be sure and come by for a tour to see this piece of family history!

The Heart of Enos Park

The Springfield Art Association, located north of downtown Springfield, is in the Enos Park neighborhood. What used to be the "Jewel of Springfield" now hosts more than 88 vacant lots, boarded-up homes, and many of the properties are in poor condition. That's not to say there aren't some incredible improvements made and maintained by the Enos Park residents, including drastic renovations, community parks, and wonderfully-restored homes throughout the neighborhood.

There has been a significant amount of press regarding the Enos Park neighborhood, including the transformation of the current campus to become a Cultural campus for the entire city, with a proposed three-to-four-story building for educational space and administrative offices.

Learn more: Read the SJ-R article for more information and where to attend tonight's master plan unveiling meeting.

Join us for a Victorian Seance at Edwards Place!

People holding hands around a table...mysterious rappings and tappings...tables shaking...messages from beyond the grave...these eerie and possibly supernatural occurrences were going on in dining rooms throughout the United States in the 19th century, and millions of Americans dabbled with Spiritualism.

Spiritualism is a religious philosophy that believes, among other things, that the human spirit survives after death and is able to communicate with the living through use of a medium. This philosophy became incredibly popular in America in the wake of the Civil War, in which millions of people mourned lost husbands, brothers, fathers, sons, and sweethearts. Mary Lincoln was known to have hosted seances in the White House during her husband's presidency.

On November 20 and 21, Edwards Place will host a theatrical recreation of an authentic Victorian seance. Noted hypnotist and licensed clairvoyant Amye Scharlau of Minneapolis will be the "medium", who will lead participants in trying to contact the spirits of the dearly departed, including the Lillie Judd, whose portrait hangs in the dining room. Will Ms. Scharlau be successful? You'll have to join us to find out!

Tickets are $25 per person. Price includes participation in the seance, a professional palm reading by Ms. Scharlau, wine, and hors d'oeuvres. Seating is limited to 10 people per session, and both sessions on November 20 are sold out. However, seats are still available for November 21 and 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. - call 217-523-2631 or email collections@springfieldart.org to register!