Victorian Valentine’s Day has thrived for more than 25 years in a mansion celebrating its 125th anniversary.
The celebration uses the holiday to commemorate the Victorian era and local history in the McConnell Mansion on First and Adams streets in Moscow.
“What better time than Valentine’s Day to do a day of focus on the Victorian era and the house,” curator Ann Catt said. “We do things for most holidays — Mother’s Day tea, we used to do Halloween, and Victorian Christmas where we had over 700 people.”
This event markets Latah County history to children
“They get to have a cookie and make a valentine,” Catt said.
The valentines are created using traditional lace doilies, Catt said, to remind people of the way it used to be.
The event hosts an average of 200 people, who listen to live music and witness lace-making. This year will feature John Elwood and Sally Burkhart. Catt said the music is always old fashioned on a piano, harpsichord, or something similar. She said Elwood and Burkhart will be playing Old English love songs. Music will be accompanied by the Appaloosa Lace Guild, whose members will demonstrate the art of lace making.
A volunteer-based events committee organizes all of the events.
“The Valentine’s event is a long-standing tradition with the mansion,” committee member Nancy Peterson said. “It takes a lot of work but it is easier because of the tradition behind it. Whereas when we get into the Victorian tea and things that are new and different it makes it more complicated.”
Peterson said planning began in November with the help of the museum’s curator, museum assistant and director.
But Catt said the goal is to bring attention to Latah County history.
“The mansion is our big artifact.” Catt said. “The mansion is the center of what we do. And we want to get the word out that Latah County has a wonderful history.”
Catt said the historical society accomplishes this through all of the little events they do to remind the community of how things used to be. The Valentine’s event may not be as factual, but Catt said they host other events including a cemetery tour where participants learn about the individuals, and an ice cream social that mimics socials Louisa McConnell used to throw.
Victorian Valentine’s Day is free to the public, and will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the McConnell Mansion.
For more information about McConnell Mansion, visit http://users.moscow.com/lchs/mansion.html