Big Sky Chronicles: Vintage ornaments

From colorful lights adorning houses to wreaths and stockings hung with care, Christmas decorations bring cheerfulness to the season. In this week’s Big Sky Chronicles, ornaments give us a glimpse into the past.

The halls are decked at Helena’s Original Governor's Mansion and vintage ornaments fit right in with the traditional decor. But these well preserved pieces, most dating back to the 1900s, tell us more than how trees were decorated in the past.

"The fact that these are ones that have lasted just really tell you that people felt they were pretty important and they spent a lot of money on it and they were very very much traditions in their family as much as anything else," says Curator of History, Sarah Nucci.

"I see things that have been in the past cherished and loved and that brought joy to somebody's household," says Reference Historian, ZoeAnn Stoltz.

Some of the ornaments are made of hand-blown glass, making it even more remarkable that they've survived intact. Others have paper elements attached. Montana Historical Society Curator of History Sarah Nucci says having the foresight to preserve something like a family ornament indicates it meant a lot to its owners.

"I think that when you preserve something you really do have a lot of value because you want it to last because you want it to pass it to your grandchildren and your children and so they're really well taken care of," says Nucci

There are also some themes within the collection, everything from birds to fruit. Others feature traditional holiday figures. MHS Reference Historian Zoeann Stoltz says the decorations were often treasured because of the memories associated with them. She says passing down ornaments can be a way of preserving the continuity of Christmases past.

"Really a wonderful way of maintaining that wonderful Christmas feeling and a little bit of magic that comes out at Christmas that we call tradition," says Stoltz.

The Historical Society has over 300 ornaments in its collection. About 120 of them will be on display at the Original Governor's Mansion Christmas eve.

Story by Kaelyn Kelly, Beartooth NBC.
Sponsored by Big Sky Plumbing & Heating of Helena. 
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