Naper Settlement helps jog those holiday memories

Scrooge had the mangled hair, dark cape and the wild-eyed curmudgeonly glare that was sure to stop kids in their tracks.

"Don't have any fun in my house!" the performer bellowed Sunday from behind a curtain near a set of toys.

But 7-year-old Laura Panayiotides was not impressed with Scrooge's mock furor.

"He was like, 'It's not polite,'" Laura said through giggles while trying to mimic his gestures. "He was funny."

Performers from toy soldiers on stilts to Scrooge to Santa and Mrs. Claus were on display at Naper Settlement Sunday for its annual Christmas Memories holiday event.

"We had to come back here for a second straight day to take pictures with Santa because our camera wasn't working," said Nancy Tate of Joliet, who spent the afternoon wandering the grounds with her two daughters, Jayme Tate and Jillian McCurrie, and McCurrie's 2-year-old daughter Jovanna.

"She's in love with the musicians and carolers," McCurrie said as her daughter scampered over to watch a performance.

The results of a contest recognizing the best in gingerbread house construction was on display in the meeting house for much of the day, and visitors had a chance to create elaborate holiday cards with the help of staff members.

Tracey Breen of Naperville and several kids from Tiger Scout Pack 888 at Springbrook Elementary School gathered in front of a demonstration where organizers were pulled by a team of three Siberian huskies on a three-wheeled contraption that looked like a cross between a tricycle and a chariot.

Just a few moments earlier, 6-year-old Logan Breen toured a 19th century schoolhouse with his buddies.

"I put my nose on the chalkboard and got in trouble," he said. "But it was fun."