Exhibit marks 200th anniversary of beloved 'The Night Before Christmas' poem
The Christmas season always is festive at the historic Ansel B. Cook Home in downtown Libertyville but this year a special exhibit offers something extra besides lights and finery in a Victorian setting.
Did you ever wonder how or when the concept of Santa Claus as a symbol of Christmas came to be and changed over time? That's what "The Night Before Christmas," more than 40 books and images from the collection of Libertyville resident Julia Crane, is about.
"This is the big thing," explained Jenny Barry, Libertyville Historical Society president. "We're hoping to draw more people into the house."
An unillustrated printing in an 1853 anthology, books illustrated by famous artists and examples of how the poem has been published around the world are included.
The exhibit marks the 200th anniversary of the classic poem and is a highlight of the seasonal open house - a 50-year tradition at the 1878 home listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a centerpiece at 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., in the center of downtown.
Decorations, including a period tree, have been added to the furnishings and artifacts throughout the two-story home, including seven Italian marble fireplaces and an intricately carved oak staircase draped with greenery.
But the window isn't open long. Docents will be on hand for the open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, and Dec. 9 only. Reservations aren't required and visitors can drop in anytime. A $5 donation is suggested to support the historical society's collections and educational outreach.
"My mom started giving her books and then we realized we had a collection that was telling a story," said Julia Crane's dad, Bob, who came from Maryland to help with the set up Wednesday.
Julia Crane has more than 80 books from 1853 to 2022 showing how the poem has been presented and the concept of St. Nicholas has changed over the years, he said.
Julia is a high school friend and Bob, who wrote a history of the block where Barry lives, approached her about an exhibit to mark the anniversary.
The beloved poem originally known as "A Visit From St. Nicholas" was written by New York City theologian Clement Clarke Moore and read to his children.
It was published anonymously a year later on Dec. 23, 1823 in the Troy, New York Sentinel newspaper. The first line: "'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house," describes the preparation for St. Nicholas' visit.
In 1857, a woodcut by prominent illustrator Felix Octavius Carr Darley was the first image of a suited visitor climbing down a chimney with his sled and reindeer at the ready.
A viewers guide with thumbnails of books and images will be available at the open house along with a QR code linking to greater detail now posted at libertyvillehistory.org/nbc.