North Florida Community College, Friends of the Mansion and members of the community recently worked together to host “A Charles Dickens Christmas at the Mansion”. The holiday event began with an opening reception for the Friends of the Mansion at the Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center (The Mansion) on Dec. 8, featuring Madison County’s Ratt Pack dressed in Victorian garb posing throughout the Mansion as living mannequins. The holiday celebration continued through Dec. 12 with the Madison County Junior Auxiliary’s “Cookies with Santa” event on Dec. 11 and public tours throughout the week.
NFCC Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Coordinator Maria Greene, Christmas at the Mansion Coordinator Jackie Johnson and NFCC Director of Foundation Gina Rutherford, are pictured left to right, in hallway of the Mansion.
“I thank all the volunteers, from this year to years past, for their time and effort in decorating the mansion and acting as hostesses,” said NFCC Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Coordinator Maria Greene. “Without our community volunteers, the Christmas at the Mansion holiday open house would not be possible.”
The main hallway was spectacularly decorated by the Madison County Junior Auxiliary. Downstairs rooms included the Library decorated by Wendy Bartlam and April Yungel; the Parlor by Cheri Platt, Dianne Sullivan, Penny Worden, and Jenny Andrews; the Dining Room by the Madison Women’s Club; and the Music Room by the Madison Garden Club.
Atop the garland wrapped staircase, visitors enjoyed the upstairs hall depicting Ebenezer and the Ghost of Christmas Future decorated by Ina Thompson; the Breckinridge Room by Bali’s Florist; the Guest Room by Thelma DeHart and Jan Ledsome; the Rose Room by The Madison Florist; and the Children’s Room by Madison County Community Bank. The outside of the Mansion was decorated by Mary Kay Blume and Victorian cut outs made by local artist Daniel Graves. Coordinating the decorations was Jackie Johnson.
For more information about NFCC’s Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center, contact Maria Greene, Mansion coordinator, at (850) 973-9432 or email greenem@nfcc.edu.
