A & E

Janice Oberdorf and her father often talked about the different perspectives they brought to the holidays.

"Growing up in the Depression, he did not have many happy memories of Christmas," the Vandergrift resident says.

In contrast, in hosting the Victorian Tea in her holiday-themed Victorian home in Vandergrift for the past three years, Oberdorf has proven just how enthusiastic of a "Christmas person" she is.

She says she and her dad would discuss "the craziness" of her making all the preparations for this fundraising event for the Victorian Vandergrift Museum and Historical Society, which, this year, will be Saturday and Sunday.

"Bottom line, if I didn't enjoy it I wouldn't do it, and he knew that," Oberdorf says.

After her father lost his long battle with heart disease in September 2007, her commitment to the project gave her reason to decorate and to celebrate the Christmas season last year.

"This year, they asked me in April, so I had time to forget the hard work and think it might be fun," she says.

In truth, Oberdorf has fun, and, clearly, those who attend do, too, because they keep coming back.

"In the back of my mind, I probably hoped that it would become an annual event," she says. "However, after that first one, all I wanted was a foot massage for Christmas."

Seating will be at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. both days. "There will be good food, good conversation, over-the-top decorations and hopefully good weather," she says.

The menu is different each year, with the only repeat item being the chicken salad croissant. There is an appetizer course, followed by a main course, several varieties of fancy scones and the chicken salad croissant, along with desserts for the last course. "We have tons of desserts, and this year we have a surprise for the dessert items," she says.

Everything is donated, she says, so the museum receives 100 percent of ticket sales. "It helps them continue the work they are doing in the museum and allows us to do something fun," she says.

In addition to food and beverages, a variety of crafts again will be available for those hoping to find a special Christmas gift.

There are to be art prints, handmade jewelry and country candles, sleigh bells on leather to be hung on doors, handmade cards, baskets, handcrafted wood items, pottery and more. "We only have one vendor for each type of item, so you get lots of variety," she says. "Each year, we add a few new crafters, so there is always something new and different to see."

She believes anyone can enjoy himself or herself at this tea.

"The younger children can spend time with their parents or grandparents and just talk, away from the distraction of the TV and video games," she says. "The teenagers could see other teenagers like themselves volunteering and actually having a good time."

There have been a few male visitors, and they always seem to enjoy themselves, she adds. "They're probably grateful that they didn't have to put up or take down my trees."

Oberdorf does love her trees, making sure each room that will be part of this event has at least one. She says she has decorated as many as 11 in the past -- and that's counting only those that are 7-and-a-half-feet tall and larger.

The front porch that runs the entire length of her house has a snowman theme this year.

"The older generation can reminisce at the tea about Christmases past, and everyone else can just enjoy the spirit of the holiday and not having to make a decision as to what to eat, since I have already made that for them," she says.

Providing the musical soundtrack again this year is volunteer Katrina Lawecki of Allegheny Township, a flutist who is a junior at Kiski High School. Her friend Caitlyn McCoy of Oklahoma, a Kiski sophomore, will join her on flute.

"I enjoyed getting to play for everyone, " Lawecki says. "I love music from the Victorian era."

She is intrigued by the Victorian period. "I find the dresses they wore were interesting," she says. "I think that we can learn how to act better and respect others more by studying the period."

She continues to believe that younger people, especially, are intrigued with the concept of simpler living, how people managed their daily lives in that era.

"Young parents especially need to take time to savor each moment with their children. All too soon, they will grow up," she says. "Others need to take time to sit and talk to a loved one or bake cookies for them. All too soon, they will be gone, and we can't recapture that moment. Hearing a young person laugh or an older one tell a story, even if you have heard it a million times, makes a nice memory to hold on to."

The Victorian Tea could be one of those memories, she says.

Veterans' wing planned as addition to museum

The sign in the Victorian Vandergrift Museum and Historical Society delivers its silent message.

"We respect the past, we honor the past, we learn from the past, but we do not live in the past."

"All four of these elements are of equal importance," says Bill Hesketh, treasurer of the organization. Too often, he suggests, we do not learn from history and repeat mistakes.

Museums provide a learning experience for those open to it. "We want to keep alive the history of Vandergrift and the Kiski Valley," he says. "Local history is not taught in our schools, and it's important to teach people the significant role the Valley had in the movement West of the settlers, and also the place Vandergrift has in the early union management struggles."

The museum, which has an extensive genealogy library with curator and visitors exhibit area, is in the former Sherman building on Sherman Avenue in Vandergrift. There are rotating displays of memorabilia and historical items related to the community.

The museum has been working on a Veteran's wing to display items to be housed in the adjacent old church, which is being renovated.

This weekend's Victorian tea will help fund some of these improvements. "We have many needs, as do most nonprofits," Hesketh says. "We are very fortunate to have a very loyal and generous membership with a good group of volunteers with varied interests."

The one significant need that exists is for younger people to get involved, he adds. "Without that, we can see us closing our doors in 10 years," he says.

Museum tours can be arranged. "We are always happy to show it and the town off," Hesketh says.

Museum hours are from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Phone 724-567-2771.