By Marianne Bull
An historical museum focuses on historic times and three types of calendars to mark time are currently available at the Steilacoom Museum Holiday Store. If you have any time on your hands and wish to take time to check them out, the next two weekends might be the time to do that! Do you note a theme here?
Now is the time for Advent Calendars and the Holiday Store has many beautiful ones. These calendars help note the days from December 1 to Christmas. Traditionally made of paper, they have little doors that open to reveal a picture, culminating on the 24th of December, Christmas Eve. Children since the early 1900’s have loved marking time with these printed calendars by opening one door each day. Prior to that time, they were usually handmade. During WWII, by the way, production of the calendars was discontinued to save paper for the war effort.
Another calendar available is a birthday calendar. The Store carries a unique letterpress calendar, which records birthdays or anniversaries by astrological sign, with each page featuring a sign of the zodiac and it’s corresponding constellation with a list of the dates within that sign. Letterpress printing was the normal printing method from the 15th C through the 19th C.
The third calendar is the annual Steilacoom Calendar featuring photographs from local talented photographers. This calendar for 2014 is produced by the Steilacoom Historical Museum as a fund-raiser. It is available at the Museum Holiday Store as well as at various Steilacoom businesses.
The purchase of these calendars will benefit the ongoing expenses of the Steilacoom Historical Museum, which includes the Nathaniel Orr Pioneer Home and Wagon Shop, the Bair Drug & Hardware Store and the Museum itself. Take time to shop the Holiday Store the next two weekends through December 7, Saturdays from 10-3 andSunday from 12-4. Now is the time! For more information, call 584-4133.