A Tour of Garlandsburg - Part 1

Every year I set up our Christmas village. It runs the entire width of the living room on top of built in bookshelves and expands to the top of another shelf, and then finishes in my parents' room on the desk. I hope you enjoy your tour this year!

 

Garlandsburg 2018

    Welcome everyone! I’m so glad you could join me for this tour of Garlandsburg. I hope you all have warm coats on because this wintery air is biting and cold. I’ve heard rumors that it might snow again this evening. But come inside the lighthouse. Crystal has hot drinks and freshly baked cookies before we really begin the tour.
    Does everyone have something to eat and drink? Good. Thank you so much, Crystal. I know we don’t usually start out at the lighthouse, but it works best this year.
    Before we head outside, I want to give you a bit of Garlandsburg’s history. It was founded many years ago by two brothers, Rufus and Sam Garland. Their dream was to create a village with the look and feeling of an old New England village from long ago. It was incredible how well they succeeded even in their first attempt. There’s an essence, a charm, about this village that will leave you with the sense of stepping back in time. A feeling that you too have lived when motor cars were a thing of the future, where cell phones and the internet were beyond comprehension, and where folks cared for one another and helped their neighbors.
    There are two important things you should know about Garlandsburg if you’ve never been here before–and I see some new faces. One is that Garlandsburg is never the same two years in a row, and it is only opened during the month of December with maybe a few days before. That’s right. As soon as January comes around, the villagers return to their normal homes and jobs in the 21st century, and Rufus Garland sets to work with his contractors and architects. (Sam has moved away to a warmer climate and no longer joins in the planning.) All or most the hills are leveled or changed, the streams are channeled into new water courses, trees are planted, and then the buildings, bridges and such are carefully settled. Just after Thanksgiving each year word is sent out to all the villagers and they come flocking back, eager to explore the town’s new layout, find out where their shop or house is located, and settle into life in Garlandsburg for another Christmas season.

    Is everyone ready to begin now? Fasten your coats, pull on your gloves, cover your ears with your hat or scarf, and let’s go.

    Here we are at the top of the bluff. This lighthouse is an important part of Garlandsburg. Not only does it warn the ships out at sea, but it is a beacon to a very special ship which always comes home at Christmas time. Crystal’s husband, Adam, is captain of that ship. There is Grandpa Donovan. He’s not really everyone’s grandfather, but the villagers all call him so, and the tourists picked it up. He and Candle are no doubt watching for the ship. I wonder where Lucas and his grandfather, Uriah, are. What was that, Crystal? Oh, they’ve gone to watch from the other lighthouse for a while. Yes, we have two lighthouses. We’ll see the other soon.
    Now we should move on. That wind is bitter up here, and I don’t think Grandpa Donovan would approve of anyone climbing to the top of the lighthouse in this weather! What are those two children doing outside without coats on? They are Crystal’s niece and nephew. You two had better get inside with your flag before you catch a cold. Yes, take your dog, Matches, inside too. He’s a cute little thing.
    Did you all notice that everyone at the lighthouse, from Grandpa Donovan to the dogs, have names that have to do with light? Of course, you haven’t met Torch yet. He’s most likely with Lucas.
    Careful down the hill everyone. Need a hand there? Easy now. There we go.

    Here we are at Barnacle Bill’s Boat House. Watch out! Brandon and Brian are having a lively game of snowballs. Sure, you can join in the fun. If you get cold, come warm up over here. Bill is working on his boat and has a good fire going. We’ll visit with him a few minutes.

    Since there is a sheer drop-off from the top of the cliff, we have to go the round about way. Quiet! There, look up at the top of the hill. Do you see the deer? I’ve seen three up there before, but I don’t see the buck today. Perhaps he’s in the woods.
    Below the hill, but not in the valley yet, sits the village church. Listen! That’s Mayor Garland and his family singing. Don’t they have lovely voices? They could be practicing for the Christmas Eve service, or maybe they are just out caroling. That was a beautiful song, Garland Family. You want us to join you? Well, I think we have time for one song before we must be on our way. And here comes Edwin Ketchum with a delivery of poinsettias. He’s the doctor’s son. Perhaps he’ll sing too. I know he has a splendid bass voice.



   Thank you so much for that lovely singing everyone! Good bye, Garland family! Careful now folks, this road is rather steep. Maybe we should wait until those two little daredevils are out of the way. I’m not sure exactly who they are, but I’m guessing they are likely Nathaniel and Joy. Not many children, besides those two, would think of chasing the stage down this road. I don’t think they are going to beat Chocolate Swirl with Mr. Stathem at the reins. When we catch the stage back, you will probably get a chocolate stick from the driver. He loves to hand them out to his passengers. That’s why the children insisted the horse be named Chocolate Swirl.

    As you can see, our Grand Hotel sits back from the road here. Do you all have rooms already? It gets booked until the end of the year. Often reservations are made the year before just to ensure a place to stay in Garlandsburg. Oh, yes, you can stay outside of the town and just come in during the day, but some folks want the full experience.

 

  Does anyone want to stop at Tattered Covers Rare Books? Yes? I thought there would be a few people. But perhaps you could come back after the tour? Yes, they will be open later. Oh, good evening, Mr. Paige. Are you coming to get a new book? Yes, I think there are a few readers in this tour, so don’t take all the good books!

    Let’s cross the stream on the larger bridge. Good evening, Travis. Excuse us, please. Merry Christmas to you too! That was Adam’s brother. Oh, dear, Landon Moore seems to be having trouble with his fishing pole. I wonder if something caught it. Hopefully his uncle can help him. Yes, back on the footbridge Mr. Shields and Willie are fishing. I wonder if they’ve caught anything yet. It seems like a cold time to be fishing, but then I’m not much of a fisherman.

    I don’t know about you, but I’m growing a bit cold. Let’s warm up by the fire at the Carriage House. Oh, this feels good! What was that? Of course you can go ring the bell in the gazebo! It’s a tradition for visitors to ring the bell when they come.

Come back tomorrow for the rest of the tour . . .

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