Victorian Christmas Night event slated

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The St. Croix County Historical Society will present its Annual Victorian Christmas Night (formerly called Light Up Night) on Friday, Dec. 3, from 6-8 p.m.

This year the Octagon House will spotlight three historic homes.

Guided tours will be given of the Octagon House, the Phipps Inn and the John Lee House. Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for students ages 13-19 and $2 for children 12 and younger. Tickets must be purchased at the Octagon House on Victorian Christmas Night (No advance sales).

The Octagon House, 1004 Third St., was built in 1855 for the John Shaw Moffat family. Moffat was a lawyer and judge in St. Croix County. Four generations of the Moffat-Hughes family lived in the house before it was turned into a museum in 1964. On Friday, Dec. 3, you can see the Octagon House in its holiday splendor by the glow of lamplight just as the Moffats did. Costumed guides will welcome guests. Wine, cheese and sweets will be served in the Carriage House and the Gift Shop will be open for your Christmas shopping.

Tour the main level of the William H. Phipps home, 1005 Third St., built in 1884. Phipps was a local businessman involved in the railroad, lumber industry and land sales. The beautifully decorated Victorian mansion is now a bed and breakfast operated by Mary Ellen and Richard Cox.

Chris Meier and Jeff Quarbery have carefully renovated the former home of John Lee, 1319 Fourth St.; built in 1910 by Lee himself. Johannus Andrew Lovelein came from Hadeland, Norway, to Hudson in 1883. He shortened his name John Lee and started his own carpentry business that continued for 50 years. Lee built houses, churches, schools and businesses, many of which are local landmarks. The Carriage House is also one of Lee’s buildings.

For more information, please contact the Octagon House at 715-386-2654. The Octagon House will be open for walk-in tours on the weekends in December, Saturdays from noon to 4:30 p.m, and Sundays from 2-4:30 p.m. Groups of 10 or more may make a reservation for a guided tour on weekdays.

Tags: communities, explore