Petersburg mansion Holiday Designer House: Gingerbread battle in Centre Hill's kitchen

Kristi K. Higgins, The Progress-Index
·5 min read
Centre Hill Mansion Museum study transformed by Florist/Designer Ron Beatty for PPTF's 2nd Annual Holiday Designer House in Dec. of 2021.
Centre Hill Mansion Museum study transformed by Florist/Designer Ron Beatty for PPTF's 2nd Annual Holiday Designer House in Dec. of 2021.

The Petersburg Preservation Task Force and its supporters have been busy elves this holiday season.

Visit the 2nd Annual Holiday Designer House at Centre Hill opening this weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Return the following Friday to experience "Centre Hill Under the Lights."

You're invited to enjoy the historic mansion on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 5 from 12 - 5 p.m. to see the room transformations by local designers, florists, and garden clubs.

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Gingerbread battle

Visit "Gingerbread Wonderland" in Centre Hill's kitchen. Vote for your favorite gingerbread design at PPTF's first-ever Gingerbread House Decorating Contest which will delight one and all.

Beaunuts Buttermilk Donuts Chef Ernie LaBrecque's gingerbread design made out of donuts will go up against Puddin's Eats -N- Sweets Chef Ashlynn Puddin Warf's gingerbread creation.

The winner will be announced at the evening tour the following Friday.

Hanukkah exhibit at the Holiday Designer House event at Centre Hill Mansion Museum in Petersburg in Dec. of 2020.
Hanukkah exhibit at the Holiday Designer House event at Centre Hill Mansion Museum in Petersburg in Dec. of 2020.

In the North Family Parlor, learn about the celebration of the Hanukkah holiday and participate in the dreidel game presented by Congregation Brith Achim.

Each room in the house has a special, unique holiday feel as the decorations show off Centre Hill Mansion Museum. Musicians will play holiday tunes.

The exceptionally talented artists Iris Schwartz, Flautist, Laraine Smith, Vocalist, and M. J. Perkins, Pianist will perform while tourists make their way from room to room.

Holiday Designer House co-chair Sherry Styve said, "We are excited for evening tours of Centre Hill this year for that magical, seasonal glow."

Bust adorned by the Petersburg Garden Club for PPTF's 2nd Annual Holiday Designer House event at Centre Hill Mansion Museum in Dec. of 2021.
Bust adorned by the Petersburg Garden Club for PPTF's 2nd Annual Holiday Designer House event at Centre Hill Mansion Museum in Dec. of 2021.

Designers

  • South Parlor: Michael Maszaros, Cabin Creek Interiors

  • Dining Room: Gwen Hill Holt Cooper, Secondhand Rose, the Gala Ria, Virginia Stores of the Past museum

  • Front Porch, Study, South Family Parlor: Ron Beatty, Designs by Ron Florist

  • North Family Parlor: Congregation Brith Achim

  • Main Hall, Mr. Davis’s Bedroom, Main Staircase and Landings: Cody Hanshew, How I See It Blog, LLC

  • North Porch, Mrs. Davis’s Bathroom, Trunk Room: Cockade City Garden Club

  • North Parlor: Larry Davis, Stylist at Jerry Atkins and Associates, founder of Larry’s Famous HIGH KICK Pimento cheese

  • Mrs. Davis’s Bedroom: Ginger Brooking, creator of Virginia Old World Santa’s

  • Ambassador’s Bedroom: Andrea Huntjens, Event Planner and Caterer

  • Petersburg Garden Club designs will be on display throughout the mansion.

Statue adorned by the Petersburg Garden Club at the Centre Hill Mansion Museum in Dec. of 2020.
Statue adorned by the Petersburg Garden Club at the Centre Hill Mansion Museum in Dec. of 2020.

"High tea" in the South Family Parlor is in memory of my mother who loved all flowers especially lily of the valley and pansies," Beatty said. "I have incorporated in my design décor items she was fond of; a vase, teacups, and a pillow."

Brooking is decking Mrs. Davis's Bedroom with Santas.

At age seven, Brooking started her collection when she received a Santa bank from a Christmas Savings Club. About 25 years ago, she began collecting handmade Santas and then decided to craft her own. Her first self-taught Santas were made out of muslin with painted faces.

Bob Rogers holds the ladder for Florist/Designer Ron Beatty who is decorating Centre Hill's study for PPTF's 2nd Annual Holiday Designer House Dec. 2021 event in Petersburg.
Bob Rogers holds the ladder for Florist/Designer Ron Beatty who is decorating Centre Hill's study for PPTF's 2nd Annual Holiday Designer House Dec. 2021 event in Petersburg.

Hanshew, designing a historic home for the first time, is honored to participate at Centre Hill. In the Main Hall, Hanshew chose to turn back the hands of time.

"You will find classic Christmas shades that pair perfectly with the furnishings and accents in the home as well as respectful nods to the Bolling family history," Hanshew said. "Many of the ornaments and embellishments in the space have also been handcrafted as they would have been years ago."

Carrying on a tradition, Hanshew hid a "Christmas pickle" for visitors to find.

"Inspiration for Mr. Davis's bedroom is a nod to the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas which our Santa Claus legend is drawn from," Huntjens, the Ambassador’s Bedroom Designer, said. "Vrolijk Kerstfeest!"

The Centre Hill Mansion Museum warming kitchen decorated by the Cockade City Garden Club for the Holiday Designer House event held in Dec. of 2020 in Petersburg.
The Centre Hill Mansion Museum warming kitchen decorated by the Cockade City Garden Club for the Holiday Designer House event held in Dec. of 2020 in Petersburg.

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Friday for the Arts!

PPTF's "Centre Hill Under the Lights" is on Friday, Dec. 10. from 6 - 9 p.m. This event will allow visitors to view sights rarely seen by the public.

If you missed opening weekend, spend an evening in the glow of the rooms adorned with holiday cheer. Seasonal music will fill the air courtesy of two local professional musicians, Colleen Potter Thorburn, harpist, and Ben Thorburn, bass-baritone.

Light hors d’oeuvres, wine, and a specialty drink will be available during the musical performance. Old Towne's Alibi Bartender/Server Keith Jones created a special drink "Sleigh My Name" for the event.

A family walks in front of the Centre Hill Mansion Museum on their way to the PPTF Christmas open house in Petersburg on Dec. 5, 2020.
A family walks in front of the Centre Hill Mansion Museum on their way to the PPTF Christmas open house in Petersburg on Dec. 5, 2020.

Admission tickets are $15 per person which includes one glass of wine or specialty cocktail. A cash bar for additional wine and specialty cocktails will be offered.

Docents will be available to answer questions regarding the historic grand home.

Opening weekend is free, however, donations to keep the historic living museum operating are greatly appreciated.

Buy your tickets early for "Centre Hill Under the Lights" online at eventbrite.com or at The Exchange Building Museum located at 15 W. Bank Street. For further information, please call the Visitor Center (804) 835-9630.

While you're at Centre Hill, visit the gift shop for local holiday items and ornaments.

Historic Centre Hill Mansion-Museum located at 1 Centre Hill Court in Petersburg will be open for $10 tours throughout the month of December on Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sundays 1 - 5 p.m.

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- Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly columnist is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on Twitter, and subscribe to us at progress-index.com.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg's Centre Hill Mansion Museum: Holiday Designer House 2021