Kilgore Magazine

The Gregg County Historical Museum is preparing for a wonderful Living History Christmas celebration. This year includes the Loblolly Model Trains, Holiday Houses and a “Treasured Trees” Silent Auction.

A sneak preview of the Loblolly trains, Christmas villages and Silent Auction will be Friday, December 5th from 10am to 8pm, in conjunction with the evening events at Christmas at the Courthouse.

“Living History Christmas” is Saturday, December 6th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. World of Wonders, “WOW” will host the children’s activities. Activities include a story teller, Christmas carols and refreshments. The Museum will remain open until 8 pm to coincide with Christmas at the Courthouse.

The holiday houses are part of a wonderful collection loaned to the museum by Ann and Hamp Smead. They were set up each year for their family’s Christmas enjoyment and celebration of Christmas beginning with one train in 1971.

It was such a hit, that each year they added more features, including village scenes, more and different trains, more track and varying configurations for the train – including tunnels, overpasses, depot stops, auto crossings, and many moving parts in the village besides the trains themselves. It steadily grew in size and reputation until schools were bringing classes of children to view the magical village setting. This continued as an annual event in their home thru the early 1980’s.

Several years later, it was expanded and set up in the Gregg County Historical Museum each Christmas as part of the LIVING HISTORY CHRISTMAS event which the Museum sponsors.

The exhibit transports any viewer to a place of imaginary wonderland and happy experiences, and the experience lingers even after leaving the magical display.

New this year is the “Treasured Trees” Silent Auction. Over 15 beautifully decorated Christmas Trees will be on display until December 18th. You’re invited to go by the museum during regular business hours to bid on the trees. Winners will take the trees home December 19th or 20th.

The Loblolly Model Trains and Holiday Houses Exhibit will also be open during regular museum hours on December 9th thru 20th, Tuesday thru Friday from 10:00am to 4:00 pm and Saturdays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Admission is Free and sponsored in part by Longview’s Cultural Activities Advisory.

For more information contact the Gregg County Historical Museum at (903)753-5840. Follow the museum on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Gregg-County-Historical-Museum