All will last about an hour and be presented in the Old Colorado City History Center, 1 S. 24th St. The center is owned and operated by the volunteer OCCHS. Admission for non-members is $5.
 Marilyn Lee was in costume at the OCC History Center's Holiday Open House. Westside Pioneer photo
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An estimated 200 people visited the Old Colorado City History Center for the first-time Holiday Open House over a five-hour span Dec. 5.
The event spotlighted the center's 19 display cases, varying from mining mementos to pharmacy paraphernalia to railroad remembrances. And wassail and treats added to the occasion.
Adding perspective to the setting were numerous costumed Old Colorado City Historical Society (OCCHS) members, who offered background on the exhibits or even, in the case of Charlease Elzenga, provided demonstrations on a type of spinning wheel that was commonly used through the 19th century, even while the Industrial Age was mechanizing the process.
One of the event's lead organizers was Marilyn Lee, who oversees the display case arrangements for the all-volunteer OCCHS. A former printing worker, she moved here with her husband Terry from Kansas 2˝ years ago. They attended a program together and decided to volunteer, with Marilyn choosing to help with the displays.
Many exhibits have been added or refreshed under her leadership, commented past OCCHS President Joanne Karlson.
Adding to the praise was Dave Hughes, a co-founder of the Historical Society in the early 1980s, who described the upgraded exhibits as “tasteful, informative and classy.”
“I've always enjoyed museums,” said Lee, who was decked out in a full gown of 19th century style. “If we can tell a story through an exhibit in an enjoyable and interesting manner, it might encourage someone to go on and learn a little more.”
Lee also credited fellow OCCHS volunteers Shirley Ewing and Jay Hatfield for helping put the displays together.
During her demonstration, Elzenga explained how the flyer wheel replaced the earlier spindle wheels in about the 14th century. Scandanavian families brought them to the New World, and in Colonial families, women (typically) used them to create yarn for clothing, she said.
At the mining display case was Werner Karlson, dramatizing his interpretive role by wearing a mining helmet. Noteworthy in front of the helmet was a bright, flint-activated calcium carbide lamp - an innovation in its day that was “the next step after candles,” he said.
The Holiday Open House replaced a December tradition in which people would pay to visit the interiors of historic buildings, with proceeds going to the OCCHS. The new event was free and open to the public, although donations were requested.
Susie Schorsch, the OCCHS treasurer, said the event was successful not only from the standpoint of attendance, but from the increased involvement of the society's membership. The OCCHS has more than 300 members, but only a fraction of them typically volunteer time at the center. But all were contacted before the open house, which led to more contributions, which the regular volunteers appreciated, she said.
Westside Pioneer article