A cup of Christmas

tea at the Lind House

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Two weeks of work for two New Ulm residents turned the John Lind House into a showplace for visitors.

Lind House Manager Lois Stadick and Harriet Eckstein began decorating the house right after Thanksgiving, completing the process in time for a Dec. 1 opening.

"There are eight trees throughout the house, and lights everywhere," Stadick said. "It was quite a process, but it was fun. In Victorian times, the idea was that more was better. It was a time of heavy decoration at Christmas."

Stadick spent some time researching Victorian customs and decorating on the Internet before decorating the house.

"The goal was to develop a sense of Victorian decorating, not so much on how the Linds might have decorated the house when they lived here," she said. "In Victorian times, every room would be decorated for the holidays. That is the idea we were going for here as well."

On Sunday, visitors were treated to another Victorian tradition during the first Christmas Tea.

"Something like this was tried once before, but it didn't go over well," Stadick said. "We decided to try it again. This is our first event, and one we hope will become an annual tradition."

Visitors could sample a variety of homemade breads and Christmas treats, as well as choose from six different teas, five different coffees, three types of hot chocolate, and hot apple cider served in traditional Victorian style-in pewter coffee urns.

"This is my first Christmas working at the Lind House," Stadick said. "The goal is to market the house as much as possible. The more people we can draw, the more exposure we get."

The Lind House, despite being a living museum and offices for the New Ulm United Way, serves as host to a variety of private parties. There are more than 30 parties scheduled in December, including one on Christmas Eve, she said.

"One of our goals is to eventually offer private mystery dinners," she said. "The details are still in the works for that, though. What better setting for a mystery dinner than a Victorian mansion?"

Another goal is to extend the season through the end of January. The theme used for the parties is "Be A Guest At Your Own Party." Another goal is to begin decorating sooner for Christmas, so holiday parties can be planned as early as November, she said.

"The idea for the tea developed because the custom of having tea was common for Victorian ladies," Stadick said. "They would leave calling cards stating when they were hosting a party. It was common for the Linds to entertain on a Friday."

After having tea, visitors toured the rooms filled with Christmas cheer. From the greens on the staircase to the child's nursery tree on the upstairs landing, Victorian splendor appears in every room.

"The candle lights on the tree add a special touch," one visitor said, noticing the garland on the mantel in the dining room.

Victorian decorations include straw animals on the tree in the bedroom, wooden toys on the tree on the upstairs landing, apples hanging on the kitchen cabinets, lace on the tree in the entry hall, candle shaped lights on the dining room tree, and a child's tea service set out at the top of the stairs, carrying out the Christmas Tea theme.

The Christmas teas continues today from 1-4 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 17; and Monday, Dec. 18. Cost is $3.50 per person.

Evidence of John Lind's Swedish ancestry is common throughout the house, with Swedish decorations on the trees.

The exterior of the house is undergoing a $60,000 renovation project, entirely funded on donations.

The house was built in the Queen Anne style in 1887 at a cost of $5,000. It was designed by Frederick Thayer, and it served as the center of social, cultural, and state functions from 1887-1901 while the family lived in New Ulm. Lind served as U.S. Congressman from 1887-1893 and as governor from 1900-1906. The family left New Ulm in 1901. Throughout his lifetime Lind taught school, worked as an attorney, worked at the land office in Tracy, served as president of the University Board of Regents and as diplomatic representative to Mexico. In 1913, he received the honorary title of Commander of the Royal Order of Vasa by the King of Sweden.