Great Christmas Events at the FPH

The Frank Phillips Home Announces Holiday Events

 

Posted by Kim

 

 The Christmas season is a special time to visit the Frank Phillips Home. The Home will open in full holiday splendor on Saturday, November 24th and will delight adults and children alike.  Beautiful poinsettia arrangements grace the front foyer. The grand stairway is trimmed with garland.   The first floor decorations include festive floral arrangements and Christmas trees in the music room, library, and sunroom.

 On the dining room table, the visitor will see the traditional centerpiece used by Jane Phillips when entertaining guests and family during the holiday season. The centerpiece, approximately four feet long, is a snow scene with Santa Claus and his sleigh. Along the sides of the sleigh are small wrapped gifts attached to ribbons that run across the table to each guest’s place setting. According to director Jim Goss, when “Aunt Jane” gave permission, each dinner guest would pull the string in front of them and the gift attached to it would be theirs.”

 
On the second floor, visitors are greeted by wreaths, beautiful trees and floral arrangements of the season. Of particular interest are handmade jeweled cone shaped trees in Mrs. Phillips’ bedroom.  Santa Claus waits to greet visitors in Frank’s bedroom, along with other fun Christmas items.

Upon reaching the third floor, the visitor is greeted by a nine-foot tree decorated in lights, small birds, and hundreds of candy canes.

On December 9th, from 2 to 4:00 pm, the Frank Phillips Home and the Jane Phillips Society invite parents and children to “Santa’s Cottage”, located just to the south of the mansion.  Re-enactors Brandon and Rachael Reid will portray Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and will visit with children of all ages.  JPS volunteers will serve homemade cookies and punch.  Be sure to bring a camera!  There is no charge for this event.

The “Santa Walk” is a new event this year that promises to be a lot of fun for all ages.  Visitors are invited to stroll through the three floors of the Home and visit with historic  Santa Clauses.   This is a juried group of reenactors from around the state who have studied the history of Saint Nicolas and other Christmas legends from around the world dating back to the 16th century. Each reenactor has a particular "Santa" that they portray - the most modern being 1907.  Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.  Admission for the “Santa Walk” is $5 plus tax for adults, $2 plus tax for children 11 and under.

 At 3:30 pm that afternoon Tuba Christmas will perform on the front porch of the mansion.  It's not every day you'll see this:   A group of tuba and euphonium players performing holiday classics in a free outdoor concert, and anyone with the right instruments can join in by calling Alex Claussen , band director at the Bartlesville High School.  The tradition started at New York's Rockefeller Center in 1974, and has played out at 200 cities around the world.   The public is invited to bring a lawn chair and enjoy this beautiful concert.  In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at the Bartlesville High School.

The Home will be closed November 21-23, but will be open November 24 and decorated for Christmas.  Guided tours are available that day at 10, 11, 1, 2, 3 & 4.  The Home will be closed for Christmas holidays December 24-25 and for New Year’s December 31- January 1.  The Home will close during the month of January for staff training, cleaning, and archival work.    Further information about the Home, hours of operation and tour times can be obtained by calling 336-2491, Ext.103.




 

"Music of the Mansion" coming up soon!

posted by Kim

     

 

 

 

   Frank Phillips Home and Questers Present Tangible History Program

 The fifth in a series of presentations of “Tangible History” for the 2012 season will be presented Friday, Sept. 21.  This program entitled “Music of the Mansion”  will be given by Kathy Triebel and Gary Nealis.  The program will be held at the Frank Phillips Home, 1107 SE Cherokee from 12:10 to 1:00 p.m.

 Frank and Jane Phillips loved music and this program will highlight the many ways they brought music into the Home and the types of music, instruments and sound equipment they used.  Attendees will hear samples of favorite artists and will even hear Frank and Jane talking on a record they made themselves. 

 The Nellie Johnstone Questers offer the program to everyone free of charge.  The last Tangible History presentation for 2012 is scheduled for October 26.  The programs focus on the history of household and decorative items and how they were created and used. 

 The Frank Phillips Home was the residence of Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum Company. Today, the Home preserves the history of the home and its furnishings and offers tours and various presentations throughout the year.

 For more information about the “Tangible History” programs or details about the Frank Phillips Home, contact Kim Goss at 918.336.2491, ext. 104 or visit www.frankphillipshome.org.


posted by Kim

 

Friends of the Frank Phillips Home Launch Annual Flag Project

          The Friends of the Frank Phillips Home are planning the second annual July 4^th American flag fundraiser and are inviting both corporate sponsors and individual donors to help display thousands of 8”x 12” American flags along several major arterial streets in Bartlesville.  Donors also may choose to designate a 12” x 18” flag in honor of a friend, family member or member of any branch of the United States Military.  The honoree flags will be labeled and displayed on the grounds of the Frank Phillips Home.  The names of corporate sponsors, donors and honorees will appear in a special Bartlesville Examiner- Enterprise ad on or near July 4^th.  Additional recognition will appear on the Home’s website, organizers say.

            Corporate sponsorships are divided into Blue, White, Red and Patriot donation levels and range from $250 to $2500.  Individual donors may purchase honoree flags at $25 per flag. 

            “We are asking the community to help with this unique event that demonstrates Bartlesville’s pride and patriotism,” said Lloyd Cullison, President of the Friends organization.

            Donations should be mailed to the Frank Phillips Home, 1107 SE Cherokee, Bartlesville, OK 74003, or brought to the Home’s Gift Shop.  All donations and names must be turned in by June 20 to be listed in the E-E ad.  Donations can be made by credit card in the Home’s gift shop or by calling 918-336-2491, Ext. 104. 

            The Friends of the Frank Phillips Home is a 501 (c) (3) organization whose mission is “to assist the Oklahoma Historical Society in the preservation and restoration of the Frank Phillips Home”.  The Home is open for guided tours Wednesday – Saturday.  For more information regarding the flag project, contact Jim Goss at 918-336-2491, Ext. 101.

            The Frank Phillips Home is a member of Green Country Marketing Association, one of 11 multi-county organizations working with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, the Oklahoma Travel Industry Assn. and the other multi-county associations to promote state tourism, a $6.2 billion industry.

The Frank Phillips Home Announces Holiday Events

             The Christmas season is a special time to visit the Frank Phillips Home. The Home will open in full holiday splendor on Saturday, November 26 and will delight adults and children alike.  Beautiful poinsettia arrangements grace the front foyer. The grand stairway is trimmed with garland.   The first floor decorations include festive floral arrangements and Christmas trees in the music room, library, and sunroom.

On the dining room table, the visitor will see the traditional centerpiece used by Jane Phillips when entertaining guests and family during the holiday season. The centerpiece, approximately four feet long, is a snow scene with Santa Claus and his sleigh. Along the sides of the sleigh are small wrapped gifts attached to ribbons that run across the table to each guest’s place setting. According to director Jim Goss, when “Aunt Jane” gave permission, each dinner guest would pull the string in front of them and the gift attached to it would be theirs.”

On the second floor, visitors are greeted by wreaths, beautiful trees and floral arrangements of the season. Of particular interest are handmade jeweled cone shaped trees in Mrs. Phillips’ bedroom.  Santa Claus waits to greet visitors in Frank’s bedroom, along with other fun Christmas items.

Upon reaching the third floor, the visitor is greeted by a nine-foot tree decorated in lights, small birds, and hundreds of candy canes.

                On December 11th, from 2 to 4:00 pm, the Frank Phillips Home and the Jane Phillips Society invite parents and children to “Santa’s Cottage”, located just to the south of the mansion.  Re-enactors Brandon and Rachael Reid from the Peter Conser Home will portray Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and will visit with children of all ages.  “Uncle Frank” will also be there, fulfilling his Christmas tradition of giving the children candy and small gifts.  Be sure to bring a camera!  There is no charge for this event.   At 3 pm that afternoon Tuba Christmas will perform on the front porch of the mansion.  It's not every day you'll see this:   A group of tuba and euphonium players performing holiday classics in a free outdoor concert, and anyone with the right instruments can join in by calling Alex Claussen , band director at the Bartlesville High School.  The tradition started at New York's Rockefeller Center in 1974, and has played out at 200 cities around the world.   The public is invited to bring a lawn chair and enjoy this beautiful concert.  In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at the Bartlesville High School.

Also on December 11^th from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. the mansion will be open for families to casually walk through the rooms to see the home sparkling with its beautiful Christmas trees, lights, and decorations.  Instrumentalist and vocalist, Charles Lee, will be playing Christmas carols and vintage popular music on the 1910 Weber baby grand piano.  The Frank Phillips Home  invites families to begin a new holiday tradition by visiting the home during the Christmas season. 

Aunt Jane's Pastime Puzzles

posted by Kim

         Jane Phillips loved jigsaw puzzles.  More than likely, if you walked into the library at her home on Cherokee Avenue, you would find a jigsaw puzzle being assembled on a bridge table close to a comfortable chair.  “I would drop by to see Granny almost every day after school” said Marcus Low Jr., the Phillips’ grandson.  “It seemed like she always had a puzzle she was working on”.  This fall the Home will be placing Jane’s puzzle collection on exhibit for only the second time.

        “The puzzles are not only beautiful, but also record the events and attitudes of their time” notes Jim Goss, Director/Curator of the Home.  Jigsaw puzzles for adults were first seen in the early 1900s and were quite a challenge.   Puzzles were cut along color lines and were not interlocking.  There was no picture on the box, and the title of the puzzle was very nonspecific.  At the time the Phillips home was built (1908-1909), Parker Brothers introduced their Pastime Puzzles, which featured figural pieces in recognizable shapes.  These were so popular that Parker Brothers stopped making games and devoted its entire factory to puzzle production in 1909. Following this craze, puzzles continued as a regular adult diversion for the next two decades.

        It is not known when “Aunt Jane” became interested in jigsaw puzzles or how many she had.  She was known to give puzzles away to friends and employees.  Most of the 26 puzzles she kept were of the Pastime Puzzle brand and their themes reflect her interests and the current events of the time.  The Frank Phillips Home Docents began the project of putting the puzzles together more than four years ago.  When completed, monies were raised to frame the puzzles according to proper museum standards.  The last puzzle to be framed is a two-layer puzzle given to Jane as a Christmas present.  The exhibit designer was Karen Smith Woods.  The exhibit framer was Pat Kerbs.

       Watch for this upcoming exhibit in September and October 2011!

Uncle Frank and the Church at Creston

Posted by Kim

One advantage of working or volunteering at either Woolaroc or the Frank Phillips Home is that there are literally HUNDREDS of good stories to tell about the Phillips family.  Some, of course, are just folklore, but occasionally we will come across a credible story that we have not heard before.  This week, I would like to share one with you from the memoirs of Mr. F. E. Selim.

Before moving to Bartlesville, the Phillips attended the First Methodist Church of Creston, IA.  Unfortunately, this church burned to the ground about 1928 and the congregation immediately gathered together as much money as they could and started rebuilding.  About the time they had the "shell" of the building in place, the Great Depression hit Creston with full force and work on the church came to a halt. 

On one of their visits to Creston, Frank and Jane noticed that no progress was being made and Frank inquired as to the reason.  When told that the church was out of money, Frank said, "Tell somebody to come down and see me".  The church took him at his word and sent Mr. Jensen, the president of the Creston First National Bank, to Bartlesville to visit with Frank.  When introduced, Frank said, "How much do you want?".  Mr. Jensen explained that the church board and the contractor had met and figured how much money they would need to get the church in just "useable" condition and gave Frank the amount.  Frank just looked at him and replied, "I didn't ask how much money you HAD to HAVE, I asked how much money did you want?"  Mr. Jensen, taken aback, had to confess that he did not know, and Frank told him, "In that case, go on back to Creston and find out how much you want and then come back and let me know".  Mr. Jensen did as Frank asked, and the outcome was impressive -- enough money to build a beautiful building and furnish it with fine furniture, stained glass windows and an impressive pipe organ.

Jim and I have toured the church and it is, indeed, quite beautiful.

A visit to Monticello

Posted by Kim

We recently had the pleasure of visiting three presidential historic homes – Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James and Dolly Madison’s Montpelier, and James Monroe’s Ash Lawn.  Although they are located quite close together, each site is distinctly different and each is definitely worth the time to visit.  Today’s blog is focused on Monticello.

Jefferson’s beautiful home is a World Heritage Site and one of the most visited historic homes in the United States, so Jim and I were quite interested to see how it operated both from a tourist’s point of view as well as a professional view.  Monticello is owned and operated by the Monticello Foundation.  As you arrive at the visitor’s center complex you have several choices:  a huge gift shop, café, theater, gallery, and information center.   A shuttle will take you from the visitor’s center to the house.

As for tours, they offer a virtual smorgasbord.  There is a guided tour of the first floor, or you can pay more and get a tour of the 2^nd and 3^rd floor.  There is also a tour of the grounds or a guided walking tour of the extensive gardens.  You can pick and choose which tours you want to take.  We chose the first floor tour which lasts 30 minutes.  It was immediately apparent that our tour guide expected us to have a good working knowledge of Jefferson’s personal history and I realized I should have taken the time to see the film offered in the theater at the visitor’s center before embarking on the tour.  Her reason for omitting a lot of Jefferson’s personal history was obvious – she only had 30 minutes to get her group through the house!  Each time we left a room, another tour group entered on our heels.  This site must accommodate a lot of guests!  I was disappointed that our tour only lasted ½ hour and felt it was a bit rushed, but I understood the reason for it and their variety of choices in tours to accommodate more guests made sense.  I would have liked to see the house tour guides wearing white gloves as a museum etiquette reminder to guests “not to touch”.  I appreciated the guides asking guests to silence their cell phones during the tour.

At Monticello, the kitchens, storage rooms, stables and servant work areas were all located under the main house and these were my favorite areas.  There was no guide or interpreter though, and I think the education staff is missing a wonderful opportunity here!  If two or three interpreters or reenactors could be assigned to work these areas daily, a lot of education about the life of slaves could be offered to guests.  I hope that they will be able to do this in the future.

We visited the gardens on our own and were not disappointed – they were impressive and well kept.   The Museum Gift Shop was delightful, full of interesting things, and we spent quite a bit of money there.  Every staff person that we encountered was hospitable and helpful.  All operations seemed to flow smoothly and efficiently. 

This is a home well worth visiting and I applaud the foundation and staff for the good job they are doing in preserving and presenting this site.  Next week . . . I’ll talk about James Madison’s beautiful Montpelier.