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. 

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.