Event

Impromptu SOHO Holiday Tour

Visit the home of Erin and Rich Matthews, the Prairie style D.e. Vandruff House, which was built in 1916 by Nathan Rigdon and is in the Fort Stockton Line Historic District. Erin is an avid collector of turn-of-the-century Teddy bears, and also has a large collection of antique and replica Christmas items. The couple would love to share it with SOHO members, and have decided to make the invitation a fundraiser to support SOHO, with a requested $10 donation to view the house, along with light refreshments.

Christmas decorations that are handed down generations, as lovely and rare as they might be, are most importantly all about the stories that come with them; Erin will docent her collection for visitors and share these stories. Some shared with me were of the German kugels that came to America with Erins Great-Great Grandmother in about 1870 from the Rhineland.

Other hand blown and paper scrap are from Dresden or Murrhardt, Germany. Step-dads father was 16 when he came through Ellis Island in 1906 aboard the Patricia, which was surrendered to the Allies after WWII. Erin shares. He brought the ornaments with him as a gift for his aunt with whom he lived when he first arrived in New York. The rest of his family died in the Allied bombings of Dresden. Many of the hand blown ornaments are probably Polish, according to reference materials.

In her collection, Erin has Putz houses and old German train scenery, and quite a few charming Teddy Bears from the UK, France, Germany and the USA. She says, They dont like to talk about their age, but some go back to the 1920s.

Along with the vintage, there are some new collectibles, such as the Lionel train and the Department 56 Village, which depicts New York City in approximately 1940. From 19th century rarities to 1950s items you may remember from your own childhood, Erin says to let folks know, Its not all serious, I do have some whimsical things that I just like!