Thanksgiving will be here in three more days, then the Christmas season swings into full gear with the Friday sales in area retail stores. Groups throughout the city are also planning to celebrate the Christmas season and invite you to join them.

One of the traditional events in St. Joseph for more than two decades has been lighting up the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion.

"Downtown St. Joseph will have a distinctive glow throughout the holiday season as the St. Joseph Museum turns on the lights of the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion at 6 p.m. Dec. 3," said Kathy Reno, a spokeswoman for the St. Joseph Museums.

Visitors are welcome to tour the mansion in its holiday finery during the free event, which will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on the first Thursday in December. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting and provide a perfect photo opportunity. Activities include carriage rides, refreshments, holiday music and a children's craft area.

The exterior lighting of the mansion will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 3. Festivities inside the Wyeth-Tootle will begin with holiday music by the Hosea Elementary School handbell choir, under the direction of Marcia Wahlert. They will be followed by the Griffon Junior Singers from Missouri Western State University.

As in previous years, the interior of the mansion will glow as brightly as the exterior, with many colorful trees and holiday trim on the fireplace mantles and doorways. Museum volunteers put in many hours alongside the staff to coordinate the elaborate interior decor.

"The mansion decorated for the holidays offers the community a taste of the Victorian grandeur of St. Joseph's golden age," said Jackie Lewin, St. Joseph Museums executive director.

The first floor of the mansion also contains a collection of portraits of some of the city's 19th century and early 20th century businessmen.

Each week, Property of the Past writer Marshall White features a building or an item of St. Joseph history. If you have a building, home, special collection or interesting piece of history, contact him at marshall@npgco.com.

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Newspapers in Education

This week's Property of the Past describes an event in one of the city's historic mansions. Using the Wyeth-Tootle mansion and the list of activities, write several paragraphs about how two young people might enjoy and participate in this event. Imagine the types of food that will be served, what kind of weather they will experience on that night, who they might be surprised to meet besides Santa Claus, and what will be the highlight of the occasion.