Geneva History Museum Showcases 18th Century Creche Angels, Giving Trees
The Eighth Annual Geneva Giving Trees and 18th Century Créche displays will be open Nov. 24 through Dec.23, 2015, at the Geneva History Museum, 113 S. Third Street, Geneva.
The Geneva Giving Tree display features 14 Christmas trees decorated by non-profit organizations reflecting their mission and areas of service. The community can view the trees and vote for their favorite with their dollars at the museum and online at www.GenevaHistoryMuseum.org. The winning organization will receive 100 percent of the donations made to their tree, the remaining organizations will split their winnings with the Geneva History Museum, an independent non-profit museum.
The trees were decorated by volunteers from: Geneva Beautification, Fox Valley Hands of Hope, National Alliance of Mental Illness, Covenant Care Hospice, Hearts of Hope, Marklund, Geneva Girl Scouts, Greater Geneva Art Guild, Lazarus House, Association for Individual Development, Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, Geneva Women’s Club and Rover Rescue.
The 18th Century Créche (nativity) is the oldest and most rare item in the museum’s collection. The display has been a Geneva holiday tradition since Kate Raftery, founder of The Little Traveler brought it to Geneva in the 1930s. Raftery paired the nativity with a 17th Century French Provincial Corner bed. In 1992, the crèche and the corner bed were rescued from near destruction in a flooded basement and donated to the Geneva History Museum for restoration and preservation. This year, the Angels of the créche will adorn their traditional wings, thanks to Charlemagne on the Fox Questers for funding this special restoration project.
Reservations are also available for two Christmas luncheons held at the museum on Wednesday, Dec. 9, and Friday, Dec. 11, to raise funds to restore the créche. Seats are $60 each or $55 for museum members.
Admission is free to view both holiday displays with donations always appreciated. The Geneva History Museum is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with special evening hours for the Christmas Walk, from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at 113 S. Third Street, Geneva. For more information, visit www.GenevaHistoryMuseum.
SOURCE: Geneva History Museum press release
