Christmas at the Mansion

Once upon a time back in the early 1900s, two mansions sat on a hill on the northside of Youngstown. One was stone Tudor home to the Thomas family and the other was a Gothic Revival style white manor home to the Sampson family. Eventually both mansions were left to the Catholic Diocese and later became a Retreat House for Sacred Heart. 

Evidence of this Catholic history remains on the grounds. Just driving around the paved drive that circles both mansions to the road, you can see remains of religious monuments and stations of the cross boxes along paved paths.

Now both mansions were purchased by Woodland Cellars, a winery out of Hubbard, to expand their winery to the property. This weekend though, the Sampson Mansion was open for a holiday vendor showing. The public was only able to access a small portion of the first floor but with that alone, you can appreciate the grandeur of the architecture in the small details. 

The large white columns in the front of the home invite you into a foyer that opens into a grand staircase and marble floors.

In almost every corner you can see that architecture detail and style of the era. Whether those be ornate cornices that arch around a curved window or detailed moldings that surround ornate lighting. It also fitting that a winery will be renovating the property by the iron work detail under that staircase that displays grapes.

Even the fireplace by where they posed Mr. and Mrs. Claus was just so intricate. You can only wonder what it looks like and how grand it must be in this mansion in areas we were not able to access!

As we left the property along the road winding through the back, I noticed the unkempt grapevines that once properly yielded a great harvest for the original residents......yet another sign it was fate for this property to take on the future as a winery.

Have you found any great new out of the way holiday shopping to do this season yet? Or visited anywhere that was so grand? Comment below...

Santa at the Farm

A few years back, you may remember that I attended a holiday shopping/ vendor event at the beautiful Highland Meadows Farm, right across the PA line in Enon Valley. Well, this year they held the event again, setting up the vendors in the horse stalls. It is such a cute idea and I just love visiting this property! 

I even got to put my Christmas wish list in to Santa early!

Sweater from Joules, lined puffer vest by Kori America, jeans by JCrew, boots by Ralph Lauren

Witches on the Prowl!

Once again this year,  the sleepy Amish town of Volant, Pa to life for its annual Witch's Night out. All the witches came out on the prowl and again the normally dying off tourist town was bustling with life!

After feeling under dressed last year I decided to don the full array this year and go all out. Again the town did not disappoint and the event seemed to be even larger in its second year.... shops were open after hours this night... there were specialty drinks at the winery, a cackling contest and a parade! Truly a WITCH'S NIGHT OUT and a must to experience if you find yourself in the area during fall!