Friday, January 17, 2025
Guests were given a glimpse of Christmas past as they gathered inside the Phillips House Museum in Rockville Centre on Sunday, Dec. 8, for a heartwarming holiday tradition.
Stepping through the doors of this 19th-century Victorian home, the warm scent of hot cocoa filled the air. Upstairs, the pitter-patter of children’s laughter and footsteps could be heard as they participated in fun holiday-themed arts and crafts, which they took home as mementos, while teens volunteered to assist the younger children with their yuletide masterpieces.
In the background, the sound of chamber singers performing “Jingle Bells” echoed through the halls, enhancing the festive atmosphere. At the center of the living room stood a Christmas tree adorned with Victorian-era decorations reminiscent of those featured in the major motion picture adaptation of “Little Women.” The room came to life as students from South Side High School delivered beloved Christmas carols, spreading holiday cheer.
During the holiday open house, visitors enjoyed festive treats of cookies and punch, while children excitedly gathered to see Santa make his grand entrance aboard a fire truck, accompanied by firefighters from the Rockville Centre Fire Department’s Eureka Hook Ladder & Bucket Company No. 1.
“This event is great for getting into the holiday spirit,” Debbie Fehringer, co-president of the RVC Historical Society, said. “That’s what this whole event is about — kicking off the season with a lot of goodwill and feeling good about the community we live in. Rockville Centre is, I have to say, truly a wonderful town.”
The Phillips House was also one of the stops in the 2024 Snowman Hunt, a local scavenger hunt organized by the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce. To enter the contest, children are required to collect 27 stickers from various locations across the village to enter for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate.
“It’s really a great community center,” Sharon Batkin, a Rockville Centre resident, told the Herald. “It’s lovely to see all the little kids running around.”
Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray also attended the event, taking the opportunity to connect with residents. This year’s festivities were made possible through the efforts of Historical Society trustees Jennifer Santos, Jim Belling, Matt Cliszis, and Tom Hodge.
“We love having the opportunity to host this event annually for the community,” Belling said. “We’re working hard to preserve the past while offering events like this that allow residents to see what the museum has to offer, which benefits the village overall.”
The event also introduced newcomers to the museum, including Rockville Centre resident Mary Ross, who visited the Phillips House for the first time. Encouraged by Hodge and her daughter, Ross came to experience the holiday spirit and learn more about the house’s history.
“I think history is very important, and it’s becoming more meaningful to me as I get older,” Ross said. “I’ve become more interested in who lived before us and how they lived, which makes me appreciate everything we have today.”
The event has become a local tradition in the community that combines the wonder and joy of the holidays with the rich tapestry of the village’s 130-year history. To learn more about the Phillips House and the Rockville Centre Historical Society, visit RVCHS.org.
