December is a time for celebrating traditions, especially those that bring together family and friends around holiday meals, bright lights, shiny decorations, and beautiful music. Beginning in the late years of the 19th century, Harry and Mary Converse initiated one of the most extraordinary, generous, and eagerly anticipated December traditions ever seen in Marion – the Moorings Christmas Eve party.
This handwritten invitation, preserved in the SHS archives, reads, “Please come to the Moorings Christmas Eve at five o’clock. Barges leave P.O. at 4:45.” All the children of Marion were invited to a festive evening featuring an ice cream social and holiday caroling, and, as this invitation indicates, were also invited to ride over to the Moorings in a barge provided by the hosts! According to a record in the SHS archives, the big room at the southeast corner of the main house at the Moorings was the scene of this annual Christmas party for Marion’s youngsters, including Master John Bates (see the envelope below, also preserved in the archives).
While the original house was built for Harry E. Converse in 1890, the Moorings was torn down and rebuilt in the 1920’s after his death in 1918; however, the Christmas Eve tradition continued with the next generation of Converses. June and Parker Converse, and later, H. Peter and Sheila Converse, continued to host a Christmas Eve party every year for all the children on Converse Point, along with friends and family. Peter Converse, whose oral history interview is recorded in our database, remembers ice cream, much singing, and even recitations of original poetry (including his own). Of course, the highlight of the evening was always the visit from Santa Claus, who, in recent years, bore a remarkable similarity to the late Dick Arthur.
Today, festive celebrations and gatherings of family and friends take place all over Marion throughout the holiday season, preserving traditions and creating memories. What a beautiful moment in time, when all the children of Marion were invited to celebrate together at a Christmas Eve party at the Moorings! What memories!
Click here for a photograph of The Moorings, and continue searching our database for more than 90 records highlighting the beautiful Marion house that hosted so many memorable Christmas celebrations for the children of Marion.
Merry Christmas, and may you enjoy celebrating with your own unique and memorable traditions!
