Set for Saturday is an open house at the historic Chapin Mansion and Fort St. Joseph Museum in Niles. Niles History Center Assistant Director Molly Watson tells WSJM News this is a chance for everyone to tour the sites for free, and check them out as they are decked out for the holidays.
“Each year, we have different organizations and community groups decorate each of the rooms at the Chapin Mansion, and the theme for this year is ‘Home for the Holidays,’ and so people can come to the open house and they can see the mansion decorated by all of these different groups.”
Watson says there will be a presentation called “Krampus: The Darker Side of Christmas in Germany” at 6 p.m. and a behind the scenes look at the artifacts collected at Fort St. Joseph. She notes more than 300,000 pieces have been uncovered in the past 20 years at that former French outpost. In addition to touring the mansion and museum, scavenger hunts will be available for children, and handmade ornaments will be for sale. The open house will run from 4 to 7 p.m.
