Victorian Christmas Open House Saturday night features 125-year-old Marble Falls home
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Jane Knapik and Caryl Calsyn decorate the parlor of the Christian-Matern Home to prepare for the annual Victorian Christmas Open House to be sponsored by Falls on the Colorado Museum Saturday, Dec. 2. The home is 125 years old, an enduring part of Marble Falls history.
The home of the annual Victorian Christmas Open House is celebrating its 125th year at its original location at 603 Seventh Street in Marble Falls.
The doors of the beautiful lady will be open from 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Owner of the Christian-Matern Home, Caryl Calsyn, will be on hand to talk with visitors as they tour this important part of Marble Falls history.
The annual event is a gift to the community from the Falls on the Colorado Museum Board of Directors, who also will be greeting the public and inviting them to share holiday refreshments.
at that location is sponsored by board members of the Falls on the Colorado Museum is set for Saturday, December 2, 2017. Home owner
The home is located at 603 Seventh Street at Avenue F, on the east side of U.S. 281 in Marble Falls. Easier access with fewer stairs is available from parking at the back of the house.
“Caryl Calsyn owns the old home and has hosted the museum event for about 15 years,” said board chairman Darlene Oostermeyer. “We hold this open house every year to say 'thank you' to the community for their support of the museum.”
The house was built in 1892. With encouragement from the late Madolyn Frasier, Calsyn applied for and received a Texas historical marker in 1997. As stated on the marker, the late Victorian structure shows Queen Anne-style influences with decorative woodwork and protruding bay windows.
Victorian decorations for the Christmas season include a 12-foot Christmas tree in the front bay window, a lighted gingerbread candy shop in the kitchen, a Victrola in a bedroom and many other items.
The house was built for George Christian and his wife Juliet. Christian was one of ten owners of the Texas Mining and Improvement Company that developed Marble Falls. Juliet was the daughter of the town’s founder, Adam Rankin Johnson. George and Juliet Christian married in 1887.
Ivo B. and Mina Matern bought the house in 1908 and owned it for 51 years. Matern was a merchant and rancher who served as mayor of Marble Falls in 1937. Other house owners followed until Calsyn purchased the property in 1992 and started restoration of the house.
The open house is free but museum donations are welcome. For more information, call Calsyn at 830-693-4791. The museum website is www.FallsMuseum.org.
