For the citizens of Tarpon Springs, FL, the Christmas season officially began last Friday at the first event of the season. For some, however, the most exciting affair is the upcoming Safford House Victorian Christmas, a historical reenactment in the home in Tarpon Spring’s earliest residents.
Dressed in period costumes inside the warm, old world Train Depot Museum are Bruce Miller and Marylee Owens. At this evening’s event, both were performing as Christmas carolers at Tarpon Springs’s first ever tree lighting ceremony. However, both are actors at the Safford House performance coming later in the month. Owens is a history teacher and Miller is the docent of both the Train Depot Museum and the Safford House Museum, which gives him access to all the information to play his role perfectly. “Bruce is always Mr. Safford,” said Owens, “because he knows all the history.” The aforementioned Mr. Safford is Anson P.K. Safford, who founded the city of Tarpon Springs. After he passed away, the Heritage Society of Tarpon Springs turned the home into a museum, which is where families are invited every year for the Victorian Christmas celebration. As all three continue discussing the characters and setting featured at the event, Owens mentions that Mrs. Safford was one the first female medical personnel, who once met Florence Nightingale. “That’s why the Safford house is really cool to go to,” she said. “We have actors that portray the Safford Family, and their staff” said Helene Macneil, who oversees the live reenactment, “and they welcome guests into their home for Christmas, where they enjoy the time. The year is 1887, we have Victorian Christmas carolers, and a harpist. Anson Safford sings ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ to the Victorian children and their friends that come to visit the house.” Macneil also mentions that complimentary refreshments will be offered, and there will be many activities for any children attending the event. For anyone looking to have a historical holiday or maybe just something a little different, the Safford House Victorian Christmas is something to add to the yuletide to do list.
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