
HistoryCelebrated
Holidays at the
Maxwell House
The Holidays at Maxwell House are joyous open-house celebrations of Colonial History, Community Spirit and friendship.
Please visit us during the Warren Walkabout and other Holiday Events to find out more about the Massasoit Historical Association.
There's always something cooking!

Gallery
Christmas's Past

Southwest Room from the Hall
2013

Tin Sconce
Southwest Room
2013

Chimney Breast
Southwest Room
2013

Cupboard, Chimney Breast
Southwest Room
2013

Table
Southwest Room
2013

Side Table, Southwest Room
2013

Table
Southwest Room
2013

Hutch
Kitchen
2013

Hutch
Kitchen
2013

Above the Fireplace
Kitchen
2013


Laura Chaney
Demonstrating the Art of Making a Scherenschnitte Ornament
2013

Scherenschnitte Tree
Higgins Room
2013

The Maxwell House at Night
2013

Paper Chains
Chimney Breast, Higgins Room
2013
The Christmas season at the Maxwell House begins with Warren's Holiday Celebration which starts the day after Thanksgiving.

The house opened to receive guests for the town tree lighting at Massasoit Park, corner of Baker and Water Streets.
How to mark Christmas at The Maxwell House was problematic. We were faced with the knowledge that any observance would be contrary to the customs of Baptist Elder, Samuel Maxwell, and his daughter in law, Joanna, who became a Quaker when she married Edward Chase.
Planners toyed with the idea of doing nothing to celebrate, as an opportunity for education. We feared, however, that our guests would feel disappointed rather than educated to visit and find an undecorated house. While this would most likely be an accurate recreation of Christmas in Warren in the 18th century, it lacked festive appeal. We did, however, attempt to keep our decorations simple and made from natural materials.
While the Maxwells would have thought we have taken leave of our senses for the wasteful use of fruit only for decoration, it played a major decorating role at the house both inside and outside.
During the twenty some years we held Christmas Open Houses, we experimented with several ideas for decoration. In planning decorations, we consider not only what the effect will be from the inside looking out, but also from the outside looking in.
Please enjoy more of our favorite Holiday memories.

Hanging a Gingerbread Wreath
2004

A Gingerbread Ornament
2004

Holiday Refreshments
2004
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A Glass Pyr
2004

Glass Pyr Detail
2004

A Christmas Pudding
2004

A Natural Arrangment of Holly
2004


A Welcoming Arrangement
Adorns the Entry
2004
Southwest Room Decor Detail
2004
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Wreath, Ribbon
& Bough
2004

From the Inside Out
& the Outside In
2004

Mistletoe
2004

Southwest Room
Chimney Breast
2004

Christmas Cheer
2004

The Kitchen Mantle
2004

A Christmas Cupboard
2004

