Brazeau shows historic side for annual Christmas Walk

Visitors to the Missouri town of Brazeau on Saturday were greeted with all the sights and sounds of Christmas of yesteryear as part of the town's eighth annual Christmas walk.

The town, along Route C in Perry County, was decked out in Christmas decorations for the event. The walk has been held since 2001. Proceeds from the tickets sale help to maintain the town's historic buildings including a bank, post office, blacksmith shop, tea house, two historic homes, a museum that used to be a one-room school, a hall and Presbyterian Church.

Wooden geese greeted visitors to the town and fires burned brightly at the outdoor pavilion adjacent to the Hemman Winery. Inside, wine, pickled quail eggs and pickled garlic were sold.

Bonnie Hemman of the winery said last year the event raised $1,500.

"What we make at the Christmas Walk is equal to the amount raised from the two day scenic tour held in the spring," she said.

Offerings during the Christmas Walk include crafts, decorations and trains.

Katherine Lane, a charter member of the Brazeau Historical Society, said that the food served during the scenic tour is a big draw as well -- corn bread, beans and mulligan stew.

For Carol Moran and George White of Biehle, Mo., who like to visit wineries as a hobby, the 10-minute trip is worthwhile because of the wines that are available.

Volunteers began fixing up the historic buildings in Brazeau -- dating as far back as 1852 -- in 1990.

Built in 1919, closed in 1953, the tiny Brazeau Bank was brimming with 25 Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes Saturday. One tree contained bird nests, ferns and peacock feathers. Other trees were silver or featured purple poinsettias.

A live Nativity was set up next to the schoolhouse-turned-museum, where an old wood stove provided warmth to visitors. A Christmas tree adorned with hand-cut paper ornaments stood nearby. Geraldine Leible, past president of the Brazeau Extension Club, said she attended school in the building where grades one through 10 were taught. Boxes of family records were stacked on tables on one side of the spacious room. "We open up during the week, as needed, for people seeking family roots," she said.

The blacksmith shop protected the artifacts from Brazeau's agricultural past. Roped off with garland, the shop provided a still-life of what rural farm life was like at Christmas. Props, including a Bible and period garments, made the story played on audiotape come alive.

A yellow house containing toy trains was displayed near the end of Route C by Marcus Denman of St. Louis. The 17-year-old said he got his wish this year. A collector of train sets for at least a dozen years, the young man knew trains had been set up for other events previously. He asked his aunt, who lives in Brazeau, if he could display his own collection, and his wish was granted. His largest layout was a layout of a town recently blanketed in snow.

Throughout it all, the event was set to music provided by a variety of sources. Musicians played at the Cody House and choirs sang at the Presbyterian Church. Outdoor speakers played Dolly Parton Christmas tunes. Traditional favorites were also part of the musical fare, completing the atmosphere of the event.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133