Nostalgia on the Hudson
Wilderstein Celebrates an Old-Fashioned Christmas
By Tara Kelly
In an overly commercialized holiday season, sometimes it’s nice to take a step back in time and appreciate what now seem like simple pleasures from back in the day.
A visit to Wilderstein, the Suckley estate on the Hudson River in Rhinebeck, will transport you into a world where families gathered around the fireplace instead of the TV, where the Christmas tree was harvested from the property on a snowy day, where the entertainment was ice skating on the pond, or ice boating on the river, where toys were made of wood, and a special treat was plum pudding.
With its red brick exterior and green trim, the Queen Anne-style Victorian always looks ready for Christmas. It’s the perfect place to indulge in a little nostalgia. The house, which was last lived in by Daisy Suckley and her widowed sister, Elizabeth, first cousins to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is now maintained as an historic site and museum.
Events are held throughout the year, including the occasional tribute to Fala, FDR’s Scottish Terrier, a gift from Daisy to the president. But for the past 30 years the Holiday House at Wilderstein has been a consistent tradition, drawing visitors from the area and from farther afield.
While the attic at Wilderstein is jammed with objects (Daisy and her sister were famous for holding onto things—not of course to be confused with hoarding, because that is what attics are for), the ornaments and Christmas decorations are not historic. Claudia Gukeisen, Wilderstein’s office and programs manager, says the Suckleys did celebrate Christmas, but they were often in Europe.
The Holiday House is put together just like a designer showcase house. Local florists and enthusiasts are invited to decorate a room, donating their time, materials, and services.
Martha Belardo of Hudson Valley Fiber Arts, who creates felt figures that she sells at the farmers market in Rhinebeck, is a regular participant. “Last year she put her felt figures in the butler’s pantry. She did a really wonderful tableau with a large fox, in the big sink, like he was taking a bubble bath. It was really whimsical and fun,” Gukeisen says. “And for the past few years, Lynn Lobotsky of Wonderland Florist & Nursery, has done a lovely traditional room, which we really appreciate.”
In the spirit of the holiday, many people give of their time and knowledge to make the tours happen. Joe Rinaldi, one of the guides, says, “Every tour is different. It’s not canned.” He says he gears his tours to the interests and questions of the visitors.
Wilderstein also offers a family story time for the younger set in the gatehouse lodge. It’s geared toward four- to eight-year-olds and their parents, who enjoy story books, hot chocolate, and cookies. Afterward, they get a private tour of the house.
For many people, the Holiday House is their first visit to Wilderstein. Gukeisen says, “I often hear that people come for the holidays, and then come back in the other seasons. It’s such a hidden gem in this area.”
