Society Collections
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Collection Highlight, December2002/January 2003 | ||
Mala Buchanan was the lucky baby girl who received a wonderful “Sample House” on the day of her birth, December 25, 1876. Mala’s father, Mr. George Buchanan purchased the house on December 24, at the Episcopal Church Fair in Smyrna, Delaware, formerly known as Duck Creek Crossroads which is north of Dover at the Kent County/New Castle County line on the banks of Duck Creek (now known as the Smyrna River). As Mala grew she furnished the Sample House. A sample house is one constructed by the architect and/or builder to show prospective buyers much as model homes are used today. A life-size version of this house is the “Speakman House” in Smyrna. Beginning with Mr. George Buchanan who proudly placed the house under the Christmas tree, the tradition of displaying and admiring the house commenced and then was continued by Mala and then her daughter Olive Buchanan Burton . Each Christmas season Olive added to her collection of toys and placed them all in the front yard of the house. The toys consisted of animals, people, birds, sleds, etc., the toys being made of tin, lead and celluloid. The tradition was carried on by Mr. Louis Burton, Olive’s son until the year 2000 when Mr. Burton generously donated the house to The Lewes Historical Society. The tradition lives on at the Ryves Holt House where the Sample House has been refurnished retaining the lacey curtains made by Mala from her own curtains. A piece of the parlor carpet of Capt. Theodore Burton - Louis’ Great Grandfather - remains in the living room area. Mala’s Christmas House can be viewed in our Visitor Center, the Ryves Holt House, c. 1665, on the day of the Christmas Tour of Lewes, December 7, 2002 from 10:00 to 5:00. Come and participate in a tradition celebrating its l26th anniversary. | ||
For more information, please contact us at research@historiclewes.org. Past Collection Highlights |
