Submitted by Teresa Filgis
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Each year the Smith Trahern Mansion at 101 McClure Street hosts the Trees of Christmas, where volunteers decorate over 20 Christmas trees.
Each tree is sponsored by local organizations, churches, businesses and schools, with the organization decorating their trees with themes of their choice. A theme that dominated the trees this year was the celebration of the upcoming anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement, which will happen in 2020. Most of the trees this year honored women, in all of their beautiful diversity, from the past and present.
Photos by Teresa Filgis
One of the first stunning trees was the “Votes for Women” tree, decorated by the Warfield Club, with the help of Ann Wentz. This tree, trimmed in purple and gold, with a purple banner woven around the tree, pays respect to the early suffragettes. The tree top is adorned with a stylish purple hat, reminiscent of the early 1900s. Women gained the right to vote in 1920.
The “Green on Green” tree, located in the Grand Hall of the mansion, was contributed by Willie Mae Miller, Ann Wentz, Barbara Beeman and Martha Pile. The theme of this tree is “birds of a different feather flock together.” This tree is decorated with natural elements such as fruit, white flowers, little birds, and bird cages. Green and gold are the dominant colors, with hints of white throughout.
Next we have the “Lightbulb” tree, standing in the Front room. This 14-foot beauty was decorated in honor of artist Vivian Terrell, using repurposed light bulbs that she hand painted for the mansion 20 years ago. Decorated in white and gold, this breathtaking tree was outfitted with white twinkle lights, sprigs with pearls and gold, white poinsettias, and of course, the amazing light bulb ornaments.
Finally we have the “Hello Yellow” tree. This tree is trimmed in bright sunshine yellow to commemorate women getting the right to vote. Yellow roses were worn by those who championed for the vote, while those that opposed it wore red roses. The color yellow came to symbolize the women’s movement. This tree is decorated in honor of that, using all repurposed materials.
These are just a sampling of the many trees throughout the mansion. Each one was beautiful, sending a specific message to the onlooker. Other notable trees included the “Strutting Your Stuff” tree, a peacock themed tree by the National Council On the Aging as well as the “I Am Invisible Tree”, contributed by Sharon Edwards and Bullying and Suicide Prevention Workshop and Education, which gives voice to those battling mental illness.
Although the Smith Trahern mansion is closed for the holidays, it will re-open January 2, 2019. The mansion is open for tours Monday-Friday, from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., for a fee of $2.00. The mansion is solely run by volunteers. Ms. Brenda Harper gave an amazing tour, with a lot of knowledge about the history of the mansion itself and historical details about the suffragist movement in Clarksville.