Abilene App News: Seelye Mansion Christmas Gala and 2015

The Seelye Christmas Gala, and the announcement of the upcoming 2015 Seasonal Events

by Michael Hook

photo by Michael Hook

The Seelye Mansion is proud to announce their upcoming Christmas Gala on December 19-21. The Gala will include hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, professional musicians Michael and Jill Jank and an experience of living history to recreate the original Seelye Christmas Party in 1906. See the home wonderfully decorated, with Christmas lights illuminating the night sky. The Party will begin at 4 pm on Friday, December 19, and run until 7 pm. Arrive anytime that you please within that time frame. There will be players on every floor giving you the story of the mansion, and attendees are free to roam the house, just as it was in Mrs. Seelye’s event.

Reservations are filling up quick for all three days of the event. To purchase tickets, please call (785) 263-1084. For more information, visit the official site of the Christmas Gala at http://mrhook30.wix.com/seelye-christmas.

photo by Michael Hook

The Seelye Mansion would also like to thank Kansas State University and the National Fraternity, Acacia, for being a part of the Seelye Mansion’s first Murder Mystery on December 5. 100 formally dressed gumshoe investigators explored the house for a clue in the reenactment of the classic board game of the same name. The group also enjoyed a catered meal served from the dining room table provided by West’s Country Mart. The event was enjoyed by the scholarly group, and the Seelye Mansion plans to release dates so the public can enjoy the same event for the upcoming 2015 season.

The Seelye Mansion also plans to unveil three seasonal events to celebrate its 110th Anniversary. The first event will take place in late April to celebrate the arrival of spring with vibrant color and life that recreates the original gardens as designed by A. Reinisch, the State’s leading horticulturist who also designed the magnificent rose gardens in Topeka that bears his name. A great chance to enjoy the spring flowers, the rose bushes, and Grandma’s garden. The patio party will also include food and refreshments.

The second event will take place on Halloween to recreate the masquerade ball as hosted by Terry Tietjens in 1995. The mansion was built in 1905 to entertain guests with formal evening parties, and the Seelye Mansion is honored to recreate those moments and invite the public to enjoy.

The third event will be the 2nd Annual Seelye Christmas Gala, recreating the original 1906 Party that Mrs. Seelye threw for 300 of her closest friends.

These three momentous events for the 2015 Season is just a small portion of great things to come at the Seelye Mansion. An appearance on the Travel Channel will take place in early 2015. A Historical Fiction Novel is in the works currently by Arizona author Rebecca Dockum, recreating the Seelye parties as viewed by a neighbor on Buckeye in a Phantom of the Opera Twist.

For more information on the upcoming season at the Seelye Mansion, please call (785) 263-1084.