Virginia Walker has the perfect view of the sparkling, bustling downtown in Snow Village - from the comfort of the center cushion on her living room couch.
From there, she can keep an eye on the distinguished Victorian homes on the bluff and the worker-bees on the south side farm and rail station.
She can watch children playing in the snow, youngsters ice skating on the pond and the old man sitting on a snowy bench, reading the newspaper with his mittens on.
“Sometimes, you get down and out, and you come in here and you just lose yourself in it,” said Walker.
A whole world of magical, peaceful delight known as Snow Village by Department 56 has been a part of Walker’s Farmington Hills home since she started the collection 22 years ago.
The snow-themed collection has been a work in progress and has evolved to a multilevel, 15-foot by 4-foot snow-dusted arrangement, assembled by Walker’s longtime friend and neighbor, Louise Clark.
“It’s just been a progressive thing,” said Clark, who designed and built the display. “It’s been a hobby of mine for years.”
The collection, which has about 85 structures, 400 people and cars and 250 trees, will soon be relocated to Greenfield Village, where Walker decided to donate it. Walker’s first pieces are her favorite - St. James Church, the Springfield House and the Habersham House.
Her display reminds her of circa 1900 East Coast.
“It’s just so restful,” she said.
Walker has enjoyed opening her home and her Snow Village to visitors through the years - more than 400 per year. She has left the display up year-round for the past four years. Now, she’s ready to reclaim the space in her condo.
The collection will reflect an age-old holiday tradition, said Jeanine Miller, curator of domestic life exhibits at The Henry Ford.
“The scope and the attention to detail brings out the charm of miniature scenes, which have been a part of Christmas for more than a century,” said Miller. “This collection is the continuation of a very old Christmas tradition.”
Jim Johnson, senior manager of creative programs for Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford, said it will likely be placed in the pavilion inside the Village during Holiday Nights in December. They plan to set it up on various levels, so visitors can “virtually step into it.”
Most Popular Ever
