Hearthstone’s Victorian Christmas: Little Women

The March family, in Louisa May Alcott’s timeless book Little Women, faced crisis after crisis. In an America of the 1860s torn by deep political divisions, they faced poverty because of economic hardship brought on by factors beyond their control. The faced separation from loved ones. They faced disease. They faced death. And yet through it all, they endured as a family.

In many ways, Little Women was the perfect theme for Hearthstone’s 2020 Christmas exhibit. In 2020, America was again faced with unending political strive. In the wake of COVID 19’s repeated waves, many were forced to endure dire economic difficulties with business closures and the loss of jobs. The disease affected almost every household, often bringing death, and always bringing separation from loved ones. And yet, we endured as a country by relying on each other and our families.

Hearthstone’s Victorian Christmas theme portrayed the timeless story, Little Women. The story takes place during the trying times of the American Civil War, 1861-1865, when hardship descended upon the country.

Little Women, originally published in two volumes, in 1868 and 1869, is semi-autobiographical and based, in an idealized way, on the lives of the author and her three sisters as they come of age in Victorian America. Written at the request of Louisa’s publisher, it was completed in record time and became an immediate success, a surprise to both Miss Alcott and her publisher! Louisa did not think she could write a story appealing to young girls because, like the main character in Little Women, Louisa was a tomboy. By writing about the travails of four completely different young women and their adventures, Miss Alcott unknowingly created a new literary category with a domestic focus that paralleled boys’ adventure stories.

The lessons of Little Women resonated throughout Hearthstone during the exhibit’s run from November 28, 2020 to January 3, 2021… And the lessons continue to resonate today. Please enjoy this on-line retrospective of the Victorian Christmas: Little Women featuring excepts from the exhibit materials, crafted by our Curation Director Ann Larson. Photographs provided are by Hearthstone staff.

The Grand Hall

In the novel, Little Women, Christmas 1862 was not full of presents for the girls, although they each received a little book from Marmee, their mother, carefully placed under their pillows. The girls may have hung their stockings on the mantle, as was the practice, and Hearthstone has depicted a stocking for each of the characters: Meg, who was very home abiding but dreamed of a life of wealth at age 16; Jo, quick tempered, independent, and creative at age 15; Beth, the shy peacemaker who loved music, at age 13; and Amy, the youngest sister who loved manners and elegance, at age 12.

The Library

Throughout the 19th century, decorating Christmas trees with patriotic themes, using flags, bunting, and ribbons, was very common, especially during the 1860s. It was President Grant who declared Christmas to be an official holiday in 1870. Hearthstone has represented this 19th century enthusiasm for patriotic themes in its library. Indeed, at least two of Hearthstone’s occupants had family members fighting for Union forces.  The Henry James Rogers family (1882-1893) and the Albert W. Priest family (1900-1930). Horace Rogers is pictured in his uniform on the library’s mantle, exhibited with a Civil War era bugle. Albert Priest lost a brother during the conflict and later donated funds for the construction of Soldiers Square Monument in downtown Appleton.

In the novel, Little Women, Chaplain Robert March serves in the Union Army while his wife, Margaret, called “Marmee,” and his four daughters work to keep the home fires burning. The family writes letters back and forth, and these letters are depicted in various rooms of Hearthstone, including on the center table in the library.

On July 4, 1861, the 34-star flag became the official flag of the United States to honor the admission of Kansas as a state. In June, 1863, a 35th star was added to the flag after the state of West Virginia was created by Virginians who wished to remain part of the Union. Hearthstone exhibits a reproduction 34-star flag in the library bay window behind the Christmas tree.

The Parlor

Hearthstone’s parlor depicts the March family, the main characters of Little Women, as they gather around the hearth in a sewing circle, crafting knitted scarves and mittens for soldiers of the American Union Army in 1862. This was a common practice throughout America during this era, and Hearthstone uses actual patterns for “shooting mittens” created during the Civil War. A copy of The Pilgrim’s Progress, an inspiration to the March family, is placed nearby. They each viewed themselves as pilgrims on a brave journey.

The hand-crafted window wreaths throughout the house are made of grapevines and represent the natural look so popular in mid-19th century homes. American naturalist and intellectual, Henry David Thoreau, had a profound influence on American thought and helped fuel the interest in the natural world so popular in the mid-19th century. He and Louisa May Alcott were friends.

Floor to ceiling, highly decorated trees appeared in the United States by the 1870s and became more lavish as the decade progressed. These trees were decorated with candies and sweet treats, filled cornucopias, hand-made ornaments, and blown glass balls and figures, some in very elaborate shapes. Most of the blown glass ornaments were produced in Germany. Presents were also hung on trees as decorations. Beads, garlands, and candles completed the look. Hearthstone’s parlor tree is decorated in the grandeur of Victorian tradition with glass, felt, and paper ornaments along with home-made goodies, trends of the time. Peeking from under the tree are some of Hearthstone’s collection of Victorian dolls, books, and toys. Two of the dolls are reproductions. The toys were donated by the people of Appleton over a period of 30 years.

The Dining Room

Hearthstone’s dining room table is set with blue and white ironstone china produced in the 1860s. The setting represents Little Women’s March family’s Christmas dinner. Wealthy neighbor, Mr. Laurence, sent the family a lavish dinner as a gift to make up for the loss of their Christmas breakfast donated to needy neighbors. Mr. Laurence included a bouquet of flowers for each of the March girls: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.

Grandson, Theodore, “Laurie” Laurence, meets the March family early in the morning on Christmas day. He and Jo March become fast friends. An only child and an orphan raised by his grandfather, Laurie comes to adore the family, and they him.

Hearthstone’s tabletop tree is typical of the early Victorian era and is decorated with sweet treats, nuts and fruits, and blown glass ornaments. The first glass ornaments emulated these edibles in the forms of nuts, candies, grapes, plums, and pears. Glass ornaments began to appear in the 1860s.

The dining room is decorated naturalistically, much as would have been done in mid-19th century homes. Hearthstone’s dining room features a bird theme, including a few nests tucked into the tree!

The Kitchen

Hearthstone’s kitchen depicts the March family’s busy Christmas morning preparations in Little Women. All a-bustle, Marmee and her girls are preparing to deliver their Christmas breakfast to a poor immigrant family, along with a sled full of wood to help warm them.

Packages are being wrapped to send to lonely soldiers at battle during the American Civil War, including the girls’ father, Chaplain Robert March. Hand-knit scarves and mittens, food, cookies, and treats are lovingly crafted by the family, carefully packaged, and sent off.

On the side table, girls Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy have been busy pressing flowers and ironing leaves between wax paper, a cheerful activity to add beauty to their home. These crafts were popular during the mid-19th century and are still enjoyed by children today.

The Master Bedroom… “Marmee’s Room”

Hearthstone has depicted the master bedroom as that belonging to Margaret, “Marmee,” March. Marmee, hard-working, brave and charitable, strives for the best for her daughters in a home filled with love and tolerance. The Christmas of 1862 saw the family away from Papa for the first time as Chaplain Robert March was serving the Union Army in Washington City. The March girls selflessly bought presents for their mother rather than spend it on themselves: a pair of gloves, cologne, slippers, and a handkerchief, depicted in Hearthstone’s bedroom under Marmee’s tree. After Christmas, Marmee journeyed to Washington to tend to Robert who was gravely ill. The trip was a financial and logistical hardship, and she depended upon friends and her daughters to help her through. Her travel clothes are laid upon the bed.

Marmee’s tree is festooned with Hearthstone’s collection of original 19th century ornaments, and the windows are adorned with naturalistic wreaths, something Marmee and the girls may have created, very popular at the time the novel was written. Hearthstone has displayed some of its mid-19th century collections including the plaid dress, c. 1860, and the sunflower quilt, c. 1845.

The North Bedroom… “Beth and Amy’s Room”

Hearthstone depicts younger sisters, Beth and Amy sharing a room. Thirteen-year-old Beth is painfully shy but kind, sweet, and loves to play piano. Her dolls adorn her room. In the novel, Beth tended to each doll and tenderly fixed them up if in dis-repair. Along with her mother, Beth served the needy and sick in the community. Beth’s kitty, “Mrs. Snowball,” lies sleeping on the bed, and her pet bird, “Pip,” sings from a cage on the fireplace mantle.

Amy, the youngest of the March sisters, was described as a “snow maiden” with bright blue eyes and blonde curls. A proper young lady, her motto was “be elegant or die.” Amy could be selfish and vain. An artist, Amy loved to paint and eventually travels to Europe with Great Aunt March where she seriously pursues her artistic talent.

Amy and her older sister, Jo, are opposites in personality and often butt heads. A jealous Amy burns Jo’s manuscript leading to a terrible fight. It is Amy who falls through the ice on a skating outing with Jo and friend “Laurie” Laurence. Jo saves Amy’s life, and their relationship is restored.

Hearthstone has depicted Beth and Amy’s letters to their papa on the fireplace ledge. A Victorian “snow tree” adorns the room. Snow trees were very popular throughout the 19th century and represent a home craft.

The Southwest Bedroom… “Jo’s Room”

Jo, or Josephine March is the lead character in Little Women. A tomboy, Jo is stubborn, spirited, determined, fiery-tempered and creative. She did things considered un-ladylike by the society in which she lived including romping around, whistling, and using slang. But deep down, Jo was an intellectual and delighted in literature and drama. She was a writer, and in the novel, was paid for her work. Literary critics believe that author, Louisa May Alcott, modeled Jo after herself.

Hearthstone has represented Jo at her writing table, showing a bit of frustration with crumpled, discarded pieces of manuscript. On the table lies a bible, given to Jo as a gift from her Great Aunt March, whom Jo regarded as very tedious.

A pair of ice skates and locks of hair on “Jo’s” bed represent two heroic episodes in her life: saving her younger sister, Amy, from drowning on a frozen pond, and Jo’s act of cutting her luxurious hair “her one true beauty” to sell. The money from Jo’s hair was presented to Marmee to fund a journey to tend to the girls’ sick and ailing father serving in the Civil War.

Jo’s love of nature pervades the room and Christmas tree. Her letter to Papa is near the hearth, as are the author’s widely acclaimed novels.

The Northwest Bedroom… “Meg’s Room”

Meg, at 16, was the eldest and a society debutant. She was said to possess beauty and charm, yet maintained traditional roles of mid-Victorian women by tutoring children and delighting in household work. But Meg longed for a life of wealth and luxury. When Meg borrows lavish clothing from a well-placed friend and attends a “Vanity Fair,” she discovers that this is not truly her character. When younger sister, Beth, dies from complications of scarlet fever, Meg learns that health, home, and hearth are more important than material goods.

“Meg’s” room depicts her love of fine things, dances, balls, and society, but also her penchant for domesticity and helping others in need. Her letter to Papa is represented next to the porcelain tea set.

The Family Sitting Hall

Hearthstone’s family sitting hall was a place to gather, read, create scrapbooks and photo albums, tell stories and work on needlecraft. The tree represents a Victorian “paper tree” popular from about 1860 to the late 19th and early 20th century.  Handcrafted ornaments were made by the women and children of the house. Directions were published in various magazines. Paper was plied into cone-shaped candy containers, or was cut out from magazines, greeting, cards, post cards, or scrapbooking supplies. Commercially available, elaborate paper ornaments were also common, and took on a three-dimensional quality when embossed by machines.

The Attic Room… “The Garrett”

This year, Hearthstone is adding a special bonus to Victorian Christmas—making one room in the usually closed attic available for tours. Hearthstone’s attic tank-room originally held a cistern to provide running water to the second-floor bathroom. It is now depicted as the attic or garret of the March family home, “Orchard House.”

In the novel, the garret was the center of creativity for the four March daughters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. They wrote and choreographed mini theatrical productions, read, played games, and told stories. The main character, Jo, especially loved the attic. It was a quiet spot where she did most of her writing, wearing her “scribbling suit,” a black pinafore and beret with a gray feather. She always ate apples as she wrote, and invariably, the apples and manuscripts were chewed by rats! Literary critics feel that Louisa May Alcott modeled Jo and the lives of her three sisters after herself and the real Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts.

Hearthstone’s attic room contains Jo’s writing table, costumes and play props for the theatrical productions the March girls created, apples, and even a friendly (plush) rat!