LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - NOVEMBER 25, 2018 Candlelight Tours – December 1 & 2 by Lynne Belluscio Tickets are now available for Christmas Candlelight tours at LeRoy House. There are three tours: Saturday De- cember 1 at 3pm and 7pm and Sunday December 2 at 3pm. There are 36 tickets for each tour, so please buy your tick- ets now and don’t be disap- pointed. If you have a group of eight, make sure you re- serve your tickets for the same performance. Adults $5 and children $1. The program is probably not appropriate for children under 7. This year, in the Victorian front parlor you will help stuff stockings. Do you know why it is the custom to stuff stock- ings with oranges and gold coins? And have you ever tast- ed a sugarplum? And why is a candy cane shaped like a J? Well join us in the front parlor around the old Christmas tree and learn about the tradition of stuffed stockings and listen to the poem “ A Visit from St. Nicholas.” Downstairs, the Le- Roy family cook has just re- ceived some cocoa powder from Holland and is preparing hot cocoa. She’s trying to see if she likes it better than the hot chocolate that she used to make. Mrs. LeRoy ‘s rec- ipe book doesn’t include any recipe for chocolate of any kind. Cocoa, which most of us are familiar with, was de- veloped in 1828 by Coenraad Johannes van Houten in the Netherlands, (which is where the LeRoy family emigrated from – in fact, Herman Le- Roy spoke Dutch and was an American ambassador to Hol- land). Houten developed a way to separate the cocoa but- ter from the cocoa solids in the cocoa nibs. The cocoa could be pressed into bars and then powdered. He also treated the cocoa with alkaline salts - -this was called “Dutching” thus Dutch chocolate. It is darker in color and milder in flavor. This powder was used much like instant cocoa powder is used today. It was much cheaper and so even the middle class could enjoy this warm drink. Maybe you’ve heard of Baker’s Chocolate. It derives its name not from the fact that bakers used it to make cake, but because a man by the name of Baker started a chocolate mill in Boston in the late 1700s. And there was a chocolate mill in Albany, so Mrs. LeRoy could have easi- ly had chocolate. Come and learn more about chocolate and cocoa. Some of you might re- member the 1944 Italian Christmas Eve that was on the tour two years ago. The Zalacca family has promised to return this year, and share their family traditions and the wonderful World War II sto- ry. It will take you to a time when even in the darkest hour, people shared the Christmas spirit. (And I have an order in for some of the Italian cookies that everyone enjoyed.) The front room will be ready for folks to make a thermotrope. (If you know a second grade student, they can tell you about this neat little toy. Over the past 30 years, each 2nd grader has made one to take home.) And while you’re waiting for the glue to dry, the skittles and puzzles will be set out. Let’s see who can get the high score on skit- tles this year! And to set the festive note, the 1909 music box will be playing. Also, in the back par- lor, there will be a display of Crèches from around the world – and a few things from the gift shop. If you are look- ing for a special gift. . . . Le- Roy afghans, pot holders, new Sebastian the Giraffe t-shirts and toys, and the new chil- dren’s Jell-O sweat shirts. Don’t miss this year’s candlelight tour. Buy your tickets soon.