New England Town Brings Rockwell's Christmas to Life
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New England Town Brings Rockwell's Christmas to Life
Broadcast date: 12-25-2009 / Written by Joseph Mok
From http://www.unsv.com/voanews/english/
Each year, on the first
Sunday of December, the
Stockbridge Chamber of
Commerce mobilizes the
entire community to
recreate the scene from
"Stockbridge Main Street at
Christmas," one of the most
renowned oil paintings by
artist Norman Rockwell.
Cory Kanzenberg is the
curator of the Norman
Rockwell Museum in
Stockbridge.
"The original idea for
Stockbridge at Christmas
was actually conceived in
1956, '57 when Hallmark
card corresponds with Rockwell on the idea of an image of an American main street which will
symbolize Christmas in America," he explained.
The Red Lion Inn was built in 1773 and is one of the oldest buildings on Stockbridge's Main Street.
But there is one small difference between the inn now and how it appears in Rockwell's original
painting. Michelle Kotek, the current innkeeper of the Red Lion Inn, explains.
"When Norman Rockwell originally painted it, the Red Lion Inn was dark because it was only open
seasonally in the summer, because it had no heat. But when the Fitzpatricks purchased it, they
opened it year round. It is now filled with light and life all year round," he said.
Other buildings involved in the recreation include the Berkshire Bank, the Yankee Candle shop now
housed in the former Town Hall, three variety stores, Rockwell's old studio, and the Stockbridge
Library.
Antique cars are another prominent feature of the painting. Doug Goudey prepares the antique cars
used in the recreation
"The picture contains cars from 1949 to 1957," he said. "We invite local cars owners to come. [Their
cars] do not have to be from that period but we try to get more cars of this period on this side. Not
an exact creation but a more generalization of what you will see in the picture. We do have a couple
of cars that come here on a regular basis. One car is going to be a 1957, I believe. It parks in front
of the Red Lion Inn. As in the original picture, there is a Christmas tree on the car as it is being
delivered to a family. And that car will be parked in front of the Red Lion Inn with a Christmas tree
on top."
The recreation of the Rockwell painting is the culmination of a whole weekend of holiday attractions
and activities.
Visitors from around the country enjoy the holiday spirit.
Each year, on the first Sunday of December, the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce
mobilizes the entire community to recreate the scene from "Stockbridge Main Street
at Christmas," by painter Norman Rockwell
TOM (TOURIST): "We were here before a couple of times and I made the reservation at the Red
Lion Inn about a year ago because I knew it would be very difficult this weekend when I heard
about the festival. I made the reservation back then and then I thought it would be a good place to
ask Nancy to marry me."
NANCY (TOURIST): "So he did it! So he is not my boyfriend anymore!! He's my fiancé!"
RICHARD WILCOX: "If you look at the Norman Rockwell painting of Christmas, that's my memory.
Growing up in Stockbridge was a Norman Rockwell kind of Christmas. There were happy times, kids
and presents and all of the things that were in the painting."
MICHAEL JOHNSON: "I am a photographer. That's one of my hobbies. What better place to
photograph good Christmas scenes than right here in Stockbridge?"
After the festivities, Stockbridge goes back to its daily routine. Until next year, when it will be again
be transformed into a vision of an ideal American town at Christmas.
