The older neighborhoods in many Platte County communities are known for stunning Victorian-era homes, but one home in Platte City’s downtown district stands apart, known as the Christmas House.
Lorna Brooks purchased the more than 120-year-old home designed by Platte City historian William Paxton in 1995.
“It was in shambles,” she said. “It was a real shame, and it took a long time to bring it back.”
Originally, from England, Brooks worked for Hallmark Cards and selected the old Victorian for a very particular reason.
“My father’s name was William, and I was from a town called Great Paxton,” she said. “It seemed something like fate.”
As she worked to restore the home, she also started growing her collection of Christmas decorations.
“I really started about 10 years ago,” she said, and now has eight intricately decorated trees – three of which are 10 feet tall – in her home. The trees complement the home’s Victorian feel and high ceilings, some featuring vintage rhinestone brooches as ornaments and another in the dining room festooned with miniature teapots and cups.
Lorna Brooks and one of the 10 lavishly decorated trees in her Platte City home.
She starts this annual process in October, with the 80-something-year-old Brooks taking her time to decorate each room herself. Handmade wreathes, garlands, dolls and Nativity sets on nearly every wall and surface round out the festive décor.
As one of 12 children growing up on a farm in rural England, she said she’s recapturing a bit of her youth with the extravagant decorations.
“By the time I was about 10 it was over – Christmas was for the younger children,” Brooks said.
Now she creates a winter wonderland for her own grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who she allows to examine, play with and rearrange the ornaments on the trees.
“You have to let children be children,” she said.
The wedding of a granddaughter in October inspired her latest tree, which she has dubbed “the bridal veil.” The 10-foot tree in the home’s entryway is draped in 80 yards of cascading ivory ribbon.
In her parlor, another large tree is ornamented with cardinals and redbirds, matching the swags of decorated greenery and poinsettias on the mantle.
Brooks’ daughter, Linda Horseman, said at a time when many folks are downsizing and simplifying holiday traditions, her mother’s efforts get bigger every year.
“Her commitment and energy is amazing and she outworks people half her age,” Horseman said.
She shares her home with friends and church groups, serving coffee and hot apple cider. Her guests take photos with the trees and Brooks said a group of friends once sneaked new brooches onto the jeweled white tree.
Brooks said she is willing to share her home outside of her circle of friends for private tours.
“My number is in the phone book,” she said.
What takes about a month to get up will take just as long to take down in January, she said, and that organization is critical to finding everything for next year. The end of the season is a bittersweet time, but does offer clearance sales on more flowers, ribbons and ornaments for the future.
Horseman has also created a page on Facebook to share photos of her mother’s work at Lorna’s Victorian Christmas House.