Christmas With the Kendricks

Christmas with the Kenricks is a popular annual event at the Kendrick Mansion, which was held on Dec. 15-16 and 17th. It is in the fifth year this year, and participants watch live actors perform a play that unfolds room by room. Each year is different and this year visitors stepped back in time to the holiday housewarming party the Kendrick family held in 1914, meeting the family and friends who helped them hold their first big event at the mansion!

The characters – portrayed by local volunteers – and the script – carefully researched and written by Trail End staff – are based on real people and real events.

Unlike the Holiday Open House, the “Christmas Eve” tours are intimate gatherings, with only six people per tour. Groups are led through the house every fifteen minutes, stopping in six different rooms to see how the holiday story unfolds.

Shari Shada, Site Superintendent gave a brief history of the family and the mansion. Michelle King talked about this year’s event.

She read about the open house from the Jan. 2, 1914, Sheridan Enterprise.

The first two guides were Master Manville Kendrick, John’s son, and his cousin Francis Williams.

From the Sheridan Enterprise Jan. 2, 1914

In the first scene, in the drawing room and welcoming the guests were Mr. and Mrs. John B. Kendrick, who were very happy with their brand new home, which was completed in 1913.

The home has custom light fixtures, 12 bathrooms, telephones and intercom systems. Although it wasn’t completed in 1914, there was a shaft for an elevator as well.

John’s nephew Ernest played some music on a music box in the library.

The tour continued up to the second floor, were guest could see the families bedrooms. Up in the ballroom on the third floor, punch and water was served, and the Kendrick’s daughter, Rosa-Maye Kendrick and some of her friends performed dances for the group.

In the smoking room, gentlemen could smoke pipes or cigars, and drink fine liquor, and talk politics and ranching.

From the Sheridan Enterprise Jan. 2, 1914

Mr. Brooks said he felt that Sheridan had enough people, and Williams added,

The last stop was the kitchen, where guests were served brownies, and were introduced to the many modern appliances at the time that were used there.

The tour gave participants a glimpse into Sheridan’s past, and the life of Sheridan’s own John B. Kendrick, early Wyoming governor and United States Senator.