WTGC Celebrates History at Drumthwacket Holiday Open House

This past December, the West Trenton Garden Club proudly participated in the annual Drumthwacket Holiday Open House, a beloved seasonal tradition at the New Jersey Governor’s Mansion. Each year, member clubs of the Garden Club of New Jersey are invited to decorate the public rooms of the historic home, delighting visitors with creative displays that reflect both the beauty of the season and the heritage of our state.

This year’s theme honored the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, and WTGC was selected to decorate the elegant Music Room with the theme “The Battle of Trenton.”

The focal point of our design was a striking 4-foot replica of The Battle Monument, the iconic column in downtown Trenton marking the location of General George Washington’s artillery during the pivotal 1776 battle. Surrounding this were carefully arranged vignettes that told the story of the event and the era.

The mantel was lined with thirteen tall candles, each symbolizing one of the original colonies. A historically inspired scene of the Hessian surrender, a map of the battle, and a pewter place setting evoked the setting of 18th-century Trenton. Completing the room was a Christmas tree adorned with handmade, natural ornaments, reminiscent of decorations used in the 1800s.

Guests enjoyed self-guided tours accompanied by live piano music in the Music Room, with docents on hand to share details about each display. WTGC’s historically grounded and visually rich interpretation was well received by visitors, many of whom paused to take in the thoughtful craftsmanship.

A huge thank-you goes to our talented decorating team for their creativity and dedication: Lorraine Persiani, Iliana Okum, Monique Bonnier, Lynn Aspinwall, Linda Geiger, Susan Chrystal, and Camille Rainiero.

Enjoy the photo gallery below for a closer look at how we celebrated both the holiday season and a proud moment in New Jersey’s Revolutionary War history.