On a very gloomy day in South Lake Tahoe, Cyndi and I accepted this suggestion, "Visit the historic ranch house for a special holiday celebration. The house will be fully decorated with historic holiday items from the collection. There will also be live music, refreshments, and a fabulous lighting of the house after dark. Free admission and festive fun for the whole family." What made it extra wonderful was the sunny, 20° warmer day that greeted us once we descended into the Carson Valley.

In 1942, Sir Maynard and Lady Hedstrom (his second wife, Joyce Beauchamp) were on the Christmas card list. Sir John Maynard Hedstrom, a prominent Fijian businessman and politician, and his wife were well-known figures in Fiji, especially around Suva. He was a founder of the Morris Hedstrom trading company. The first Lady Hedstrom's death in 1931 was noted in newspapers. They were influential in the colonial-era Fiji community. It really shows how connected the Dangbergs were. Wow.

This oak dining table is arranged in a fashion befitting the Dangberg family's tradition of fine living and hospitality, using items all found at the Home Ranch. The tablecloth is linen damask with a floral and fleur-de-lis pattern, probably from the 1920s or 1930s. The china is Limoges Haviland from France, ca. 1930. The silverware (ca. 1900) is engraved with a "D" monogram, as are the silver service pieces on the small sideboard.

This was my favorite Christmas card received by the Dangbergs. It reads, "Our Latch String's Out For You". I had not heard that term before. It turns out that a latchstring is a cord attached to a door's inner latch, passed through a hole, allowing it to be lifted and the door opened from the outside; metaphorically, "leaving the latchstring out" signifies a warm welcome, an open invitation, and hospitality, a tradition from colonial times when doors lacked locks. Cool sentiment.

Okay, how amazing are these jars labeled for The Nevada Committee for Relief in Belgium and France. As one part of the national Commission for Relief in Belgium that was established during World War I, it is credited with assisting 11 million Belgians between 1914 and 1919. The group relied entirely on volunteers, 

and these bottles may have been placed in local businesses to collect donations for the relief effort. Author Ida Clyde Clarke writes, in American Women and the World War, "The Nevada Division of the Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense coordinated different relief-oriented efforts, and a separate Federation of Women's Clubs also assisted." Good for those Dangberg women. I knew I liked them!

Also, they never gave anything away. Cyndi heard a docent say that there were over 40,000 items archived. Look how fancy these Fancy Facial Tissues are.

I love games and their history. How about this The Game of Playing Department Store? I found this incredible description on New York Almanak, "From the 1840s to the 1920s, the American home transitioned away from being the center of economic production, as work moved to factories and office buildings. Instead, it became the center of education and entertainment, and middle-class families embraced their new home time with leisure like playing board games. New York City quickly became a center of American chromolithography and the hub of the nation’s vigorous board game industry.

Many of these games reflected everyday life and work. The department store was another popular innovation in everyday life in the 19th century. Instead of schlepping across town for your goods, or for the materials to make them, everything could  now be found under one roof. What convenience! Jewelry, toys, ready-made clothing, and food all without having to leave the building.

On the heels of both the department store’s and the board game’s rising prominence, the McLoughlin Bros. created The Game of Playing Department Store. The goal was to accumulate the most goods while spending your money as economically as possible. You could grab a Toy Elephant for fifty cents, or splurge on a wine pitcher for two dollars. There was also something called a Candy Cat for just twenty-five cents. Anyone know what that is? For now, we’ll just reminisce about a time when lobster cost a quarter." I love that!

I only shared a fraction of all the Dangberg Delights on display. How amazing to be a part of such history if only for the afternoon. Next year's event is already on my 2026 calendar!