Hillwood was the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, a very wealthy socialite, heiress to the Postum cereal fortune, and later the founder of Bird's Eye and General Foods. To say she had lots and lots of money is really an understatement.
She married four times and one of her husbands was an ambassador to the Soviet Union under Stalin. Stalin needed cash and she had it. She spent a good part of her money buying Russian treasures that belonged to the Romanovs. She bought Faberge eggs, jewelry, glassware, furniture, and china. Arguably without her much of that treasure would have been lost. Because of this affiliation with Russia, Hillwood, now a museum complex, celebrates Russian Christmas complete with balalaika band and appearances by Father Frost and the Snow Maiden.
It was a beautiful sunny day so we decided to see what Hillwood had to offer. We started with Father Frost and the Snow Maiden.
The story we heard was about a childless couple who wants a daughter. Father Frost convinces the Snow Maiden to be their daughter. She would come to life, from being a snowman (or woman) and be their daughter. Come spring, she will melt and go back to live with Father Frost at the North Pole. But she will come again the next year. That seemed like a very sad story to me. Who wants to see their child melt?
Anyway, that was all very interesting but on to the balalaika band. They played Russian folk songs and everyone clapped. That large guitar looking instrument is only the second largest string in this array of instruments.
After the folk music we toured the greenhouses and the main house. It had been quite some time since I had last visited. It is still pretty amazing. Here are some pics.
Tree with Antique Russian ornaments
The main staircase. That is a portrait of Catherine the Great and other Russians.
Fantastic chandelier
View of her bedroom through a glass screen decorated with gold
Orchid in the green house
A kiss under the mistletoe
From the library. These are a multi-volume set of books entitled "Pills to Purge Meloncholy."
I guess even rich people get sad.
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