Christmas at Hycroft Mansion in Vancouver
Just as the McRae family, the original owners of this remarkable mansion, greeted their friends for pre-season celebrations, the University Women’s Club of Vancouver, today’s owners, welcomed the public to enjoy the fine traditions and sumptuous surroundings of Christmases past. Vancouver’s top designers transformed the main floor into a setting of imaginative and festive splendour.
This lush yellow poinsettia looks so perfect on the side table.
When McRae settled in Vancouver in 1907 he proceeded to build a mansion for his family, to become known as Hycroft, in Shaughnessy one of Vancouver’s neighborhoods. The home was built on the brow of a hill on 5.5 acres (22,000 m2) of land. The land upon which the 30 room, 3 story mansion was built cost $10,000. The construction, completed in 1911, cost $100,000.
After the death of his wife Blaunche in 1942, McRae donated Hycroft to the government of Canada to be used as a hospital for wounded veterans. Once converted, it housed 130 beds. Since 1962 Hycroft has been the home of the University Woman’s Club of Vancouver and is home in that capacity to the club, founded in 1907 to promote education and human rights for women. Today the Club promotes education and opportunities for women. Its members enjoy sharing ideas, interests, and fun at its Clubhouse.
During the 2010 Winter Olympic Games the French Olympic Team used the building. It is also heavily used by Vancouver’s film and television production industry as a set.
The tree is decorated with white silk hydrangeas, shiny and matte silver glass ornaments, white birds, and lots of fairy lights.
The Christmas tree – which was twice as tall as Father – was covered with gold and silver apples… and nestled in the hollows of the spreading branches sat hundreds of tiny candles that twinkled like stars, showing off the candy blossoms and fruit with a warm, flickering glow.
E.T.A. Hoffmann
2010
