- January 29, 2025
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The Casements Guild members and city employee Zach Stohner decorate the tree inside the Casements. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
City employee Zach Stohner carefully places decorations on the 15-foot Christmas tree in the Casements atrium. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Lari Knochenmus sorts Christmas decorations inside The Casements. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Wreaths wait to be placed inside the Casements. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Linda Powell decorates a garland inside The Casements. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Mary Ann Akam and Anna Korhonen hang out with handmade goodies inside the Casements. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Sue Easton places the photos of all the Guild Members on a Christmas tree. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The table inside the Preservation Room at The Casements has been set for Christmas dinner. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ginny Miller decorates a Christmas tree inside The Casements. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Gala Chairwoman Jayde Lyle said the Guild wanted to put something together for the community to enjoy. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Though the 42nd-annual Christmas Gala at the Casement has been canceled, John D. Rockefeller's winter residence will still be adorned with lights, garlands and holiday wreaths.
The Casements Guild was hard at work on Monday, Nov. 30, ensuring that the house will be ready to go when it reopens to the public on Saturday, Dec. 5. This year's theme is "Simply Christmas," and though it wasn't the theme the Guild planned for earlier this year, they decided simple was best for a year as complicated as 2020.
"We wanted to have and provide something for the community, a Christmas event, and that’s why we decided to decorate the house as usual," Gala Chairwoman Jayde Lyle said.
The Guild always begins planning for the annual Gala in January, but the pandemic and the ongoing renovations to the north lawn derailed their original plans. However, Lyle said they want the public to come inside the house and enjoy the Christmas decorations, which this year includes a new 15-foot-tall Rockefeller pine tree. There will be no guided tours of the house, but visitors can take a self-guided tour using their phones, available via thecasementstour.oncell.com
Though the Guild is the largest volunteer group that regularly aids the city (with a total of 52 members), Ormond Beach city staff was also at the Casements to lend a hand. It's part of their role, said Siobhan Daly, cultural center coordinator at The Casements, whether that be putting the tree up or placing garlands.
“Basically, we get things ready for them and we assist in any way that we can," she said.
Visitors can see the Casements in all its holiday glory from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The gift shop will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday, and it is one of the main ways the Guild raises funds each year.
