PAOLI – The Orange County Historical Society will host a “Holiday Open House” at the Orange County Historic Museum on Sunday, November 22nd from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The event is being held in conjunction with the annual Paoli Merchants Christmas Open House being held that same day.
Artifacts and items of historical significance from Orange County’s rich and interesting history can be viewed during the event at the Museum located on the northwest corner of the Courthouse Square in Paoli. Admission will be FREE; however, donations are accepted to help with the museum’s upkeep and maintain the historic collection.
Society members maintain a small gift shop area in the main room downstairs that includes a variety of gift-giving ideas, including Commemorative Courthouse Bricks and Orange County America 250 exclusive items. Gift Memberships for 2027 are also available.
Visitors will find a treasure trove of memorabilia through the years, including antique clothing, primitive farm tools and woodworking tools, church records, court records, books, and a rare miniature English Tudor dollhouse with furnishings. The museum is housed in the 130-year-old historic Dr. J.H. Sherrod House, circa 1885.
A one-room schoolhouse is re-created upstairs at the museum, reflecting the early American period, along with a period doctor’s office.
Museum visitors will also discover several exhibits, including an interesting Orange County Courthouse Display in the main room downstairs. Upstairs is an impressive pharmaceutical display recently donated by Skip Lambdin. A new display of historic ladies’ clothing can be viewed upstairs as well.
As a “Fun-Raiser,” the group has once again produced a commemorative Christmas Ornament this holiday season commemorating Orange County America 250 with a patriotic image of the OC Courthouse taken on July 4th. The new ornaments will be on sale during the Open House event.
OCHS President Robert Henderson said, “We would like to extend a special invitation to everyone to stop in and visit us during the Open House event and enjoy the many interesting exhibits and display areas.” This will be the last time the Museum will be officially open for the 2026 season outside of appointments for individuals and/or small groups.
In addition to the Holiday Open House at the Museum, members will also once again be holding its “Old Fashioned Christmas at the Farmhouse” on Sunday, December 6th from 2 to 4 p.m. The historic Lindley House, located on Willow Creek Road, will be open that afternoon and decorated in part to reflect an 1860s Christmas.
