The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Historical Society holds gift shop open house
The Lorain Historical Society held their annual holiday gift shop open house on Nov. 12 kicking off their holiday collection.
Historical Society Executive Director Barb Piscopo said the Lorain-focused collection allows people an opportunity to shop local and benefit local artisans while getting some specialty items featuring the city.
“It’s an opportunity for people to get Christmas gifts if people want to give them to people who are from Lorain, family members who may have moved away and want them to have some Lorain nostalgia,” Piscopo said.
This year’s collection features coasters and stained glass pieces featuring Lorain landmarks such as the Lorain Lighthouse in its centennial year.
In addition, the gift shop is featuring a new calendar based art exhibit “In the Hands of Women” by Lorain native Peggy Ascensio which was featured at the Historical Society in March 2017 in honor of Women’s History Month. The calendar contains a collection of drawings for each month.
The collection was put together by gift shop manager Pam Gintonio and Historical Society board member Joyce Ferlic-Arredondo, who went to local craft shows working with local artisans who could provide custom items.
“We decided at the end of last year that we really wanted our focus to be Lorain and our Lorain landmarks.,” Gintonio said. “And we want to try and emphasize as many local crafters and local artisans and USA made products. So that’s really been our push this year. And next year we really intend to follow along with that.”
Regular gift shop hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Extended Saturday hours will be held on Nov. 18 and Nov. 25 and Dec. 2,9,16 and 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
“We really search for people who do quality work and who can do specialty things for us,” Gintonio added. “We are all volunteers and we just really enjoy it. This is a fun place to be.”
“We really search for people who do quality work and who can do specialty things for us.”
— Gift shop manager Pam Gintonio