Ye olde antiques and crafts drew hundreds of holiday shoppers to the Jefferson County Historical Society on Saturday and Sunday.

The weekend marked the Washington Street not-for-profit’s 20th annual Holiday Victorian Faire.

“This is one of the biggest events we have at the Jefferson County Historical Society,” said Betty B. Dier, volunteer coordinator for the museum and event chairwoman. “A variety of artists and crafters are participating this year.”

Specifically, 20 vendors made up the event. Approximately 65 volunteers helped set up the event and make cookies and cupcakes for the bake sale held during the faire.

“It gives people a chance to do their shopping and it’s all inside,” museum Executive Director William G. Wood said. “It’s not a craft fair; it’s not a yard sale; it’s not a flea market. It’s a quality event.”

That is why he and Mrs. Dier believe it has been so popular with vendors and the community. About 350 people showed up Saturday alone.

“We had our largest turnout in five years, I think,” Mrs. Dier said.

Dawn L. Cadwell waited for shoppers in the Victorian mansion’s basement Sunday morning. She was selling personalized handmade pillows depicting family members.

“I’ve been making them for 13 years,” she said. “It was a gift idea and I love to sew. They’re supposed to look like someone young made them.”

Nearby, Marcella M. Huppke, owner of Uniquely Chic, was chatting with a customer about the wooden, metal and beaded jewelry she has been making for “years and years.” This was her first time selling at the Holiday Victorian Faire.

“When I started, I wanted to make some wooden bracelets,” she said. “One thing led to another and I started to make jewelry with the stones and beads.”

Roy A. Peters, owner of Storyteller Flutes, was shaving a piece of cedar down into a long, wooden flute in the building’s main room. In addition to flutes, he sold bird callers and CDs of his music.

He had a mystical story about how his livelihood began. He was watching his son doing a traditional Native American dance when an older man sat down next to him.

“He told me if I built a flute, my life will change,” he said.

He said his playing the flute tells a better story than he can, though.

“It’s very intuitive if you let it be,” he said. “Enough people stopped by and enjoyed the music enough to buy a CD.”

Mrs. Dier is always looking for more volunteers for future events.

“The volunteers are very important for the society because we basically depend on them for all of our events,” she said.

To volunteer for the Jefferson County Historical Society, call 788-0454.

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