20 Nov 2014 Deck the Halls of the President's Home

by Don Bingham
Mike Kemp photos

For 78 years, the UCA President’s Home has been a campus and community holiday hospitality center during Christmas. Tom and Melissa Courtway begin their fourth holiday season as residents in the Georgian-style home, and hundreds will enjoy the Christmas decorations for the coming year.

The President’s Home was completed in late December 1936, with an original cost of $16,833 with 3,878 square feet of heated space.

The house was remodeled during 1995-96, and the heated square footage of the house was increased to 5,666 square feet. Traditionally, the holidays at the President’s Home at the University of Central Arkansas have been celebrated both inside and out with simplicity and elegance in the seasonal decor.

“The university has open house for faculty and staff, various student events and a community-wide reception during the holidays,” said Melissa. Decorating usually begins immediately following Thanksgiving, with the first event happening the first week of December.

Various themes are selected by the UCA First Lady and staff and will vary according to the preferences of the residing family.

“One of my favorite times of the year is when all the faculty and staff come to see the house. There are usually new items for them to see, such as artwork by local artists along with each room in the house decorated with appropriate design in keeping with the dignity and period of the house. We really had a fun time when the china display room was turned into a candy store for the open house and was left for the grandchildren to enjoy in the coming days.”

The foyer houses the snow-flocked pine Christmas tree, an elegant welcome to guests, with the tree appointed in silver, beige and gold tones. The living room houses the second tree, featuring a purple and silver design with ivy and berries draped throughout the tree. The music room features a “larger than life” wreath with holiday-colored balls and berries. The library and dining rooms offer the perfect location for all the hors d’oeuvres and appetizers for the parties, with the mantle pieces as a focal point to accompany the large dining room table and buffets.

The gathering place in the kitchen is decorated with hints of culinary treats from yesteryear — from gingerbread men to divinity and pecan cake! Intertwined with garland and berries, the glass-front cabinets welcome the guests to this stately and well-kept cook’s hideaway.

With red and white poinsettias throughout the entertaining areas of the home, the color and ambience elegantly speaks of the joy of the holidays and Christmas through the years at the executive residence of the University of Central Arkansas.

Students and campus organizations are also invited to see the Christmas decorations in the home during the season, as well as community and University of Central Arkansas President’s Club members (those who annually support the university and its many educational projects).

This season’s decorations will feature the rustic theme in the library with large sugar pine cones, red burlap ribboning, red berries and variegated and green winter foliage. The Courtways recently acquired a new bear that will welcome guests, complete with UCA Bear scarf and plaid bow! The dining room will offer a display of holiday fruits, nuts and silver appointments. The living room fireplace will reflect the same decor as the UCA Christmas card, with the “Bear Your Stripes” purple and gray-striped stockings hanging from the welcoming fireplace mantle. Three Christmas trees will be displayed in the public rooms, with one designed to house the many ornaments that have been given as Christmas gifts through the years by UCA friends and family.

“Christmas is all about the family,” said Melissa, “and the house is a storybook fairy tale to see. Our granddaughter, Nadia, discovered a way to bring a stool from the kitchen into the candy store to reach the candy jars last season! It has been a tradition for us as a family to gather in front of the Christmas trees for photos before attending the performance of “The Nutcracker” by Ballet Arkansas at Robinson Performance Hall in Little Rock.” (This season’s Nutcracker is Dec. 12-14 at the Maumelle Performing Arts Center).

The UCA executive residence continues to be an enchanting way to say “Merry Christmas” for the 501 LIFE community!