The sweet smell of warm roasted nuts, the sound of holiday music, and the glow of Christmas lights will greet visitors on December 19 at the Owensboro Museum of Science & History.
The museum is hosting the second annual Voices of Anderson’s: A Christmas Bazaar, blending storytelling with local shopping and seasonal traditions inside the historic S.W. Anderson’s department store building.
The evening runs from 6-8 p.m. with short performances at 6:15 and 7:15 p.m. Admission is $5, and tickets can be reserved by calling 270-687-2732.
The event features a series of theatrical vignettes about Anderson’s and Owensboro’s holiday traditions, performed on the museum’s second floor.
Carolyn Greer, the museum’s events coordinator, said the program intertwines the history of Anderson’s with Owensboro’s holiday spirit.
“We’re hoping to have six or seven stories, including the story of Robert and Peggy Darling, who were Santa and Mrs. Claus from the 1940s to the 1970s,” Greer said.
Greer said the performances will also feature the perspective of an elevator operator who recalls the fun and bustle of Anderson’s, along with other stories tied to the community.
“It’s just a perfect opportunity for us to celebrate that and bring that history back into play,” she said.
While the stories unfold on the second floor, the Mammoth Lobby will host the Christmas bazaar with 15 to 20 vendors offering handmade items such as pottery, jewelry, ornaments, soaps, and woodwork. Shoppers can also enjoy cookies, candy, warm nuts, and free cider, with a gift-wrap booth replicating Anderson’s iconic silver-and-white packages.
“We will wrap your presents in a silver-and-white wrapping paper with an Anderson’s sticker, so it is fully representing the Anderson’s department store,” Greer said. “We’ll also have people singing and performing all throughout the evening. You’ll have shopping opportunities, you’ll have treats, and you’ll be able to just sit and enjoy the music.”
The event builds on last year’s inaugural program, which was pulled together in a short time but still drew more than 200 people. Greer said the museum has expanded the stories and vendor lineup for this year and hopes the event will continue to grow.
Isaac Settle, executive director of the museum, said the event is designed to celebrate the store’s legacy while creating a festive space for the community.
“It’s basically to share the history and memories of Anderson’s department store, as well as some older Owensboro holiday traditions,” he said. “It’s kind of a neat holiday experience given all the decorations, the history, and the shopping involved.”
S.W. Anderson’s began in 1889 across the street from its longtime location at 2nd and Daviess streets. The current building was erected in 1888 as the Temple Theatre Opera House before being converted into the department store in 1908.
The three-story store became a downtown anchor. The first floor offered men’s clothing, accessories, shoes, cosmetics, and infant wear. The second housed furs, women’s clothing, lingerie, a beauty shop, and a portrait studio. The third featured a bridal registry, drapery, electronics, bath and bedding, kitchenware, and one of the store’s most celebrated departments: fine china.
Former employees say S.W. Anderson built the business on a straightforward philosophy. “Treat the customer like they’re a guest in your home,” former employees recalled him saying.
The store expanded to Towne Square Mall in 1978 and managed to operate for 101 years before closing. Its history now lives on through events like Voices of Anderson’s, which museum staff hope will continue to grow each year.
