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20 l MACON MAGAZINE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013 bits & pieces Experience a century of Christmas traditions at the Hay House in December. The Dining Room and Green Parlor, lately restored to the 1860s, will be transformed with appropriate Victorian decorations, while Hay family rooms will reflect the Christmas seasons of the recent past. Visit to tour the rooms or reserve a seat at Christmas luncheons on December 10 th , 11 th , 13 th or 14 th or attend a Family Yuletide Christmas on December 9 th at 2:00pm. Make a reservation now for a new Macon tradition, A Christmas Reception and Entertainment in the lavish Music Room and Drawing Room with a performance by players from Theatre Macon. This event on December 20 th at 7pm is co-sponsored by NewTown Macon. Visit the Shop in the Scullery featuring the new, limited edition 2012 Hay House Christmas ornament and other seasonal gift ideas. HISTORY CLUB The History Club of Macon is celebrating its 125th year in February with a luncheon at Idle Hour Country Club. The club was organized in 1888 by a group of Macon women who wanted to "enhance their cultural background by making a study of Shakespeare," according to the club's history. According to club member Harriet Comer, the club's focus has evolved into studying diverse topics of history, with members presenting a paper on a chosen topic every four years. The topics have ranged from "Fine Arts in America Today," for 1927-1928, to "Communism the Supreme Peril," for 1951-1952, to "Significant British Women Writers," for 2010-2011. The club's history also shows an early interest in commemorating the life of Sydney Lanier. In fact, the club presented a marble bench to the city in memory of Sidney Lanier in 1932. The club worked for 20 years to raise funds to erect a statue of Lanier, but "in 1932 all its money-making efforts had come to $375, which was far short of what was necessary for a monument," according to the club's yearbook. A marble bench was built instead and placed in the upper part of Washington Park, where it remains today. When the club celebrated its centennial, it reported 353 women had been listed as active members. Since then, another 57 women have joined.