Big—Lancaster Fanwing, Saturday, December 17,1983
BY KIMBERLY HERR
MEDIA As legend has it, there
was a robin silently keeping watch
in the stable when the Baby Jesus
was born. The robin noticed that
the Child was cold, so it flew to the
fire to fan the flames and warm
Baby Jesus. But the small bird got
too close to the fire and burned his
breast, causing it to become red in
color. And since that time, the
robin has had a flame-red coloring.
Symbolizing this legend and
many others are more than SO
wreaths on display at linvilla
Orchards, Media, Delaware
County.
“I love them. I absolutely love
them,” Peg Linvill said, of the
wreaths.
And it shows as she explains the
legends behind some of the other
wreaths.
One section of a wall is covered
with wreaths symbolizing past and
present Christmas gift bringers.
One wreath depicting the three
wise men, the original gift bearers,
boasts real frankincense and
Peg Linville is responsible for the Weed Shop, which offers
wreath-making classes, dried flowers and other decorating
tools, such as these ribbons.
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The market, the Weed Shop and the Christmas Shop are located in this octagonal barn
of the Linviila Orchards. According to Peg Linville, this barn was constructed in 1898.
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Legends Remembered in Christmas Wreaths
murr. Another wreath illustrates
the lovable little Tomten or Nisse
that is said to bring gifts in
Scandinavia.
“It took three weeks of good solid
research, which we did in April,”
Peg said. “We came up with the
legends first and then made the
wreaths to match the legends. We
started making the wreaths at the
end of October.”
This is the second year that the
Christmas legend wreaths have
been on display. But for those
interested in doing more than Just
observing, Linvill* Orchards,
located on Knowlton Road, offers
wreath-making classes, which run
from the end of September to the
end of December.
Although the wreath-making
season is limited, the business
season at the Lin villa Orchards is
not. In addition to the wreaths,
which are done through the efforts
of the Weed Shop, which is run by
Peg and contains a wide variety of
dried flowers and arrangements,
there is also a large direct market
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These women were are involved in constructing their rose-spice wreaths, offered at
- the Weed Shop.
These carotlers welcome visitors into the market area of Linvilla Orchards, Media,
Delaware County.
and a Christmas shop, run by
Karen Knudsen, on the premises.
Peg and Paul Linvill, along with
Paul’s brother, Larry, and Larry’s
son, Kenny, are responsible for
running-the businesses.
Since it has always been a family
business, Peg was able to give a
rundown on the history of the farm
and the business.
The bam, where the market,
Weed Shop and Christmas Shop
are located, was built in 1896. It is
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an octagonal bam and was
designed so that the cold air comes
in at the bottom and exits at the
top. This was done in hopes of
preventing bam fires, which often
resulted when the hay stored in
bams got too hot.
Peg explained that after the Civil
War, the Linvill land was made
into a dairy farm.
“They were trying to make the
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This giant rag doll is on display outside the market of
Unvilla Orchards. Constructed by Peg Llnvill, the doll stands
about 38-feet high and is made of old sheets.
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farms into factories,” Peg said,
explaining that the bam was built
in an octagonal shape because it
was believed that shape would hold
the most cattle.
They had about 40 cows and 20
horses. According to Peg, her
husband grew up on the farm.
“Dad (her father-in-law) didn’t
like the responsibility of having to
(Turn to Page B 19)