Sophistication and elegance are not the first words that come to mind when considering the college experience, but students who crave a more refined Saturday afternoon don’t have to go far to find it this weekend.
The historic Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House is hosting its annual Spring High Tea on Saturday, boasting an afternoon of Victorian charm and remarkable history.
Nestled into the southern hillside of Skinner Butte overlooking downtown Eugene, the architecturally stunning house-turned-museum is filled with antique furniture, stories of the city’s earliest residents and a sense of peace and simplicity.
“It’s a wonderful place to come and step back into history a bit,” said Ann Bullock, tea coordinator and volunteer at the house.
From harp music to table settings of lace, china and silver, the tea promises to be a pleasant break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
In addition to daily tours, weddings, bridal showers and a book club, the house has hosted three high tea events annually for more than 15 years. The Holiday, Valentine’s and Spring High Teas are quite popular, with many people coming back year after year to enjoy a lovely afternoon away from the material world.
“We have so many things in this day and age, this is kind of a special treat to bring a friend or a mother or a sister or a brother or a father to. And we have the advantage of a beautiful setting here,” Bullock said, looking around the parlor at the antique piano, ornate rug and lace curtains.
There will be two seatings at this Saturday’s tea, one at noon and another at 3 p.m. Harpist Janet Naylor will serenade visitors during the noon tea, and her CD will play during the later seating.
The gatherings feature fruit cups served with a selection of delicate sandwiches and desserts and, of course, tea. The house serves primarily English Breakfast tea, but offers decaffeinated and herbal teas, as well.
Culinary students from the Martin Luther King Jr. Education Center will help with the catering, while girls from local middle and high schools will add to the elegant atmosphere by serving the tea in long skirts and Victorian blouses and aprons.
Saturday’s tea will also include a tour of the 122-year-old building and a glimpse into the history of the house and city.
Known in its heyday as “The Castle on the Hill,” the house was built in 1888 for Dr. Thomas Winthrop Shelton and his wife, Adah Lily Lucas Shelton. It was home to three families — hence the name — for nearly a century before the City of Eugene came to own it in 1986.
Several of the house’s residents attended the University, including the Shelton’s daughter, Alberta Shelton McMurphey, who was one of the first graduates of the Conservatory of Music in 1886. All three families were extremely involved in the development and enrichment of the city, including tree planting programs, laying the first water mains along Willamette Street and belonging to many civic groups.
From the servers to the organizers to the caterers to the harpist, the teas would no doubt make the previous residents of the house proud of the continued volunteer involvement.
“It brings the community back to the house again,” Bullock said.
And for those who are unable to attend the teas this weekend, the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson house also offers private teas, as the house’s volunteers are always eager to share their enthusiasm with visitors.
“The experience of being in a Victorian setting is unique; the house is a treasure to the city and to the volunteers, so it’s a labor of love. We want other people to enjoy it, to see why it’s so treasured,” Bullock said.
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