Gloom With a View

Mourning becomes eccentric at In the Dead of Winter: Victorian Mourning, an event at Four Mile House showcasing the customs of Victorian sickness, death and grieving. "The Victorians connected to the dead, talking to people in the other world through seances and spiritualism," explains Mary Jane Bradbury, volunteer coordinator. "I think the Civil War probably brought a lot of it about. More people died in that war than in all our other wars combined."

The Victorians commemorated death with elaborate rituals, including rules regarding proper mourning attire and behavior. "Mourning went on and on and on," she says. And there was plenty to mourn, because the poor state of health care meant there was no shortage of people who'd soon be moving on. "There were no medicines beyond herbs or home concoctions," Bradbury points out. "It was very grim. The smallest cut could mean the end of somebody."

Four Mile House is just the spot to bring these rituals back to life. The oldest structure in Denver — built in 1859 as a stage stop on the Cherokee Trail — it survives today as a twelve-acre park and museum. And from noon until 4 p.m. today, the entire facility will be devoted to interpreting this deadly portion of our history. "We'll give a grave-rubbing demonstration," Bradbury says (there are no graves on the grounds — that they know of), and the museum will be filled with displays of historic mourning artifacts and costumed docents who'll serve funeral cookies and funeral tea. "Chokecherry tea," she notes. "That's what Cherry Creek is named after."

Good grief! Four Mile House is located at 715 South Forest Street; admission is $7 for adults, $4 for students and seniors. For more information, go to www.four-milepark.org.
Sun., Feb. 10, 12-4 p.m., 2008