TOP LEFT: Colorful decorations fill the pantry at the Arms Family Museum for Memories of Christmas Past. LEFT: Seasonal decor surrounds a hearth at the Arms Family Museum in Youngstown. ABOVE: Anthony Worrellia, buildings and grounds supervisor with the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and designer of its annual Memories of Christmas Past exhibition, talks about one of his flea market finds, a department store Christmas display with moving parts.

Anthony Worrellia estimated that he goes to hundreds of flea markets and garage sales where he leaves empty-handed in his search for vintage Christmas decorations.

But those times when he strikes holiday gold make the effort worth it and make Worrellia feel like a kid on Christmas morning.

“It’s become very hard to find anything anymore,” said Worrellia, buildings and grounds supervisor with the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and designer of the Memories of Christmas Past exhibition at the Arms Family Museum. “It’s very collectible, and there’s been a resurgence (of interest).

“I don’t know if it has to do with COVID or something else, but there’s just something about Christmas. No matter what you’re going through, it just sort of lifts you with the decorations and the decor and the reminiscing of days gone by.”

Heirlooms from the Arms family and items from Worrellia and other private collectors will be on display for the 14th Memories of Christmas Past, which opens Saturday and runs through Dec. 31.

“Every room as its own theme,” Worrellia said. “There are seven period rooms decorated vintage and two new exhibitors this year. The crystal tree is back. That’s always a very popular sight for folks. We have a Holly, Jolly Christmas room with ephemera and paper from the 1800s to about 1920. Everything is new.”

Worrellia spent between six and eight years collecting the holly- and mistletoe-themed wrapping paper, candy boxes, calendars and other goods that fill the Holly, Jolly Christmas display. One of his flea market finds on display this year include a Santa’s workshop scene where Santa’s head and other elements move and make noise.

“This is a store display called a trade stimulator,” he said. “The motion and action it has draws your attention and draw you into the store. They would use them in candy shops in the window or in department stores.”

For those old enough to remember when people would dress up and head to downtown Youngstown to shop at its multi-floor department stores, there is a display of vintage shopping bags from places like McKelvey’s and Strouss’ and other holiday items from Valley businesses.

“I don’t know what these kids (today) are going to remember,” he said. “None of the stores are decorated anymore … I don’t even see a tree in any of the stores or anything like that.”

Vintage decorations cover the antique furniture shown in the house year round. The solarium is a winter wonderland of white decor accentuated by the natural light that fills the room, and the small table is set for afternoon tea, as it might have been when Mrs. Arms was alive, Worrellia said. He also repurposed some items from the house’s grounds, like the arch from the damaged wishing well now used as part of an indoor display.

The pantry is in sharp contrast from the dark greens and deep reds that fill many of the rooms. Bright pink is the dominant color there with a gingerbread fairy, train tracks made of licorice, faux gingerbread houses and 1960s-era kitchen appliances.

Memories of Christmas Past was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but returned last year. Even with the uptick in coronavirus cases around the holidays, about 5,000 people visited last year’s exhibition.

“People were absolutely thrilled to see it come back,” Worrellia said. “I get people at the supermarket grabbing me (asking), ‘What are you doing this year?’ It’s truly become a family tradition for the area. It’s been great. The phone’s been ringing off the hook already.”

If you go …

WHAT: “Memories of Christmas Past”

WHEN: Saturday through Dec. 31. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with extended hours until 7 p.m. Thursdays in December.

WHERE: Arms Family Museum, 648 Wick Ave., Youngstown

HOW MUCH: $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens and college students, $8 for children ages 3 to 18, and free for members and active-duty military and veterans. For more information, go to mahoninghistory.org or call 330-743-2589.