The Owls of The Vale @ The Festival of Trees @ Schenectady County Historical Society
Vale will be celebrating the holidays with our friends at SCHS at this year’s Festival of Trees!
Our holiday tree’s theme will be The Owls of The Vale and we’re asking our friends and family to join us in decking our tree by donating an owl-themed ornament before December 1.
The first three ornaments are here already. The owl ornaments can be store-bought or handmade, all sizes and all colors.
The theme is inspired by the sculpted owls on the gate at Vale’s original entrance on Nott Terrace.
We’re also looking for volunteers to help us decorate the tree; we’ll be scheduling a date and time between December 1 and December 5.
For more information on the SCHS Festival of Trees or for tickets to this festive event, please see their website:
https://schenectadyhistorical.org/event/trees25/
If you’d like to contribute an ornament or volunteer, please email us at vale@valecemetery.org
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Vale Cemetery’s original entrance on Nott Terrace is framed by a magnificent granite gateway designed by architect Albert Fuller.
The imposing granite pillars (which now serve as the entrance to Vale Park) are decorated with owls; there are eight of them with their wings spread, looking down on passerby.
The owl was an appropriate motif for a cemetery gate as the nocturnal bird not only symbolizes wisdom, but a guardian and protector of the departed.