The public is invited to help issue in the Christmas season at the historic Mill Prong House near Wagram on Dec. 6, when the Mill Prong Preservation, Inc. organization presents its annual Christmas Open House from 2 to 5 p.m.

"Everyone is invited to return to a Christmas of yesteryear, when this 18th century ancestral home comes to life once again and is filled with all of the joys of the Christmas Season," board member and event Co-Chair Anne Monroe said. "The event promises to be a joyful one, because in addition to the holiday atmosphere of seasonal decorations, period refreshments from Mill Prong's Keepers of the Hearth and other culinary treats, and music by the Sandhills Consort, exhibits of Floral College history developed by the UNC-Wilmington Public History Department will be unveiled."

Floral College, one of the first colleges for women in the South, was established in 1841.

"The Floral College exhibit, which will be on display for the first time, will showcase the first school for women opened in the South," Mill Prong Preservation, Inc. President Chandler Stewart said. "The school was built and founded by John Gilchrist, Jr., one of the owners of Mill Prong."

Floral College was located just north of Maxton in the Centre Church area.

During open house, the holiday season will be announced in unique, early 1800s style, according to Stewart.

"We will bring in the holiday season by the firing of a weapon to alert the neighbors the Christmas season has started," he said.

Visitors are invited to take guided tours of the decorated home, in addition to browsing the historical exhibits in the home's annex. Docents will be available for tours.

Mill Prong House is one of the few remaining Highland Scot settlements in North Carolina. Built circa 1795 in the Federal style by John Gilchrist, Sr., the house was renovated by its subsequent owner, Col. Archibald McEachern, in the 1830's in the Greek Revival style. Restoration of the Mill Prong House was completed in 1993.

The house is located at 3062 Edinburg Road in Red Springs, just across the Scotland County line in Hoke County.

"For our Christmas Open House, we are striving to present some of the Christmas traditions of the early 1800s along with preserving the way of life among the many Scottish settlers of the region, which included Scotland County," Stewart said. "We look forward to seeing you at our annual event on Dec. 6."

The house is open the first Sunday of each month, from 2 to 5 p.m., and is located about 10 miles north of Laurinburg on Edinburgh Road, just off U.S. Highway 401.

For more information visit www.millpronghouse.com or call 910-739-4879.