It was more than three decades ago when I did my first newspaper interview with Cecilia Zubler, who was then curator of Barker Mansion, 631 Washington St., in Michigan City, and later was named as executive director.

It was also one decade ago Cecilia died on Nov. 24, 2014, and true to form, even her final published obituary did not reveal her age. She had continued working as a dedicated ambassador to preserve the legacy of the Barker Family until just weeks before her passing. Earlier in summer in June 2014, she hosted a “pink-themed tea party” held in the gardens of the Barker Mansion courtyard.

Cecilia loved planning the tours and events associated with the December holidays at Barker Mansion, the property brimming with era-precise-themed decorations to capture the spirit of the past and present. She would likely be very pleased to know the Barker Mansion holiday tour tradition not only continues but has also expanded this year to include the just unveiled Barker Christmas Cottage.

This centuries-old converted house, built in 1887 at 227 West 7th St. in Michigan City, stands next to Barker Mansion. In recent decades, the house was repurposed as McGinnis Pub and Restaurant. Last year, the Barker Welfare Foundation purchased the struggling pub property, did extensive renovation and now uses it for wedding rentals and special events.

To avoid confusion, there is also still lofty, medieval Barker Hall located at 600 Franklin St., owned and operated by the city of Michigan City and what was part of old Trinity Episcopal Church.

The Barker holiday season launched Nov. 16 with tours of the house and property, with the emphasis on the 38-room resplendent mansion covered with twinkling lights and grand Christmas trees throughout, every detail evoking the opulence and holiday spirit of a bygone era.

Now through Jan. 5, guests can step inside to explore both the mansion and the new “Christmas Cottage,” where refreshments and treasures of the mansion’s rich history and Victorian charm await along with festive crafts, a hot cocoa bar, and special photo settings to capture the season’s joy.

The Marquette Chorale from Marquette Catholic High School in Michigan City helped open the holiday tour run on Nov. 16, filling the halls with holiday music.

Guided tours continue at 1 p.m. every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for an extensive immersion into the rich history of the Barker Mansion with expert-guided tours exploring the architectural marvels and historical artifacts that make this mansion a local treasure. Tour tickets are $20 per person and are limited and must be purchased in advance online. For more details and reservations, visit www.barkermansion.org or call 219-873-1520.

Wednesday, the new Barker Cottage, which unveiled during the summer, served as the backdrop for indulgent guests to enjoy a themed evening titled “Agatha Christie and Whiskey: Hercule Poirot’s Christmas,” which invited mystery lover guests immerse themselves into Agatha Christie’s classic “Hercule Poirot’s Christmas” served up with generous pours of whiskey and lively discussion of the novel and explore the world of Poirot as he unravels a chilling holiday crime.

The Barker Mansion honors the legacy of industrialist John H. Barker and three generations of the Barker family. Their distinguished home reflects the opulent Gilded Age as well as their commitment to the Michigan City community.

Today it is Michele Gustin as program and operations manager for the Barker Mansion and the Barker Welfare Foundation, continuing the role started by the late Celilia to ensure the history-rich manor estate remains part of “living history” in Northwest Indiana and the Midwest.

As a visionary for the potential in the railroad industry, it was John Barker Sr. who bought a third interest in the Sherman, Haskell, Aldridge Car Works in 1855, and by 1871, the firm was incorporated as the Haskell & Barker Car Company and contributed to Michigan City’s growth and rise to national prominence in freight car manufacturing.

The company credited the Civil War from 1861-65 for expansion and demand because of the fulfillment of government contracts. In 1869, John Barker retired and son John H. Barker joined the firm as general manager and by 1883, would become the president of the incorporated Haskell & Barker Car Company.

In 1908, the Haskell & Barker Car Company ranked as the most complete factory for the construction of freight cars in the United States and employed more men than any other manufacturing establishment in the state of Indiana. Spanning more than 109 acres, that landscape is now home to the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets. In 1922, “Haskell & Barker” merged with the Pullman Company, and was then known as Pullman-Standard, a division of Pullman, Inc.

The death of both her parents in 1910 meant at age 14, Catherine Barker became one of the world’s youngest heiresses in the country with the 38-room limestone mansion included in her estate inheritance along with $60 million, today’s equivalent of $1.5 billion. Having moved with her husband to Old Westbury, New York, in 1949, she donated her family’s Michigan City mansion to Purdue University to be used as the satellite campus until 1968, when school operations moved to Westville and branded as Purdue North Central. The property was then donated and transformed into a museum after the passing of Catherine Barker Hickox, who died of emphysema at her New York estate on Nov. 18, 1970, at age 74.

Philip Potempa is the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center.

pmpotempa@comhs.org