Over 40 people attended the Bell Homestead’s annual Eliza’s Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea held on Sunday, May 12, 2024.
This is the Bell Homestead’s third year running event as prior to the pandemic, the national historic site would host an annual buffet style brunch. However, with more demand for afternoon tea experiences, the organization opted to switch things up.
Brian Wood, Curator of the Bell Homestead, said that the Mother’s Day event was a great chance to show both new and returning visitors what else they offer.
“For the people who have never been here, it’s a great chance for them to come and check out the site for the first time,” he said. “Now, for those who may have been on a tour before, they may think, ‘I’ve been there before, I don’t need to go back,’ so this is a nice opportunity to get them back in and show them what else we offer,” said Wood. “There’s still quite a few people that don’t realize that we have the café, but it officially opened for the season on Tuesday, and it will be running until just before Thanksgiving.”
Wood noted that throughout the two sessions (room for around 20 people each), guests would be enjoying some classic afternoon tea snacks.
“Our folks here today are being served a Victorian afternoon tea with sandwiches, mini quiche, scones and petit fours, and as well, we also have a little bit of a treat with some nice cold mimosas,” he said.
Sunday’s menu was homemade in the homestead’s cafe and attendees got to spend their afternoon snacking on a variety of sandwiches such as cucumber and cream cheese, roast beef and havarti, egg salad, and creamy vegetable. For youngsters who were uninterested in hot tea, there was also an iced option available as well.
After enjoying their experience, attendees had the option to partake in a tour of the Bell Homestead, this time with a special emphasis on afternoon tea and Eliza Bell, Alexander’s mother and inspiration.
“Not only are we celebrating everybody’s mother today, but at the same time, we’re also here celebrating Mr. Bell’s mother because without her, we very well might not have had the man who invented the telephone,” said Wood. “With this year being the 150th anniversary of the invention of the telephone, it’s something to think about.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
