On a December day in 1918, Col. Zephaniah Spalding (1837-1927) — the commanding officer of the 27th Ohio Infantry during the American Civil War, and the owner of Kaua‘i’s Makee Sugar Co. from 1879 to 1916 — invited Kapa‘a School
On a December day in 1918, Col. Zephaniah Spalding (1837-1927) — the commanding officer of the 27th Ohio Infantry during the American Civil War, and the owner of Kaua‘i’s Makee Sugar Co. from 1879 to 1916 — invited Kapa‘a School principal Katherine Burke, along with the approximately 20 teachers and 600 students of the school, to his home, Valley House, for a Christmas celebration.
Located beyond Haua‘ala Road in Keapana Valley, until it was destroyed by fire in 1950, Spalding’s Valley House featured a great central hall with a wide staircase leading upstairs. Also gracing the interior was an eye-catching crystal chandelier, imported European furniture and a dining room spacious enough for 24 guests. Outside, visitors could play tennis on the estate’s courts or swim in the pool.
When Spalding’s Kapa‘a School Christmas guests arrived at Valley House by plantation train from Kealia, they were greeted by singers and band music being played on the grounds by his tennis courts.
A lunch of sandwiches, cookies, cake, ice cream and cold drinks was served to the children, followed by the appearance of Santa Claus, who presented each child with the gift of a paper bag containing fruit and sweets.
Afterwards, the children swam in Spalding’s swimming pool, played games and roamed about his estate under the supervision of Spalding’s employees.
Meanwhile, Miss Burke and her teachers went to Countess Senni’s bedroom on the second floor of Valley House to freshen up. The Countess was one of Spalding’s three daughters, all of whom had married Italian counts.
Then a cake, ice cream and cold drink dessert for Spalding, his family, Miss Burke and her teachers was served downstairs, with Miss Burke sitting next to Spalding at a table covered with immaculate linen.
In the afternoon, at the close of Spalding’s Christmas celebration, his Kapa‘a School guests road the plantation train through cane fields back to Kealia.
