40 Years Ago Today - December 26 and 27, 1978

On two consecutive days, December 26th and December 27th of 1978, my father went on an airplane flight. As the pilot. I don't exactly follow all of the terminology but it looks like he flew a Cessna C-152, tail number N159BC, and did some basic maneuvers. While none of these flights included me, it sets the stage for later aspects of my childhood, including my first airplane ride.

40 Years Ago Today - Assorted 1978 Photos

Without any firm dates on these photos, it's hard to determine exactly when they were taken. But I'll do my best based on what details I do know.

The first set would appear to be mid or late 1978. The backs of the photos say "summer" or "fall" and based on the location, clothing, and who is in them, I'd have to agree. They all look like they were taken at the house in Maryland and since we didn't move there until March of 1978, that would line up with the labels on the photos. Additionally, one of the photos is labeled "Hollywood, Maryland" and appears to be from the same roll.

First, we have two photos of me inside. In one, I'm on the phone. In the second, I'm in the nude holding a toothbrush.

Then we have an outside shot of me standing in front of my Uncle Harold and my dad. The booklet is titled "Canon Lenses In A Nutshell." Based on the short sleeves, I would guess this is during the summer.

The next two photos appear to be in the fall as I'm wearing a winter hat and long sleeves. You can see the green van in the background as well as the rear of the house in Maryland.

The final photo is me helping my mom with the dishes in the kitchen.

We also have a scan of the floor plan design, "The Siddell," of the house on Flintlock Court in Maryland.

40 Years Ago Today - December 3, 1978

Once again, I get measured! This time, I've grown to a whopping 33 and a half inches. That's two inches taller than the last time I was measured.

40 Years Ago Today - December 2, 1978

On December 2 and 3, 1978, the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society held a Candlelight Tour at Abram's Delight. Both tours, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, were from 3:00pm to 9:00pm. My grandmother, Dorothy, was a Hollingsworth. She, and the Hollingsworth's listed below, were all direct descendants of Valentine Hollingsworth.

The interior of the brochure states:

The Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society welcomes you to "Christmas at Abram's Delight". This limestone house, built by Isaac Hollingsworth in 1754, is the oldest existing home in Winchester, Virginia. The western section was added before 1801.

The original Abram's Delight plantation, settled by Abraham Hollingsworth, father of Isaac, consisted of 582 acres. Abraham, a Quaker, as was his son Isaac, came to this area from Philadelphia about 1730 and thus was one of our first settlers.

The property remained in the Hollingsworth family until 1943 when it was purchased by the City of Winchester because Rouss Spring was a source of water for the City.

The building and grounds were restored by the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society. The log house, built by the Society is very similar to that which preceded the stone house.

Christmas at Abram's Delight during the eighteenth century would have been celebrated in a very simple manner. Christmas was the principal holy day of the ecclesiastical year both in England and Virginia. The exchange of Christmas gifts between families and friends was not customary in Virginia during the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries, and even the widespread use of Christmas trees was not popular until after the Civil War. In spite of the simplicity of customs that prevailed during that period, we are taking the liberty to enhance this charming home with decorations that add greatly to the enjoyment of the season.

The opposite side of the interior continues:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

DECORATION OF ABRAM'S DELIGHT

ENTRANCE DOORWAY AND LANTERN ..... Hawthorne Garden Club
ENTRANCE ROOM .....Glen Burnie Garden Club
DINING ROOM .....Old Fredericksburg Garden Club
HALL .....Little Garden Club
LIVING ROOM .....Winchester/Clarke Garden Club
BEDROOMS .....Lord Fairfax Garden Club
KITCHEN .....Colonial Garden Club
CABIN .....Winchester-Clarke Junior Garden Club
CHRISTMAS TREE .....Hawthorne Junior Garden Club

WINCHESTER-FREDERICK COUNTY JUNIOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY

CHRISTMAS MUSIC:
Madrigal Singers
Glenn Caluda
Winchester Elementary School
James Wood High School

The rear of the brochure shows Farmers and Merchants National Bank as the apparent sponsor of the printing.

40 Years Ago Today - December 1978

As is still standard today, we have a Christmas photo card from family friends. I'm pretty sure Dan and Gunilda were the parents while David and Sara are the children shown.