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Christmas at Hamill House |
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Christmas at Hamill House |
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By Ronald J. Neely, As it has done for every holiday season since 1971, the year we purchased it, the Hamill House was once again festooned for the holiday season and hosted five Christmas receptions for our members and friends. Carefully decorated by Parthena Moore and her volunteers, the house once again captured the spirit of a 19th century holiday home. The first reception was held on Saturday evening, December
1st, as we hosted the return of the Denver area descendants of William
A and Priscilla L. Hamill. About 50 Hamill descendants were in attendance
for caroling and the lighting of the Christmas tree. The Silver Plume
Singers again treated us to wonderful songs of the season, as they did
for all our receptions this year. The Hamill Family presented us with
a small table that once was in the parlor or library of the Hamill House
during the time of William and Priscilla. |
The children of Tom Carlson, great-great grandson of William Hamill, in memory of their father who recently passed away, lighted the candles on the tree that night. Sean Carlson, age 11, of Denver, great-great-great grandson of William Hamill, gave the reading of The Night Before Christmas that night. Tom Carlson was the Hamill Family genealogist and historian who added a great deal to our understanding of the Hamill House and the Hamill family. His work will be continued by his children. The next reception was on December 12, for the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Department. About sixty firemen and their spouses were in attendance as we again thanked them for saving the Hamill House from the near disastrous fire in 1974. The reading that evening was given by Madeline Abrahamson, age 11, of Georgetown.
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The highlight of the evening occurred when Fire Chief Mark Babeon asked all the firemen to retire into the library leaving everyone else in the dining room with somewhat quizzical looks on their faces. The firemen soon returned with flower arrangements presented to their spouses as a small thank-you for the patience and understanding they must exercise in being married to a volunteer fireman. A most touching little ceremony. As a few commented later, "It's a rare occasion when the Hamill House is out-classed, but tonight was surely one." The next three receptions were held on December 15th, 21st and 22nd, all for members and friends of HGI. Each evening had its own character and varied in timing from the others. But our gracious and affable butler, Mr. Ken Nelson of Georgetown, greeted guests each evening. The guests were then directed to the kitchen for refreshments and then to the dining room for hors d'oeuvres, provided each evening by Dexter Fountain of Georgetown. The Silver Plume singers regaled during the sup along with Jocelyn Pyle of Fall River Road who played our little Steinway in the parlor. On the 21st and 22nd, Pauline Marshall of Georgetown played the piano. On the 15th, Gary Long of Georgetown read A Childs Christmas in Wales that once again reminded us of the simple values of Christmas. On Dec. 20th and 21st, Miss Margaret Pedlow of Newport Beach, California and of Georgetown, presented a Christmas Musicale in the Parlor performing several numbers including The First Noel, I'll Be Home for Christmas, and White Christmas. Maraday Wahlborg of Georgetown accompanied her. The guests then retired to the dining room when Mrs. Christina Schleicher, of Lawson, and her volunteer assistants, presented the Wassail Bowl. St. Nicholas again appeared, this year portrayed by Mr. Frank Young of Silver Plume. |
On the 15th, the Plume Singers presented the patriotic America the Beautiful in honor of the tragic occurrences earlier that year. On the 20th and 21st, Miss Pedlow presented America the Beautiful and God Bless America. Several wassail and holiday toasts ensued with announcements and introductions. Shortly thereafter, the guests gathered in the library for the lighting of the tree. After one candle was lit and the lights were out, Miss Pedlow presented the Ave Maria. On the 15th, Ms. Claudia Cupp of Silver Plume presented the Ave Maria. The remaining candles on the tree were then lit by a number of guests each evening, each in honor of someone dear. The tree lighting was followed by the reading of the Night Before Christmas and caroling during which each evening Ms. Cupp presented a verse of Silent Night in its original German language. The evenings' festivities ended with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas presented by Ms. Brianna Regester, age 11, of Silver Plume. Upon departure, the ladies were presented with a small red rose in the tradition of Mrs. William A Hamill. All in all, about 325 guests and volunteers were in attendance throughout the holiday season making Christmas at Hamill House one of our "best" special events. There were so many wonderful volunteers and we haven't
the space to acknowledge all of them, but a few more performing volunteers
need to be mentioned. The Christmas readers: Miss Sophie Schleicher, age
10, and Mr. Wolfi Schleicher, age 7, both of Lawson, and Miss Olivia Regester
of Silver Plume, the Silver Plume Family Regester who have for so many
years given unselfishly to our holiday season, Mr. Jonathan Held and Miss
Lisa Ferreira of Denver, and to our staff: Annette Ewers, Ann Izard, Dana
Abrahamson, Deirdre Baldwin and Ron Neely, all of Georgetown. |
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