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| Local News Article |
| Home for
the holidays
Hundreds gather for Fielder's tree-lighting ceremony 12/05/2000 By Matt Ward / Arlington Morning News Tom Champion's hometown has changed a lot in 77 years. |
| The lifelong
Arlington resident said he misses the well in the middle of Main Street
and the Interurban rail system that passed through town on its way to Dallas
or Fort Worth. Mr. Champion said the town has grown quickly.
"It's like you can be lost in your own hometown," he said. Mr. Champion, however, was smiling Monday evening at a bastion of old Arlington. Volunteers
at the Fielder House Museum hosted their 20th annual tree lighting ceremony,
packing the house with more than 200 merry residents.
|
Ryan
Donnell / AMN
Santa
Claus, also known as Arlington resident Dale Kilpatrick, greeted 15-month-old
Kylie and her father Gregg Bena of Arlington during tree-lighting festivities
at the Fielder House Museum on Monday.
|
| The house
was built in 1914. J.P. Fielder, a former Arlington mayor and businessman,
and his family lived there until the 1950s. The city-owned house contains
furniture and decorations from that time period.
Mr. Champion entertained inside the home with renditions of timeless Christmas tunes he played on a World War I era player piano. Outside, the University of Texas at Arlington's String Quartet, the St. Alban's Show Choir and the Hill Elementary School Sixth Grade Orchestra entertained the crowd. "I think it gets people in the Christmas spirit," said Jeanie Mills. "You have the music, Santa, carriage rides and apple cider. And for one, its here at the Fielder Museum, where there are Christmas activities and a tour of the home and its history." The Arlington resident added that she and her children come every year. The Thorsen family, however, attended the event for the first time since moving to Arlington nine years ago. Sidney Thorsen said her family discovered the historic home-turned-museum about a month ago. "Sometimes when you don't grow up in an area, you don't know about all the history. You have to take the steps to find out. Once you do though, it's fascinating," the mother of five said. One of her sons, Grant Thorsen, 9, said he enjoyed all the history as well as the music and activities. "This is pretty cool," he said. The event marked the first year when businesses along West Abram Street participated, with offices and shops decorated for the festive occasion. About a dozen businesses, from law firms to a ballet shop, participated. "I enjoy this event. But I like the [Arlington Historical Society's Annual] Quilt Show, too. It's just that it's always cold for this one. It's nice, though, to see all these people in the house," Ms. Bennett said |
Matt Ward
can be reached at [email protected]
or 817-436-4129.
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