The Shadow
‘FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS’ — The Alleghany Historical Society is planning several activities during its “Festival of Christmas.” In the top photo is the decorated inside of the C&O passenger depot from a past Christmas. On Saturday, Dec. 6, both the passenger and freight depots will remain open until 8 p.m. in conjunction with the Covington Christmas parade. Santa Claus will greet children at the depot following the parade. Refreshments will be served. In the photo on bottom is a model train display in the freight depot. Each year, Gene Young and Paul Linkenhoker set up the layout that includes the Polar Express and Thomas the Tank Engine. (Photos Courtesy Alleghany Historical Society)
‘FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS’ — The Alleghany Historical Society is planning several activities during its “Festival of Christmas.” In the top photo is the decorated inside of the C&O passenger depot from a past Christmas. On Saturday, Dec. 6, both the passenger and freight depots will remain open until 8 p.m. in conjunction with the Covington Christmas parade. Santa Claus will greet children at the depot following the parade. Refreshments will be served. In the photo on bottom is a model train display in the freight depot. Each year, Gene Young and Paul Linkenhoker set up the layout that includes the Polar Express and Thomas the Tank Engine. (Photos Courtesy Alleghany Historical Society)
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The Alleghany Historical Society is transforming the restored Covington C&O passenger and freight depots into a holiday paradise as it prepares to celebrate the “Festival of Christmas.”
The festival is an adaptation of the Festival of Trees which was celebrated in recent years.
An assortment of holiday decorations will be on display and visitors are encouraged to participate in a silent auction to purchase the decorations and support the society’s annual fundraiser.
Members and individuals have utilized their artistic talents to decorate small trees and wreaths as well as create table pieces, mantel and window decorations and strings of garland.
Anyone wishing to donate an item for the silent auction is encouraged to contact Alleghany Historical Society President Bonnie Keyser at 965-0145 or 969-6433.
The freight depot will again be the location of a large display of model trains.
Each year, Gene Young and Paul Linkenhoker set up a large working layout which includes an assortment of trains, including the Polar Express and Thomas the Tank Engine.
In addition to the holiday decorations, the society now has an expanded gift shop and a number of items on sale which could complete a Christmas shopping list.
“Historical Sketches” by Gay Arritt and “Images of America, Covington,” by Horton Beirne and Byron Faidley, are two books on local history that have been best sellers. The shop has a collection of specialty ornaments, pictures and note cards, as well as society T-shirts.
A special item available this year is the initial calendar of the Alleghany Historical Society.
The calendar is a collection of black and white photographs of historic places or events in Alleghany County, Covington, Clifton Forge and Iron Gate.
One picture is of the 1939 football game between Clifton Forge and Covington High Schools played at the Westvaco ballpark.
Another is of a baseball game being played at the Clifton Forge Memorial Park in 1915.
A number of pictures are of buildings listed as Virginia Historic Land-marks or on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Festival of Christmas will open Friday Nov. 28 and conclude Saturday Dec. 13.
Regular depot hours will be observed on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1-5 p.m. It will also be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. except as noted below. There is no admission charge.
On Saturday, Dec. 6, the depots will open at 2 p.m. and remain open until 8 p.m. The Covington Christmas parade is scheduled for 6 p.m. and Santa Claus will greet children at the depot at the conclusion of the parade.
Refreshments will be available.
The depot will be closed on Dec. 7 and residents are encouraged to attend the annual Christmas concert of the Alleghany Highlands Chorale at McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church. The concert begins at 3 p.m. and features selections from Handel’s Messiah.
The chorale is under the direction of Kathy Crutchfield and is sponsored by the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council.
On Dec. 13, the final day of the Festival of Christmas, the depots will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. The Alleghany Historical Society has partnered with the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council to sponsor a Tour of Historic Downtown Covington Churches.
Individuals can obtain a brochure from the Arts Council office on Main Street and visit the churches at their own pace. There will be designated times when each church will present a brief program of entertainment and those on the tour can choose to visit churches in a sequence which will allow them to hear each program.
At any time during or at the conclusion of the tour, participants will be encouraged to visit the depot, enjoy light refreshments and observe the final day of the Festival of Christmas.
Specific information about the tour will be available later in the Virginian Review.
A Christmas Party at Milton Hall will be the final holiday event of the Alleghany Historical Soc-iety. The party will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14.
As a fundraiser, those attending the party are encouraged to contribute a $10 donation to help defray costs, but no one will be excluded from the event.
Entertainment will be provided and party goers will be treated to an assortment of holiday refreshments.
Ed Loiseau and Floyd Harrison are owners of the historic mansion which is a designated Virginia Land-mark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places and have graciously made it available for this annual affair.
