The spotlight is on Linthicum this weekend. Two organizations are sponsoring open houses, and you are invited to see the Christmas decorations.
*
The Ann Arrundell County Historical Society presents its ninth annual Christmas by Candlelight open house at the Benson-Hammond House.
Decorated period rooms, museum exhibits and costumed docents will be on hand from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday to explain the traditions of a 19th century-farmhouse Christmas.
This year's open house will feature an exhibit of antique dolls from the collection of Dorothy Ward, an Anne Arundel County businesswoman who died in 1993. Ms. Ward was an authority on antique dolls. She bequeathed her collection to the Historical Society.
Christmas gifts, antiques and collectibles will be on sale at the Browse and Buy Shoppe.
The Benson-Hammond House, a National Register historic landmark, is at Andover Road and Aviation Boulevard. The Browse and Buy Shoppe will remain open to the public for tours from Dec. 7 to Dec. 17, Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for senior citizens and free for children under 6.
For more information, call 768-9518.
*
The Woman's Club of Linthicum Heights Inc., will hold its Christmas House Tour from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Six private homes, a studio, train station and chapel will be open. Musicians will perform at two stops on the tour.
Two of the houses were built by members of the Linthicum family. Turkey Hill on Maple Road was built in 1822. Fresh greens will be on sale at Turkey Hill's carriage house. Locust Grove on Homewood Road was built in 1820. It will feature a Victorian theme. Refreshments will be served.
Other houses on the tour include one on Medora Road, where a table set for a tea party will be displayed, along with an angel collection and Santas from around the world.
A house on Homewood Road will be decorated with formal arrangements of live greens and fresh fruits. The home on Applegate Court will have arrangements and a handmade sleigh made by the owner's great-grandfather in the 1800s. Refreshments will be served at a home on Darlene Avenue with unusual decorations.
The old Linthicum train station on Maple Road will be decorated with live greens.
Christmas puppets will be on view at Bernard Paul's studio on Maple Road. The shop is a fantasy land of memorabilia. "Paul's Puppets" was a Maryland institution for more than 45 years. Mr. Paul and his late wife, Edith, performed on television, in schools, department stores, shopping centers, camps and the White House Ballroom.
Holly Run Church, built in 1828 with English bricks, graced a corner of Old Annapolis and Camp Meade roads until it was dismantled and moved to its present location on Church Circle. The National Horn Quartet will perform chamber music at the church.
Jennifer Tillett, a member of the quartet, is also a member of the Woman's Club. Adam Tillett, Jonathan Parrish and Susan Lindsay are the other quartet members. All are Peabody graduates.
The Handbell Choir Concert of St. John Lutheran Church on Maple Road will give two performances at the church.
Tickets for the tour are $10 in advance, $12 the day of the tour. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the Linthicum train station the day of the tour.
Tickets can be bought at Pumphrey's Variety Store in the Shipley-Linthicum Shopping Center, Flowers Extraordinaire by Stephen in the Burwood Shopping Center, All Things Country in Pastore's Plaza and the Severna Park YMCA.
L For additional information, call Celeste Riddle at 859-0606.
*
Linthicum Chapter 2244 of the American Association of Retired Persons will have its annual Christmas luncheon at the La Fontaine Bleu at noon Thursday. Eileen Underwood is chairman, Catherine Lambert is co-chairman.
Officers for the new year will be installed at the luncheon. Mary Foster will be president; Dorothy Lins, first vice president; John Benke, second vice president; Louis Szech, treasurer; Joseph Oller, assistant treasurer; Lillian Warnken, secretary; and Doris Creamer, assistant secretary.
Dick Albright, Albert Eveson, Henry Gallagher, Thelma Sikorski, George Woelke and Sue Woelke are the board members. Marion Graham is chairman of the nominating committee. He is joined by Katherine Bulgen, George Norfolk, Dorothy Skronski and Frank Veltre.
*
St. John Lutheran Church, 300 W. Maple Road, is having a bazaar and luncheon from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
A variety of hand-made goods will be available, including Christmas cookies, peanut brittle, fudge, sweet potato candy, jams and jellies made by the women of the church.
The luncheon menu will include vegetable soup, beef barbecue, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips and drinks.
The Linthicum Library at Shipley and Hammonds Ferry roads will ring in the holidays with a tree trimming party for children ages 3 to 12 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. In addition to making paper decorations for the tree in the children's room, children will be treated to stories, a sing-a-long and a short film.
For more information, call 222-6265 or 222-7371.
If you know of an event in Ferndale or Linthicum, please call Rosalie M. Falter at 859-3569.