In the 50’s and much of the 60s, stores were closed on Sundays. Folks went to church, came home for a big Sunday dinner, and then climbed in the car – the whole family – and went for a Sunday drive.
Often Sunday drives were to no place in particular, just to wherever the steering wheel of the old Studebaker led. Sometimes they were out into farmland, or on mountain roads. When guests and relatives were in town, the drives often led to local attractions – like Grandview Overlook in Beckley WV or maybe the Greenbrier Hotel when in Lewisburg.
I often took my young family on Sunday drives when the kids were small. Just outside Charlottesville in the Earlysville area, there was a house that kept a deer penned up in the yard, which was probably illegal, but the kids loved seeing it up close. There was also a farm of sorts on Polo Grounds Road near the one-land underpass that had billy goats. That was another attraction. Animals were always a big hit.
Sometimes I’d drive up into Madison County and tour the countryside and sometimes we’d head for Sugar Hollow.
Not many people take Sunday Drives these days. All the stores (except for Chick-fil-A) are open and children’ sports games often are scheduled for Sundays – even on Sunday mornings. In fact, families don’t get together for much these days, except maybe dinner. Everybody goes in different directions.
It may be old fashioned, but Nancy and I still like to get in the car on a lazy Sunday afternoon and go for a drive, and it doesn’t have to be anyplace special. Wherever the steering wheel turns.
