I received an idea from friend Donna Tuthill for this addition to my blog.
In the Comment section below, please add any short memories, stories, etc. that you may remember from years gone by. I am sure all remember different events from Christmases of yesterday that could be shared here. I will post a link to this post on Facebook and see if we can get some memories of Christmas flowing.
Memories of Christmas Past... I remember in the "old days" my family would go out in the woods hunting for our Christmas tree. - usually a cedar. Mom's boss at Richmond County Bank would give permission to chop down a tree on his wooded property in the back county. One December we trekked thru the woods; found our tree; sawed it down at the ground; dragged it back to the car. At the time - about 1949 or 1950 - my Dad drove a 1935 Chevy sedan. The radio was vertical on the dash. It only worked some of the time. As Dad was tying the tree in the trunk of the car, Mom was IN the car, as it was COLD and even a little snow on the ground. As Dad, my sister Eve and I got in the car, Mom was singing "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..." At that moment Dad slammed the driver's car door, the radio suddenly came on, and Bing Crosby picked right up and sang, "...just like the ones I used to know." Mom was stunned and left with her mouth open as Bing has just taken the words right out of her.
ReplyDeleteHarry A. West, Jr.
There are no words to describe the beauty of Christmas in Rockingham during the late 50's and 60's. I remember walking to town from our home on East Washington Street all bundled up in coat and gloves. All the homes were decorated and colorful trees peeped from within the open windows. The excitement accelerated when passing the old Hallum's Furniture store with the gigantic Rudolph and a sleigh filled with Santa and toys resting on the rooftop. Red Green, gold and blue Christmas lights lined the streets and the square always had a large chair for Santa to greet the children with a candy cane and a smile. The downtown stores competed for the most beautiful windows and Belk's piped Christmas carols onto the busy street. However, my fondest memories were of all the people bustling up and down the streets greeting friends with a great big smile. And of course, Christmas Eve we all attended a play at our respective churches and returned home to wait for Santa. I wish for our children to one day look back and say...I remember Christmas in Rockingham ! Anne Hiott McLaurin
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories Harry. Sounds like my childhood a little. My dad would take us out up toward the river hills and cut down our Christmas tree - usually a cedar. Never remember our family buying one.
ReplyDeleteThat was cool the way Bing helped your mom finish that song. Love the White Christmas.
Anne - I believe I probably remember the Santa and his reindeer on Hallums roof in downtown Rockingham more than anything about downtown during Christmas...it seems they were there every year when I was a kid. Of course, now, Rockingham is just about empty of businesses and Hallums (later McKenzies) is closed and nothing there. But we all have our memories to keep alive.
Joel