Christmas Memories from My Childhood

When I was growing up, my siblings and I always had a good Christmas. We could not wait for Christmas Eve. We believed in Santa Claus and never thought about the fact that we didn’t have a chimney for him to come down. We were children and very impressionable. I was born in Niagara Falls, New York. My father, James F. Townsend, worked at the old Pittsburgh Metallurgical Steel plant for more than 40 years. He worked near the dirty, dusty coke ovens. Working shift work, he was able to take care of his family.

I attended elementary school at the Niagara Street School until the 2nd grade. We later moved to Buffalo, and my father commuted back and forth to his job every day, crossing the Grand Island Bridges and never missing a day of work. The holidays were very important to us. Christmas morning was a big event in our house.

We had a real Christmas tree, the kind that you had to put in water to keep alive. My mother used to make decorations out of colored crepe paper. I found out much later in life, while doing my family history, that this was a tradition in her own family. She grew up in Alabama, where Christmas traditions were strong. My mother made sure that we had a good Christmas. There was always a big dinner and a room full of toys. One room in our house was wall-to-wall toys on Christmas morning. There were toys of all kinds.

My brother loved the little red wagon, which he could move with one foot outside and one foot inside. In those days, we didn’t have the kind of battery-operated toys that we see today. My brother used to get cowboy outfits with little toy guns and caps that made sounds when you clicked them. My sisters and I always received dolls, tea sets, and board games. We found nylon stockings on Christmas morning filled with candy canes, oranges, apples, and nuts. The dolls we received didn’t have any buttons to push or batteries that made them talk. We simply used our imagination when playing with them. Sometimes, we’d get a pair of roller skates that we saved for the summer months.

During high school, we continued to look forward to Christmas. Many of the older readers of this column will probably remember that on the corner of Jefferson and Clinton Street, there used to be a drugstore. On the same corner, Christmas trees were sold for just $2.00 each. We would go down to the corner on Christmas Eve, purchase one of these real trees, and drag it home in the snow. When we arrived home, we anchored it in a pail of water. Then, we immediately decorated the tree.

I have very good memories from this time period. My father was a good provider. My mother attended our school programs and made sure that we went to school every day.

We all graduated from East High School, located where it is today on Northampton Street. It wasn’t a perfect time, but we made it. Regardless of your beliefs, this is a time for family and reflection. I would like to wish my readers a peaceful and blessed holiday season!

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