December 25 is rapidly approaching, bringing with it "A Christmas Story," television's annual Christmas story highlighting Ralphie Parker's obsession with chasing imaginary ruthless hombres using an air-operated Red Ryder Carbine.
I never get weary of watching this nostalgic classic, released in Nov. 1983 but portrayed to be in the 1940s. This year, I purchased the DVD option, thereby allowing me to watch it whenever and wherever I please.
During my youth, I always wanted a Red Ryder BB air gun, but I never acquired one. The Johnson Avenue Gang, that extended from Clark Street to Knob Creek Road and beyond, always seemed to have one or more air guns sitting around.
The age-old reason I never possessed one was that of the longstanding fear of shooting my eye out. In actuality, I borrowed an air rifle on occasion, as I grew older.
Recently while at a flea market, I purchased a Red Ryder carbine and carefully hid it in my garage workshop. The Daisy rifle box offered seven safety suggestions:
A few days before Christmas 1907, shortly after the noon hour, the suburban home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Hall, located about nine miles west of the city, was the scene of a beautiful wedding. Miss Cordelia Hall was united in marriage to Mr. Robert L. Dyer of this city. Rev. S.G. Ketron officiated with Miss Cora Allison serving as bridesmaid and Mr. G, S. Galliher as best man.
Vintage letters to Santa have become a regular in my column at Christmas time. Today, nine of them from 1904 are presented without regard to spelling, punctuation and grammar; they are just as they arrived at the North Pole:
On Christmas day, 1951, President Truman told the nation that there had arisen a new spirit of hope in the world, that a true and lasting peace may come from the sacrifice of free men arming and fighting together. Mr. Truman's message was prepared for broadcasting from his fireside at Independence, MO., just before he pressed a telegraph key and set the nation's Christmas tree aglow with colored lights at the White House.
The advertisement that accompanies today's column came from a Dec. 1, 1957 Johnson City Press-Chronicle. Note that the former "Johnson's Depot" carried the tag, "The Christmas Town," stating that the city was ready with thousands of Yuletide delights!" Everywhere shoppers glanced, they saw dazzling, glittering arrays of gifts to put under their Christmas tree; toys to make a child's eyes grow wide with excitement; brilliant glowing lights and sparkling ornaments for decoration; Santa's Yule-tide pack overflowing with magic from all over the world to make Christmas the happiest, most thrilling they'd ever had; a need to hurry because time was a-wasting; join the holiday shopping throng now without delay.
In December of 1957, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle created something enjoyable aimed at youngsters 10 years old and younger, which they titled "The Little People's Coloring Contest." Four pictures, depicting the Christmas holiday, one per day, were posted in the newspaper, beginning on Tuesday, Dec. 3 and ending on Friday, Dec. 6.
During Christmas 1899, the Comet newspaper had for some time made an observation that Northern publishers dominated the field for magazines, leaving potential Southern ones "sitting on the side of the dirt road." The news publication felt there was a bona fide need for a first class Southern magazine, reflecting the best literary talents of the South.
During last Christmas, I featured some letters of area youngsters who wrote Santa Claus a letter in 1909, telling the jolly ole fellow what they wanted for Christmas from him. Since some of my readers identified a relative in the list, I decided to produce another column this year of letters to Santa. The date for this one is 1908. Only minor editing was done.
Jay Prater, a frequent contributor to my Yesteryear articles, wrote me saying that he had diligently searched for his Duncan yo-yo after reading the Red Shield Boys' Club article last week on the History/Heritage page. So far, he has not located it, but won't stop looking for it. Today's column deals with Valentine's Day.
During Christmas 1906, Gov. Bob Taylor submitted a depiction to The Comet newspaper, offering his views of what Christmas is all about, from both the spiritual and traditional sides of the holiday:
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