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Post by richard on Nov 26, 2006 15:32:02 GMT -5
Bob Lane wrote; I wonder if folks might have some interesting holiday memories they would like to share. Thanksgiving, Christmas, perhaps invites from strangers when you were in the military or at collage. Please post your memories here.
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Nov 26, 2006 15:40:17 GMT -5
Great Richard, and I hope that many will share. Am moving a holiday post that I made awhile back to this more appropriate area. Thanks, Richard, for setting this up. Hi to all, and with several postings mentioning going to 'The Greeks' during the winter holidays, thought it might be 'entertaining' to add some holiday traditions from our past. In my family, and I believe it originated within my parents 'Santa Days,' one's stocking always had an orange in it. In part, I believe that this tradition might have had its origin for my parents to the days of the depression times, as well as being in the mid-west, oranges were something quite special and perhaps not readily available and hence, quite a 'extra-ordinary' treat. The really important part of this 'stocking orange' was in the 'eating.' First, you roll the orange on a hard surface until it is very, very soft. Then, carefully using a knife, you cut an X in the top, and suck out all the juice, making that last as long as you can. Finally, you break the orange open and eat the inside part. With some good luck and a large orange this can last quite some time. Never you mind the sticky hands. Consequently, growing up 'Columbus' I always had an orange in my stocking. Matters not that we moved to 'Orange County, CA' and home of many orange groves, this tradition continued. For my own daughters, Santa has always brought the traditional orange. And that tradition continues today for them and any guests that we have, oranges are always in the Christmas stockings hung by the chimney with care. As I taught elementary school, in recent years, it was quite surprising to me that the kids simply did NOT know what a 'tradition' is. A word that you had to teach them!!!! Add in the care that a teacher today must exercise when it comes to 'the holidays.' About the only way that they can be included in the curriculum is to cover all the winter holidays from an historical approach. Thus over a period of a number of years, I introduced 'the orange tradition' from my family dating back to Columbus times, providing an orange for each child as part of the refreshments for the 'winter party' before 'winter break.' Anyone else have a holiday tradition or memory to share? Nanc
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RER
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Post by RER on Nov 26, 2006 18:29:16 GMT -5
Traditional Oyster Stew
My family has one distinct tradition that commenced with my great grandparents on my fathers side of the family. When our family prepared for Christmas Eve, we always had Oyster Stew served among whatever foods and fruits that our parents put forward.
Now I know many people don't care for Oysters let alone Oyster Stew, but if you melt butter or margarine in with the milk solution and a dash of pepper it is very good. If you try Oyster Stew I recommend either canned or bottled, and not fresh. Oh, and throw in a few Oyster crackers to float around the bowl.
Before my father passed away several years ago I promised him that I would continue the Oyster Stew tradition. Our daughter and son doesn't really care for the stew, but they continue the tradition in their households today. My brother also has Oyster Stew on Christmas Eve.
It may sound strange but it is a family tradition, that started in Indiana many years ago.
Bob
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Nov 26, 2006 18:54:52 GMT -5
Bob, your post about oyster stew was so appropriate, for as I sat down at the computer to check for new messages on the board, the conversation on my front porch was 'centering around the half gallon of oysters' that were just purchased for this household last week. We love them here, fixed most any way. Not really sure where our Christmas Eve meal tradition had its origin, here we serve chili------------all are welcome, just drop by and visit, and have a bowl of warming chili. Am thinking that perhaps this may have come about as a tradition, as my dad and mom, me, too, worked many long hours in the retail jewelry business during December, and chili was just actually a very simple meal when 'the rush' was finally over, and we were ready to rest 'shank's ponies' and think about the real, and true meaning of the holidays. Happy holidays to one and all, Nanc
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RER
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Post by RER on Nov 26, 2006 19:16:18 GMT -5
Well, Nancs we love Oysters fried with light batter but would rather go to a seafood restaurant to eat them. It gets a little tough at times to fry them up. I like them cold out of the half shell and also off the grill top to pry them open with the oyster knife.
Many years ago I would go to the inlet beach areas and buy bushel baskets of them and bring them home and wash them off and place them on the grill top for a brief warm up. It seemed my friends and I loved them but my other family members didn't care that much for them in that fashion.
Chili......well I love chili and have it ever year throughout the winter starting in late fall. Many times we invite friends over to tailgate at our house and then watch football games. We normally make a giant pot and many other things; but chili is the most popular dish at tailgates at home.
In fact we had a large pot one week before Thanksgiving. Whether Chili or Oysters they both are great traditions.
Bob
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Post by David Sechrest on Nov 28, 2006 21:36:48 GMT -5
Thanks to Richard for creating this new Board for us to leave our holiday memories!
Since most check out the "View the 50 most recent posts of this forum," when you visit each time, I'll leave this message here, noting that I've created a new Category on the Message Board Welcome Page, and have moved the Holiday Memories Thread here for easy access!
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Post by David Sechrest on Nov 28, 2006 22:46:14 GMT -5
This may sound like a strange "tradition" in this day and age, but what the heck!
We always had a live tree for the Christmas holidays. Christmas tree shopping was a family affair, and around 3 weeks before Jolly St. Nick made his rounds, we piled into the old Chevy Biscayne and went in search of just the right Christmas tree.
Back in the 1960's, there used to be a meat locker on the north side of 2nd Street, just before the stop light at 3rd/State/Hawcreek Boulevard. On a few occasions, someone brought in trees and sat up at this location. I remember us buying at least one tree there. I also remember us buying a tree on Central Avenue, somewhere on the east side between 22nd and 25th Sts. It wasn't hard to pick out the lots that offered trees. They strung light bulbs on makeshift poles around the lot.
Mom and us kids shopped around the lot, with dad holding the tree up for us to get a good look. Once the right tree was picked out, it was tied to the top of the car and hauled home.
Once home, the base of the tree was cut off and inserted in the stand and carried in the house. There were only two different type lights you could buy back then: the big lights for outdoor lighting and the littler ones for indoors (but they were still a pretty good size).
Dad wrapped the lights around the tree, and then it was up to mom, my sister, and I to add all the trinkets. We had a couple of Christmas albums, and listened to those while we decorated.
Some of the songs that still bring back those memories are: Must Be Santa, by Mitch Miller and the Gang, Sleigh Ride, by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, and most any Christmas offering by Percy Faith.
Once all the decorations had been delicately hung, it was my job to hang the icicles. This was a tedious job, as I hung them one by one, but enjoyed every minute of it.
When that last icicle had been draped and the final ornament hung, the lights in the house were turned off and we all sat in the living room, admiring our tree. My sister and I always bought a Christmas coloring book and colored the pictures in the light of the Christmas tree with those scratchy lp's playing.
Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma's house, and presents were exchanged among my aunts and uncles. Grandma always made chicken and dumplings for this occasion, and the dumplings were home-ade. None of that bisquit dough to be passed off as dumplings! My aunt still upholds that tradition...
I can't remember many Christmases that were white, but if it happened to snow, that was an added bonus!
I would imagine that most families these days have an artificial tree with those tiny white lights. And while the artificial trees may be more popular, part of the thrill of Christmas was going in search of that perfect live tree...
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Dec 3, 2006 10:30:13 GMT -5
July 2006 found me in Columbus just having the time of my life!!! Getting to visit with old friends, and making new friends, as well. Additionally, I had in my head, places I just had to find, places that I could remember, most with some little quirky thought that has been kept in my memory bank for lo, these many years. One thought was a home that at Christmas was decorated, at least in my memory, with a series of colored lanterns around the house, probably the size of a basketball. I had a 'fair idea' of where the home was, as well as sort of what it looked like, and definitely could remember that it was on the NE corner of 'some streets.' Therein comes the problem------------just what corner!!! Oh my, and in an area of one way streets!!!!! I drove until I found what I thought was the home in my memory bank. Then off to the library, armed with now, an address, to check the cross directories, as I really thought that if I saw 'the name of the residents,' I could confirm 'my find.' Mission accomplished. It was the Custer home at the NE corner of 10th and Franklin, and the lanterns used to, many moons ago, adorn the space between the pillars around the house. Of Christmases past. Nanc ;-)
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Dec 26, 2006 15:11:08 GMT -5
Bob just posted some items about New Year's traditions, and/or superstitions. Two quickly come to mind. One, regarding food, according to my mom, it is good luck and most definitely a must to eat cabbage on New Year's Day. I have absolutely NO clue of the origin of this particular tradition, other than in my family, IT IS OBSERVED!!!! AND has been for as long as I can remember. The second, and I do believe that this comes via Doc Turner, a Columbus dentist of 'our past.' On New Year's Day one is supposed to do that which you 'expect and want' to do the rest of year. As I recall Doc Turner always kept office hours and appointments on New Year's Day. Not too certain how many 'takers' he may have had, but 'off to work' he went. You might like to take a look at the explanations of some New Year's traditions at this site: wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htmHere's to a great 2007 for all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nanc ;-)
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mfaure
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Post by mfaure on Dec 26, 2006 22:33:25 GMT -5
hi nanc we are finally back from our two months in St Louis as the little elf in the red suit. you mentioned holiday traditions and BINGO I remember my dad used to step out in the alley that ran beside our and shoot the gun at 12:00 sharp on New Years Eve. and then there was the time the phone company had to come out the next day and repair the phone line where someone had shot a hole in it. Wonder who!!!!!
Wonder why we look back now on the "good ol' days". Seems there weren't so many laws then or maybe not the need for them then.
Remember the Christmas Carols from the tower of the First Christmas Church. Sharon Renner and I used to play them on the little keyboard beside the big organ.
Many fond memories of my teens (late 40's early 50's) I think a lot had to do with our association with the saddle club and the people we knew through the horses. We (you, sharon and I could ride all over columbus without our parents being alarmed if we were out of sight. Yes, Columbus was a great place to grow up!!!!!!! margie
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mfaure
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Post by mfaure on Dec 26, 2006 22:34:27 GMT -5
hi nanc we are finally back from our two months in St Louis as the little elf in the red suit. you mentioned holiday traditions and BINGO I remember my dad used to step out in the alley that ran beside our and shoot the gun at 12:00 sharp on New Years Eve. and then there was the time the phone company had to come out the next day and repair the phone line where someone had shot a hole in it. Wonder who!!!!!
Wonder why we look back now on the "good ol' days". Seems there weren't so many laws then or maybe not the need for them then.
Remember the Christmas Carols from the tower of the First Christmas Church. Sharon Renner and I used to play them on the little keyboard beside the big organ.
Many fond memories of my teens (late 40's early 50's) I think a lot had to do with our association with the saddle club and the people we knew through the horses. We (you, sharon and I could ride all over columbus without our parents being alarmed if we were out of sight. Yes, Columbus was a great place to grow up!!!!!!! margie
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Rod
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Post by Rod on Dec 26, 2006 23:31:55 GMT -5
It is really nice to read memories from the past by people who make this board what it is. One of my memories of which I am so blessed to have many, is one Xmas morning (1961) I and my wife was blessed with our only child Kimberly K. Before we moved to Tucson she went to Columbus East and made many friends in the 8 years we lived in Columbus. She still talks about the softball teams she played on. Richard, David and all you folks keep up the great work you do on this board.
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Post by Ricky_Berkey on Dec 27, 2006 5:07:07 GMT -5
Does anyone remember what year the bells were removed from the tower? Was it a controversial decision amongst the congregation? Is the keyboard for the bells still on the organ or was it all removed? Are the bells mechanism still in the tower? Wouldn't it be wonderful if some day the bells could be restored as well as the reflecting pool? Remember the Christmas Carols from the tower of the First Christmas Church. Sharon Renner and I used to play them on the little keyboard beside the big organ.
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RER
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Post by RER on Dec 27, 2006 9:08:49 GMT -5
Question On First Christian Church Tower Time Capsule Or Time Storage Vault ?
I may be wrong here but if my memory serves me, the church placed items or letters in a capsule or vault either in the base of the tower or somewhere in the wall. My Aunt Jean and Uncle Al Collyer were in their 80s and lifetime members of the church when placed.
This was accomplished around the late 1950s or early 1960s. I think the capsule or vault was to be opened either in the year 2000 or 100 years later. I am not sure on the opening date but I have thought of this many times over the years. Maybe, Babs, Mafaure, Rod or someone else remembers this.
I could be wrong on this but maybe someone will know more about it, if accurate. I remember Aunt Jean saying it would be interesting to be here to open the capsule and see and read the items placed. I am not sure if it's been opened or pending 100 years, or if my thought is accurate. Surely, some member of age within the present church body would recall this or the local newspaper has written about it.
Bob
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Dec 27, 2006 9:11:06 GMT -5
Throughout recent weeks, back to when David told about picking out and decorating his family's Christmas tree, I have thought about getting a post together relating a couple of items. One, Indiana persimmons, as opposed to that which you find in CA!!!! There is NO comparison so far as taste, and try as you might, you will never be able to duplicate IN persimmon pudding using what is available out here. In Columbus, I recall two sources of persimmons. One, the George Cook family, when they lived on 8th Street, did have a persimmon tree along the side of their house. As these fruits fell to the ground, indeed, they did create somewhat of a 'mess.' BUT, oh, so tasty. With a tad of research to verify my thinking, the persimmons ripen in the fall. 'Ripe' being a keyword, for if they were not ripe, to eat one would most definitely make your mouth 'pucker.' The second source that my family 'tapped into' for persimmons...........a lone tree out in some farmer's field. Now I surely 'hope' that my dad had this farmer's permission to trek across the field and for us to 'legally harvest' persimmons, so that my mom could make her wonderful pudding recipe. The 'rest of this memory' and I do need somebody's help with the location.............nearby was an 'iron bridge over a creek/small river.' And just a short walk to get to the creek bank and enjoy a few minutes skipping rocks on the water. Those minutes, were indeed, just a few for me, as when a car crossed the bridge, oh, my, how that bridge creaked and groaned. I was completely convinced that this bridge would collapse right before my eyes, and I quickly high-tailed it away from there. Can also remember my dad telling me such would not happen, and not to be such a sissy!!!!!! Words, my dad had 'to eat.' As not too long after that persimmon gathering experience, that bridge did collapse under the weight of a passing car. Where were we? ? For some interesting facts about persimmons, check this site: www.davewilson.com/homegrown/promotion/persimmon/pers_lore-recipes.html Picking out a Christmas tree---------and I do wonder, through adult eyes, IF what we did was 'legal,' and that we had the 'appropriate permissions' to do this. Again, we were out in the country, in some farmer's field, and there were a few 'evergreen trees.' Not many, just a few. From those 'few' we selected the one that would fit on our car and in our house. My dad, with his handy hatchet, cut down the tree. The tree we selected had M & M size, very light bluish 'things' on the end of each branch, which almost gave the appearance of being 'decorated' by nature's hand. Our Christmas trees were lighted with the rather large bulbs, cumbersome type strings of lights, and surely no more than two strands of lights for the whole tree. Later on, am guessing the late 40s, 'Bubble Lights' were introduced, and what a thrill it was to have a strand of them adorning your Christmas tree. It was so fascinating to watch these candle shaped 'bulbs, boil and bubble.' At some point in time, instead of the 'foil icicles,' we had ones that were probably made out of 'colored, twisted aluminum,' perhaps a scant 1/8 in. wide. Seems that they came in a box of probably 24. And we might have had two boxes to adorn the tree. Seems to me that I would also string popcorn and fresh cranberries to put on our tree, as well. AND just a closing thought--------------back before electric lights for a tree, folks used candles!!!!! Now that is a rather scary dangerous thought.........................BUT in 2006, right here in So. California, some folks that lived in a very, very expensive home, chose to use candles on their tree. Headline in yesterday's paper----a huge fire, as a result of the candles on the tree, damage, over 3 million dollars. Hmmmmmm!!!!! Nanc
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Dec 28, 2006 9:51:33 GMT -5
I would not have been very old when the new church was built but I do not recall anything about a time capsule. I have a good friend who has worked on the Archives section for the church though and will ask her if there is anything in the Archives that gives us any information and will post it when I find out.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Dec 28, 2006 14:53:38 GMT -5
The cooking of cabbage on New Year's day was a tradition in my family as I was growing up and I still do it even now. Been in lots of other places, even overseas and I'd send Don off to locate a nice firm head of cabbage. We put money in the cabbage as it is cooking, the premise being that you "would then have money all year long". Something both my mother and my grandmother always did and I still do this as well. ( I keep a few coins put away, which I always scrub with soap and polish up that are used just for the cabbage.)
The idea of what you did on New Year's day would continue all year was probably a take off on this about the money in the cabbage. Thus you see why your dentist wanted to work on the holiday so "he'd have patients and money coming in all year long".
My husband's family never heard of this but I know lots of people here in Columbus who did the same. Cabbage has to be cooked on New Year's Day. Its just a "must"! :-)
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Dec 31, 2006 12:31:58 GMT -5
Re: the bell tower and time capsule/First Christian Church.
Today I have sent two emails to the church, hopefully directed to some people who can find out about these two items for us. I specifically inquired if in fact there was a time capsule buried, when it was done and when it is to be uncovered. Also asked if the chimes/bells still are connected ( this I asked of our organist Dan Wallace.) He will know if anyone does. I think not too long ago he played them.
Will let you know once I get answers to these two items. Hopefully I will receive them before we depart on Thursday for "points South" and warmer weather! Keeping my fingers crossed so I can let you all know! :-)
Happy New Year (just a little early, I know, but the wish is still sincere) and hope 2007 will bring you joy, peace and love.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jan 2, 2007 0:26:00 GMT -5
Well folks there was a "time capsule" but so far I know very little about it. Evidently buried at the time the building was dedicated. I have someone attempting to find out more details for us...but I can add something else to this tale. A new time capsule will soon be buried and this one is in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the church. Barney Carr will be burying the new capsule very soon.
More details as I learn them.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jan 2, 2007 15:58:50 GMT -5
The Carillon bells in the bell tower at First Christian Church are no longer in the tower. According to Dan Wallace, our music minister, these bells were removed some years ago.
Recently there were chimes/bells played during a church service but Dan told me that the music that I heard that day was from the pipe organ.
I wonder why the bells were taken out of the tower? Suppose someone in the community complained about their ringing? How can someone gripe about lovely music from a church? Oh well, such is progress I suppose, out with the old and in with the new.
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