CORRECTION
Let’s start with a correction - in the last issue of Grist we included a great story from Ned Sweeney regarding his early years in school. Unfortunately we made a mistake on the teacher’s name. It should have been Harriett Barrett, not Margaret. Thanks to member Janeann DeLeon, a niece of Harriett and herself a former teacher at the Junior High and currently a substitute teacher for Freeport, for catching the error.
MEETINGS
By the time you read this, the December meeting, a dinner meeting on Friday, December 9, may already have come and gone. Try to make the next meeting, Thursday, January 12, at 7 in the Community Room of Kings in Sarver. Some of us go a half hour early and enjoy dinner together. Old members and new – you are always welcome.
CHRISTMAS MEMORIES
For this edition of Grist we decided to solicit some Christmas memories from several current and former residents of our great community. In no particular order, they follow:
Gay Revi
Valley News Dispatch, 9/9/2005 – Obituary
Elizabeth Shaffer, Monroeville
Elizabeth Hurrell Shaffer, 98 of Monroeville, died Wednesday, September 7, 2005. She was born 2/2/1907 in North Braddock. A graduate of Westchester State Teachers’ College, she was supervisor of music in the Freeport Area Schools for 43 years, where she was known for the elaborate school pageants she directed.
“Elaborate school productions” indeed! Elizabeth Shaffer taught vocal music in the Junior and Senior High all the years I attended Freeport schools. I graduated in 1958 and, at that time, Junior and Senior High grades were all housed together in the building on Fourth Street.
Every year, work on the annual Christmas Pageant began in early October. Mrs. Shaffer had already selected music for the Chorus, the Blue and Gold Choir, and various soloists. A short play had been chosen, and roles had been cast.
The program was presented once to the student body, in the afternoon, and then again in the evening for the entire community.
Every year, the program began in exactly the same way. All the girls wore white blouses and carried tall, white candles. We formed 2 long lines, one in each hallway beside the auditorium. On cue, the first girl in line lit her candle; then the next girl tilted her unlit candle to that flame. The procedure continued down the line of girls until each girl’s candle was lit. It was a major sin to tilt a lighted candle to the next girl; we practiced again and again tilting ONLY the unlit candle and NEVER the lit one. To this day, I don’t know why this was so important. Perhaps it was a safety measure. But even now, fifty years later, when I light candles around the house I see the stern face of Elizabeth Shaffer, and I NEVER tilt a lighted candle towards an unlit one.
When the candles were lit, all the lights in the auditorium and hallways went out. After a few chords of introduction from the piano, we girls began singing “O Come All Ye Faithful” and marching down the center aisles and side aisles of the auditorium ONE MEASURED STEP AT A TIME. Step…step…step…we had rehearsed for days with Mrs. Shaffer clapping her hands to make sure that even dolts such as I learned our left foot from our right and how to walk in a straight line IN UNISON. Each step had to be about 12 inches long.
We sang the first verse in English, repeated that verse in Latin (“Adeste Fidelis”), sang the first verse again in English, back to Latin, and so on until all had marched once through the auditorium. When the first girl entered the auditorium for the second time, she stopped at the front near the stage and all of us who came after her took places along the side and rear walls to sing the final verses. The light from so many candles surrounded the audience in their seats and filled the entire auditorium with a soft glow. When the last verse was finished, we blew out our candles, the stage lights came up, and the Christmas play began.
The day after the performances, we had to quickly pack away all the candles. Mrs. Shaffer had already picked out the music for the Spring Concert, and we had to get busy learning the new songs!
Did you know that Elizabeth Shaffer wrote the words to the Freeport Alma Mater, “By the Allegheny Flowing” and Gay believes it was written in the late 1940’s. Mr. Colona, the Band Instructor, wrote the music.
Rod Chapman
In 1935- 70 years ago – I was a freshman in high school. These were the years of the “Great Depression” and holidays were happy times as families pulled together to observe Christmas. If you were lucky enough to have a Holiday Savings Club and could pay 25 cents per week for 50 weeks, you would get a check for $12.50 to aide the gift buying. A tree could be bought for $1.00!
The town always had a community Christmas tree on the lawn of the Baptist Church at the foot of Washington Street. It always had colored lights and was a beautiful sight from down Fifth Street.
The people of the area always looked forward to the Candle Light Performance at the high school of which Gay has so eloquently written. Most every home had a wreath or an electric candle in the window. All the churches were beautifully decorated for the celebration of the birth of Christ our Savior.
If we had snow during the season, the town council ordered High Street from Fourth to Third closed for kids to sled ride. The holiday season today is a far cry from what we had 70 years ago.
John Shoop
Christmas is the greatest season, especially when you are in the retail business. Families would come into the store and I would know the grandfathers, fathers, little kids. We used to have little rings to give the kids. They came in a jewel box, strategically placed so that the kids could pick out the ones they wanted. One time a 4 yr. old picked out a ring for his mom – a blue one. When he got home he was upset with his dad because he decided he really wanted a red one. Dad had to drive the whole way down from Butler again the next day to make an exchange of rings. Decorating was always special for Christmas. Herkimer, the elk, who hangs over the front door, would always be decorated for Christmas. The elk came to the store in about 1880. My grandfather’s brother, great Uncle Bob, and 3 of his railroad friends would go hunting out in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. One year he shot the elk and had it stuffed. I have pictures of it hanging in the store back in the days when the store was lit with gaslights. Uncle Bob died before I was born. Christmas Day was always tough; I knew I could never just sit back and relax because the After Christmas Sale and Exchange Day would follow the next day. This year, the store will close for good on Christmas Eve. So, for the first time on Christmas Day, I can go, relax and have a great time, and not say that we have to get home early.
As readers of Grist know, J. H. Shoop and Sons was begun by my great great grandfather, Jacob Shoop. It was located down along the river – there were no roads in or out of town at that time - the only way in was by river. He was interested in the weather, and he looked forward to rainy days because the river came up and all the rafts from the upper Allegheny were able to flow down through to Freeport, bringing customers. He was always looking for a freshet.
This isn’t a Christmas memory, but some readers of this newsletter will remember Paul Shearer. He worked with my dad for 45 years and they always kidded around about which was the best salesman. One day a woman came in the front door – off Fifth Street. She was interested in buying a hat. They were located behind the cash register and Dad showed her about every hat in the place. He couldn’t find anything she liked, so she left. Shortly after, she came in the side door – off Market Street. Paul waited on her, showed her some hats and she bought one. Said it was the exact hat she was looking for. The woman went on to say that she’d been in the store around the corner and they didn’t have a thing she’d be interested in buying. So Paul felt that showed he was the best salesman. But Dad always told about a woman coming in to buy a suit for her just deceased husband for his funeral. At that time suits always had two pairs of trousers. Dad offered to put the extra pair on the rack to be sold with other trousers, but she wanted the whole suit – both pairs of trousers – this is what her husband would have wanted, she said. Dad felt this proved he was the better salesman!
Indeed, a long chapter of Freeport mercantile history will end on Christmas Eve when John closes J. H. Shoop and Sons forever. He plans to travel, continue with his woodcarving and learn to play the banjo. Be careful with the knife, John, or your banjo picking days will end before they begin.
Marilyn and Sonny Westerman
Christmas at our house with our family was like everyone else’s when the children were small. We had 3 boys and a girl and it was going out and buying gadgets and toys even if we couldn’t afford it, thinking this is the way you celebrate. This was really fun. We would wait until our little ones were in bed on Christmas Eve. Then we would trim the tree and wrap presents. We were in bed only about two hours and then up for the big day. Later in life we realized this is not what Christmas is all about. We always had a cake or a cupcake for Jesus ‘ birthday, but somehow the gadgets and toys seemed more important. As we grew older along with our little ones we began to realize what Christmas really means. It truly is the birthday of Jesus and the beginning of what he suffered to make things wonderful for us. Have a Happy and Blessed Christmas from the Westerman’s.
Note: Marilyn and Sonny have been sweethearts since the 4th grade!
Betty McKnight
I remember candles – real candles on the Christmas tree. It would be put up after my sister, Jean, and I went to bed. They were lit briefly on Christmas morning. Once the house was wired for electricity, this practice ended We always got stockings and an uncle put a silver dollar in the toe of the stockings. There was always a big, red delicious apple. In those days Christmas was the only time that these apples appeared in the store. There were some other gifts, such as clothing and always a special gift, a toy. One year it was roller skates and Jean and I skated a lot the next summer. One toy I still have from my childhood is a Bi-lo doll, with blue eyes, about the size of a newborn baby. It was actually the second one I was given. The first one was broken while I was at my grandfather’s store. He glued it back together, but after I got the new one I gave the repaired one to Jean. As Jean was 3 years older she wasn’t much interested. This same doll had another injury when accidentally dropped by my grandmother and it was found many years later when they were cleaning out the store
Josie Lowers
My family of 5 children always loved Christmas. Until they no longer believed in Santa Claus we did nothing until they went to bed on Christmas Eve. It was so magical when they would get up in the morning and see the tree and the gifts. They all remember coming down the stairs and seeing it all. When I was small my mother left us, my oldest brother was 12, I was 8, a younger sister was 5, and our baby brother was 3. Dad raised us and we had a wonderful life. One day while we were at school, the house burnt down. We lived in the garage for a time. As Christmas approached we thought and hoped Santa Claus was coming so we hung cotton stockings behind the stove. My older brother hung a big hunting sock, we were jealous – he would get a lot we thought. When we got up the next morning the tree was up and there were presents. I had wanted a desk, my friend had a roll top desk and we would play school. I did get a nice, little desk but not a roll top! Three of stockings had oranges and peppermint sticks in them. But my brother’s was filled with ashes; he was so bad! We thought Santa Claus really had punished him. But we had a wonderful Christmas
Josie is dedicating her Christmas memory to the memory of her beloved granddaughter, Debra Hoover Ukish, who recently passed away.
Dorothy Beale Snyder
We always had Christmas stockings and there was always a big orange and big apple in each – this fruit wasn’t common then. We also always got a book. One year I got the Night Before Christmas and it was all in color – that was a pretty impressive thing at that time. I was the youngest in the family and of course always heard that if you were bad you got coal in your stocking. One year my sister, who was 8 years older, had a stocking full of coal. Much later I realized this was meant to show me to be good! One Christmas my dad made a cradle for me, it was doll-size and was painted green with red kittens stenciled on each end. There was also a cupboard. I still have the book and the cradle. In those days Christmas trees were rarely bought – we’d go out in the woods and cut one. Because it was a hemlock, it took up a lot of room in the house. We strung popcorn for it and my mother made cloth ornaments.
Bob Camerlo
The Christmas season seemed to begin around Thanksgiving from a business standpoint. People were obviously apprehensive and thinking – am I going to get it all done, what should I get for this one or that one. About mid December, people seemed to loosen up. They realized they weren’t going to change the date of Christmas and they would live with what got done and not worry about what didn’t. People would get into the spirit and become really joyous. Then it would be so pleasant to talk with our customers. I’d ask them who is coming for Christmas, are you going to your children’s…will the grandchildren be there? I didn’t always remember names very well, but I had a knack for remembering the stories they had told me the past year about their celebrations. I knew 90% of our customers and could remember the circumstances of their Christmases in the past. By the 23rd, people were so joyous that Christmas was here and it would take place, no matter what hadn’t got done. The 24th was almost party day; everyone would be in a great mood, going to church, or dinner, visiting kids or having them at their house. We would make the rounds, down to Bus Toy’s barbershop, down to see John at Shoops. I missed this when we closed the business. So my first year after closing the business I took a job with UPS delivering for the Christmas season, late November, until Christmas eve – that was great. A small town Christmas is wonderful, I’d drive through on High Street – the houses would be decorated so beautifully. I would know that the Huth family lived here, the DeMeno family there, always looking to see if Diana Rehner had her house decorated. You knew who lived in each house, so it wasn’t just a house; it was someone’s home. It’s something I miss, not doing that any more. But I do still get a warm feeling driving into town during the season.
Bob’s grandfather opened the first Camerlo’s Store –in Butler Junction. His father moved the store to Freeport, where it operated in various locations and at one time there were two Camerlo stores in town.
Thanks so much to our “memory sharers” for taking the time to think of what they wanted to say and then to give us the gift of those memories.
CANNED VENISON
Raw venison, cut into serving sizes
Salt
Quart jars, rings, lids, all sterilized
Pack the venison into quart jars within 1 inch of the top. Add 1 t. salt. Wipe rims well. Adjust hot lids and rings, firm down rings. Put jars carefully in a large pot of hot water. The water has to cover the jars. Keep water at a gentle boil and cook about 4 hours. If water drops down to the point that jar tops might be exposed, add more hot water. Put a lid on to keep the boil going and cut down on evaporating water. When you want to use – open jar and pour contents into a strainer and rinse. Meat is put into a saucepan and heated completely.
This recipe was in the Family Traditions Cookbook, a publication of FAHS, and was submitted by Sandy Jordan. She said it was from an old cookbook. Some of you may be dealing with venison right now – enjoy.
CHRISTMAS IN FREEPORT – 100 YEARS AGO
From the December 29, 1905, edition of The Freeport Journal: A Unique Entertainment
The United Presbyterian Sabbath School held their usual entertainment on Monday evening. At the close every member was presented with a box of fine candy and than an unusual happened. Every person in the audience was asked to remain for a social. All the ladies and visitors were invited up to the audience room where an entertainment committee of gentlemen provided amusement with yobo band, conundrums and charades where a pleasant hour was passed. They were then invited to the Sabbath School room where a fine lunch awaited them, provided, arranged and served by the gentlemen of the congregation. That the ladies were surprised, pleased and appreciated the effort to entertain them was voiced in a neat little speech by Miss Retta McCain who said in part, “If you gentlemen were all young, unmarried men and we ladies were all young and unmarried, we would think you had chosen this way to reach our hearts, but as this is not the case, we appreciate your effort to please us as coming from hearts overflowing with liberality, appreciation and good will.” The speech ended with a motion for a vote of thanks, every lady rising. The vote was received by the gentlemen with three rousing cheers for the ladies. This ended the Christmas of 1905 in the UP Church of Freeport.
“Yobo” may have been a typo and possibly is meant to be “hobo.”
Em. Lutheran Church Services
The Christmas service in Emanuel Lutheran Church Monday evening was a very impressive one. The church was appropriately decorated, and presented a beautiful appearance. The Christian service “The Blessed Morn” was splendidly rendered by the Sunday School, the children acquitting themselves admirably. Near the conclusion of the program the Sunday School was given a bounteous treat. Just before the singing of the last song, the Assistant Superintendent of the School, Mr. Earl McGraw, presented the Pastor, Rev. Harold B. Ernsberger, a purse of gold in a well-chosen speech. It was “a token of friendship, esteem and love,” given with the hope that it might be received as indicating the spirit that prevailed throughout the congregation. The Pastor in a brief speech accepted the generous gift, extending his heartfelt thanks to all who had given expression to their Christian love and esteem.
Christmas at Creek School
Christmas exercises were held at Creek School Friday, December 22, 1905. After recitations, reading and music by the school, the wee Santa Clause suddenly appeared, which added to the delight and amusement of the children and grown people. The pupils presented their teachers with a handsome gift. Those present were Mrs. Joseph Galbreath, Mrs. William Gaiser, Mrs. John Thorn, Mrs. James Gibson, Mrs. William Beckett, Miss Jessie Beckett, Miss Maude Milliron, Mabel Ewing, Maude Bricker, Ida Hesselgesser, Laura Collor, Pearl Gaiser, Mabel Mainhart, little Florence Galbreath, Messrs. William Frantz, Charles and Frank Morrison, John Beckett, Thomas, Oliver and George Gaiser, Hiram Sipe, Master Kenneth Krause, Roy Galbreath and Howard Gibson.
The location of Creek School is unknown.
These ads appeared in the December 22, 1905, edition of the Journal:
Put a Bank Book
In your boy’s stocking
He will take pride in having his own
Bank account. It will teach him to be
thrifty.
One Dollar Starts an Account.
4 Per Cent. Paid on Time Deposits
THE FARMERS NATIONAL BANK
Capital, $50,000. Deposits, $110,000.
T. G. Cornell, Pres. F. K. Weaver, Cash.
Useful Things
For Christmas Giving
We Have Them
Fur Gloves Neckwear
Kid Gloves Hats
Mufflers Overcoats
Umbrellas Suit Cases
Initial Handkerchiefs in silk and linen. These and many other seasonable gifts.
J. H. Shoop & Sons
Merchant Tailors
Keystone Bldg. Freeport, Pa.
A Christmas Suggestion
We have
Clean)
Crisp } Paper Money
New)
And Plenty of
Bright Shining Gold Pieces
They make nice Christmas presents.
The Old Freeport Bank
Of Freeport, Pa.
Milton Garver
Practical Gas Water and Steam Fitter.
Estimates given on new
work. Gas and Water fixtures
a specialty
Market St. Freeport, Pa.
Phone 12