The LoJo asked people on a couple of local Facebook sites to share some of their Christmas memories in earlier days of Russellville
and Logan County. The following are among their submissions:
Nelson Weaver
A few times Bro. Joe Carrico took me with him to deliver Christmas presents and food. There is no telling how many families would have had
nothing for Christmas if not for Joe's annual toy drives.
We would enter one-room shacks and the wind blew through the walls that were black and everything smelled of coal. He brought food and toys. I could
hear the paper wrappings tearing before the door was totally closed. House after house, it was the same scene. The parents would cry and the children
would laugh. Bro. Joe is the only angel I ever knew personally.
Jeannie Leedom Bowles
Remember Santa arriving in downtown Russellville on a fire truck? Do you remember how all the stores decorated their windows for Christmas? Growing up
in a family with a clothing store made December an extremely busy month! Although we never opened on Sundays, the store was open from 8 am to 8 pm
Monday through Saturday during the holidays, but we had fun because it was a family affair!
Gift wrapping was my first job at my dad's (Walter Leedom Jr.) store. I think I made 50 cents a day and I loved it! My only complaint was
usually from Daddy because I'd use too much ribbon trying to make the packages look extra pretty. By the way, I was 8. I loved wrapping then and I
still enjoy it today!
Suzi Burgher Payne
I have fond memories of shopping with my mom in Leedom's when I was a kid. I was always so curious about the men's hat boxes that were stacked way up
high. Something you don't see in stores these days.
From the time I was a small child I have vivid memories of the annual Christmas Parade in my tiny hometown of Auburn, with Santa always arriving on the
fire truck and the members of the volunteer fire department tossing out candy, apples & oranges, and popcorn balls to the children who waited with
excitement. Our small town square had its own version of the "Tree at Rockefeller Center," albeit somewhat smaller. This year, even my 88-year-old dad, Jimmy Burgher, participated as he drove a 1956 Ford Victoria Fairlane in the parade.
Dorris Burchett
I remember back in the early 60's when the Electric Plant Board would sponsor a contest at Christmas for the "best decorated" exterior home/yard in
town, i.e., who was using the most electricity to create a Holiday atmosphere. The contest, in those days, was judged by the Jaycees. We spent most of
one evening during mid-December driving around the town to make our decision. The ‘prize’ that year went to a very small property on the road between
the old Logan County Hospital and Colonial Inn. The property lent nothing to the decoration but every spot in the yard and on the small frame house was
lighted in keeping with the Season. As I recall, the local paper ran a picture in the following week’s edition.hose days, was judged by the Jaycees. I
specifically recall that in 1964 the then current Jaycee president, Lanny Poore and two past presidents, Joe Mac Williams and I were the judges. We
spent most of one evening during mid-December, driving around the town to make our decision. The 'prize' that year went to a very small property on the
road between the old Russellville/Logan County hospital and Colonial Inn. The property lent nothing to the decoration but every spot in the yard and on
the small frame house was lighted in keeping with the Season. As I recall the local paper ran a picture in the following week's edition.hose days, was
judged by the Jaycees. I specifically recall that in 1964 the then current Jaycee president, Lanny Poore and two past presidents, Joe Mac Williams and
I were the judges. We spent most of one evening during mid-December, driving around the town to make our decision. The 'prize' that year went to a very
small property on the road between the old Russellville/Logan County hospital and Colonial Inn. The property lent nothing to the decoration but every
spot in the yard and on the small frame house was lighted in keeping with the Season. As I recall the local paper ran a picture in the following week's
edition.hose days, was judged by the Jaycees. I specifically recall that in 1964 the then current Jaycee president, Lanny Poore and two past
presidents, Joe Mac Williams and I were the judges. We spent most of one evening during mid-December, driving around the town to make our decision. The
'prize' that year went to a very small property on the road between the old Russellville/Logan County hospital and Colonial Inn. The property lent
nothing to the decoration but every spot in the yard and on the small frame house was lighted in keeping with the Season. As I recall the local paper
ran a picture in the following week's edition.
Missy Maxwell Perry
I remember sitting on Santa's lap at the Sears store in Bethel Shopping Center. I also remember shopping in all the stores downtown looking for just
the right present for Mom - still have the napkin holder I bought her when I was about 6. I say all the time I wish my children were able to experience
the Russellville I knew as a child!!
I just knew that Santa lived upstairs in Hancock’s!! That the elves worked so hard and brought all the wonderful toys downstairs for us to enjoy. I
remember the excited feeling being able to walk down the steps to the toy department.
Laura Nealy Burks
I loved the excitement during the holidays of working at my grandfather's store - Hancock's. One year, my job was to do the gift wrapping - I wasn't
very good at that!and just smiling ear to ear!! Of course I thougth an elephant lived in the little alley way between what is now chambe of commerce
and the City buidling - I have no clue why - but wouldn't that have been fabulous!!
Bobby Sue Silvey
I also remember that it would be so crowded down around the square the nights before Christmas that you could hardly walk. This still went on for a
while after I married and moved away.
Mary Lucy Franklin
I remember it all well, and it didn't start until after Thanksgiving. I especially remember the crowds of people in town - going from store to store,
and a lot of visiting. And there was a nativity scene in the Square.
Linda Hollaway
I remember the fire truck, but then I thought we went to courthouse to sit on his lap & he would give us candy. I was thinking we only had Santa
one day in R'ville & that helped to keep him real.
George Guion
That Santa was Jack Stengel who was a postal carrier and Katy Stengel`s dad.
Lindy Kemmis
I know nothing ever stays the same, but it was sure a great little town to grow up in and lots of great memories of being a kid here. I'm so glad I
have had the good fortune to grow up in a small town and rural community.
Linda Hatler
Back in the early 60's, the merchants all joined forces and gave away on Christmas Eve, a huge Christmas stocking full of stuff worth $600 I think....I
won it, and there were lots of different items from all the stores. Exciting!
Julie Webb
It wasn't officially Christmas until the entire family loaded into the car, after dark and drove up Hospital Hill to look at the lights of
Russellville. When I was a child, it seemed like that was as tall as Mt. Everest!
Vicky Populorum Lyons
ITW would always have a nice party for all the families. Great gifts for the kids.
Missy Maxwell Perry
I remember the ITW parites. I still have a little battery operated Scottie dog that rolls on the floor and barks that I got from Santa. Didn’t they
have them at the auditorium at RHS?
Jill White Steward
Rockwell had the best Christmas parties for employees and their famiiies! I remember getting a gift from under a huge tree and I thought it was the
greatest thing ever!!
Rita Stratton
I remember the Square being beautifully decorated. Christmas lights encircled the Square. Then many lines of lights were hung from the center to create
a tent effect. All the stores were decked with beautiful decorations, and shoppers were bustling and the air was always brisk, unlike the warm
Christmases we now have.
Rob Williams
Were there not green decorations with red lanterns of some sort that were hanging from light poles in the downtown area?
Kim Jenkins
They had those as well as snowmen and Santa on lightpoles.
Joan Dodson
I remember Monday Night Get Togethers at church with the Joneses (Russell, Pam, Dede, Brad and Keith). They would take us kids out caroling.
Kimberly J. Harris
Had to share my Christmas memory of Bob Murphy's Grocery store and how it still plays a part of Christmas in our home every year. Best I can remember
we went to town maybe twice a month at best, and we did our trading at Bob's (that is what my grandfather called it), I was four years old and on this
visit to grocery shop I saw the most amazing Santa doll. When I look back now I'm sure we did not have the money to purchase such items as this. As I
cried and wanted the Santa so much my grandmother (Ora Swallows) assured me that I did not need it. After we got home and had gotten all the
brown paper bags into the kitchen, my grandfather (Wilber Swallows) said he had to go back to town. When he returned from town he had a big
smile on his face and my Santa doll. It has been under my Christmas tree every year now for 41 years. It is a reminder of the many blessings God has
given to me in my life-the people that have passed away and the ones that are still here.