Special Supplement

December 21, 2019

2 • December 2019
Your last chance guide
for finding holiday fun
Dec. 21
Holiday Open House at Gen-
esee Country Village and
Museum: Celebrate the tra-
ditions of the season and
explore the winter wonders of
the historic village. Self-guid-
ed tours. Eight houses will be
open to explore. Experience
music, sample foods and
enjoy a visit with St. Nick.
This magical event is sched-
uled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Light fare, snacks and drinks
will be available for purchase.
Tickets for the Open House
are: $10 for adults, $8 for
youth ages 3-17, and free
for youth under three. The
museum is located at 1410
Flint Hill Rd., Mumford. Info.
gcv.org.
Popcorn, Paperbacks and Pan-
cakes with Mrs. Claus: 10 to
11 a.m. Stories and pancakes
with Mrs. Claus. Visit www.
hoaglibrary.org. Hoag Library,
134 South Main St., Albion.
F U
EXPERIENCE • COMMITMENT • TRUST
B ATAV I A F U N E R A L H O M E S . C O M
GENESEE COUNTRY VILLAGE AND MUSEUM
Visitors to the holiday open
house at Genesee Country
Village and Museum,
Mumford, will be able to visit
several village houses and
learn about holiday traditions
from the past.
Dec. 21-22
Santa & Reindeer Train Ride:
A 1-hour magical ride to the
North Pole. Santa makes a
special trip bringing his rein-
deer for all the children to
Happy Holidays
N E
Season’s Greetings
FIND HUNDREDS OF THINGS TO DO EACH MONTH
WHEN YOU VISIT THE ONLINE CALENDARS
AT WWW.THEDAILYNEWSONLINE.COM
AND WWW.THELCN.COM
see. Santa’s sleigh is avail-
able for family photos before
Wishing
you board the train to ride
to the North Pole. When we
arrive at the North Pole Santa
your family
will join us for the ride back
to the Medina Railroad Muse-
um. He will hand out a bell to
each child. Admission into the
museum is included in your
ticket. Dress in your favorite
A Very Merry
pajama’s and enjoy the ride.
Medina Railroad Museum,
530 West Ave., Medina.
Christmas
Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Candlelight
Communion Services: Ser-
vices will be held at 4 p.m.
and 7 p.m. at Avon Wesleyan Need a Gift Idea, an Area Rug, or Gift Certificate? From: A.F.C.
Church, 300 Genesee St., Valu Home Plaza • West Main St., Batavia
corner of Pine View Heights
and Genesee Street, Avon. All affordablefc.com • 585-345-1108
are welcome. Mon., 8-6; Tues., 8-7; Wed., 8-6;
Thurs., 8-7; Fri., 8-6 Sat., 8-3 Closed Sundays
See EVENTS T4
From Our Family to Yours
R A L H O M E S
 Season’s Greetings December 2019 • 3

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4 • December 2019 Season’s Greetings

New Year’s Eve Bash with Last Night Perry: 5 p.m.-mid-

Events Johnny Rawls & the Love
Machine: 7 to 11 p.m. Ring
in 2020 with Johnny Rawls
night, safe, fun, alcohol-free,
family-oriented New Year’s
Eve celebration at the Perry
From T2 and the Love Machine. Tick-
ets include hors d’ourves. Elementary/Middle School,
Cash bar available. Opening 50 Olin Ave. Also 5-10 p.m.
with Griffith and Martino. Sports Night Perry at the Perry
Dec. 31 $30.00. For information, High School. Admission: $10,
Noon Year’s Eve: 11 a.m. (585) 481-0036 or visit www.
brownpapertickets.com. The with a $25 maximum for fam-
to 12:15 p.m. Get ready to Geneseo Riviera, 4 Center
welcome 2020. With sparkly St., Geneseo. See EVENTS T5
art projects, a countdown,
balloon drop, and more,
patrons will enjoy New Year’s
festivities all before bedtime.
Open to children 4 years old
and older. For information,
call (585) 243-0440. Wad-
sworth Library, 24 Center St.,
Geneseo.
DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO SPECIALIZING IN WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE
Noon Year’s Eve Party: 11:30 People watch fireworks during a past First Night Le Roy.
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join us for 108 Bank Street, Batavia • 343-6600 Krysten Schmidt,
a family-friendly New Year’s fax 343-6601 • ladiesfirst@verizon.net Nurse Practitioner
Eve celebration. Balloon drop Year’s Eve Party. There will mation, call (585) 343-3750
at noon. Register in advance
for supply purposes. Visit
be shuttle services from area
hotels from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
or visit visitgeneseeny.com.
Batavia Downs, 8315 Park During this
Packages available. For infor- Rd., Batavia.
www.hoaglibrary.org. Hoag
Library, 134 Soutn Main St.,
Holiday Season
Albion.
Batavia Downs 2020 New
more than ever, our
Year’s Eve Party: Reserva-
tions required. Call Sara at
thoughts turn gratefully to
(585) 343-3750 ext. 6439.
Payment required ahead those who made our progress
of time. Ring in 2020 with
dinner, drinks and dancing possible! And in this spirit,
with music from The Hit
List. Live music 8:30 p.m. we say Thank You and
to midnight. Fireworks and
champagne toast at midnight.
No one under the age of 21
send Warm Wishes to all.
is allowed inside the New Hours: Mon. 8-4, Tues. 7-3, Wed. Closed, Thur. 7-3, Fri. 7-12

From our family to yours...

Wishing you a beautiful holiday
season and a
New Year filled with health,
happiness & prosperity.
Thank you for your support
this year!

PELLEGRINO AUTO SALES

4060 Pearl Street Road, Batavia | 344.2658 | PellegrinoAutoSales.com
 Season’s Greetings December 2019 • 5

Decorate with a nose toward inviting holiday aromas

Metro Creative Syndicate
Holiday decor is as much about the
sights and sounds as it is about the
scents of the season. Few things evoke
the holiday spirit as much as the aro-
ma of fresh evergreen or spicy cinna-
mon and cloves. Incorporating inviting
aromas into holiday decor can make
homes feel even more special.
Filling a home with fragrant decor
takes a little ingenuity and planning.
Here are some ideas to incorporate the
scents of the holiday season into your
decor.
n Use a real Christmas tree. An easy
way to create a pine-like scent indoors
is to select a real Christmas tree. Ask the
tree farm which varieties are the most
fragrant. If a fresh tree is not possible,
fill a decorative basket with pine cones
and evergreen boughs for that woodsy
appeal.
n Create a seasonal scented sim-
mer. Take to the stove to make a home-
made air infusion from ingredients in
and around the house. Simmer pine
branches, citrus peels, vanilla, nutmeg,
cinnamon, and whatever else can be
placed in a pot or slow cooker with wa-
ter. The scents will permeate the house
Embrace delectable holiday scents in seasonal decor.
for hours if enough water is added to
the mixture.
n Make holiday sachets. Some of
the same ingredients for the holiday
simmer can be dried and sewn into sa-
chets. Add ribbon and hang on real or
artificial trees. Or tuck the pouches into
various areas around the house.
METRO CREATIVE SYNDICATE
n Experiment with scented can-
dles. Scented candles can be found at
various stores during the holiday sea-
son. Select among popular holiday aro-
mas like pine, cinnamon, apples, and
Christmas cookie varieties.
n Utilize essential oils. Natural food
stores and other retailers may sell es-
sential oils, which can be diluted and
sprayed on surfaces or into the air. Ex-
ercise caution around upholstery, or
test for staining before use.
n Spend more time in the kitchen.
Add delicious scents to the home by
way of freshly baked goods or holiday
meals. Nothing beats the smell of cook-
ies right out of the oven, and the scents
can linger for hours.
n Make beeswax ornaments. Add
scented oils to melted beeswax and
pour into molds. Hang these creations
as ornaments on trees or in other areas
of the home.
n Craft some “gingerbread” orna-
ments. A mixture of cinnamon, apple-
sauce and glue can be used to make
ornaments or gift tags that resemble
gingerbread cookies, and these orna-
ments have more staying power than
actual cookies.
n Design a pretty pomander. Stud
an orange with cloves. Cut off the top
of the orange and hollow out a place
for a small tea light. The warmth of the
flame will produce more scent.
Rich and inviting aromas can fill a
home with the holiday spirit.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY NEWS FILE PHOTOGRAPH

Letchworth State Park Naturalist Douglas Bassett, left, speaks
to a group during a 2019 “First Day” hike at the park. About 300
people participated in the Jan. 1, 2019, hikes. Six different hikes
are planned for the 2020 “First Day” event.
Purchase warm drinks, enjoy
Events entertainment and ooo and
ahhh at the fireworks which
will start at 9 p.m. It’s a
From T4 wonderful family event. You’ll
have a great view of the fire-
works from the Main Street
ilies of five, children under Bridge.
school age are free. Light din-
ing is available at both loca-
tions. For more information Jan. 1, 2020
call 237-5375 or visit www. Letchworth State Park has six
lastnightperry.com. First Day Hikes planned for
Le Roy’s “First Night”: Join families, birders, and more.
locals in welcoming the New Call 493-3600 or website
Year. Shops will be open. www.nysparks.com for details.
6 • December 2019
Genesee Country Village wraps up
holiday season with an open house
MUMFORD – Genesee
Country Village & Museum,
1410 Flint Hill Rd., will close out
its year by throwing open the
doors one last time in 2019 for its
annual Holiday Open House.
The event is scheduled from
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 21.
On this day, the holidays will
be in full swing around the Vil-
lage, including a tree-lighting,
tastings of seasonal foods such
as plum cake and mincemeat,
and even a visit with St. Nick.
Guests will learn about the or-
igins of traditional holiday deco-
rations such as the “kissing ball”
and can visit Village homes in-
cluding the Hyde House, which
was featured as part of the Sweet
Creations Gingerbread Display
at the George Eastman House &
Museum, Rochester.
Light lunch fare will be avail-
able throughout the afternoon,
and visitors can purchase vil-
lage-baked treats at the D.B.
Munger & Co. Confectionery.
Tickets for Holiday Open
House are $10 for adult general
admission ($8 museum mem-
bers, $8 for youth general ad-
mission ages 3-17 years old ($6
GCV&M member youth), and
free for children younger than 3
years old.
Visitors can complete their
Holiday Open House visit with
GCV&M’s traditional Yuletide
Dinner, available that evening
from 4 to 8 p.m. This year’s
festive menu includes roasted
turkey, smoked bone-in ham,
Italian wedding soup, tasty side
dishes and freshly-baked des-
serts.
Separate reservations for the
Yuletide Dinner event are re-
quired. They are $30 for adults,
$18 for youth ages 2 to 10 years
old, and youth age 1 and young-
er are admitted free. Reserva-
tions may be made by calling
(585) 294-8218 or on the website
at www.gcv.org.
Genesee Country Village &
Museum’s Flint Hill Store will
be open during all holiday sea-
son events and is stocked with
unique, handmade gifts. Flint
Hill Store hours and details for
all events are available at www.
gcv.org.
Season’s Greetings
How to make holiday
wreaths the easy way
Metro Creative Syndicate fruits, flowers, and twigs.
There are many dif- Oftentimes these head-
ferent ways to decorate dresses symbolized a per-
homes and businesses for son’s social status. Others
the holidays. Tall ever- suggest wreaths evolved
green trees are among the to become a Christian
most visible symbols of symbol of immortality.
the holiday season. How- Regardless of how
ever, wreaths hung on wreaths are viewed, ma-
doors, windows or fences ny people like to display
also are ubiquitous this wreaths for the holidays.
time of year. Wreaths can be purchased
Wreaths adorn homes premade, but making a
primarily during the holi- wreath on your own can
days of Easter and Christ- make the holidays even
mas. Wreaths have also more fun.
been worn around the One of the easiest ways
head or neck in ceremoni- to make a wreath is to de-
al events around the globe sign it around a circular
for centuries. floral foam form.
It is believed the first Gather supplies to make
wreaths date back to an- the wreath. For traditional
cient Greece and Rome. wreaths, supplies will in-
Members of the Gre- clude sprigs of evergreen
co-Roman society were (real or artificial), ribbon,
known to hand-make floral wire, bows, and
ring-shaped items using
fresh tree leaves, small See WREATHS T14
Celebrating
JOANN LONG/GENESEE COUNTRY VILLAGE AND MUSEUM the Gifts of
A young interpreter in a red cloak prepares to enter one of the
buildings in the historic village at Genesee Country Village and Friendship &
Museum, 1410 Flint Hill Rd., Mumford.
Community
As we wrap up another year,
we think about how lucky we are to know
good folks like you. Thanks for making us feel so at home here.
We sincerely appreciate your patronage and support.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from our entire team!
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Matthew Sheldon
to our practice in the new year!
RUBY FOOTE/GENESEE COUNTRY VILLAGE AND MUSEUM Mark Doerr, MD
Santa Claus, dressed in 19th century garb, is seen making a visit 408 North Main St., Warsaw
– and sharing oranges – in one of the historic homes at Genesee 716-677-2273 • www.wnyurology.com
Country Village and Museum, Mumford.

A history of Christmas in Genesee County
SPIRITUALITY AND COMMERCE: Holiday evolved over decades to find the modern era’s balance of spirituality and gifts
By MICHAEL EULA
Special to The Daily News
BATAVIA — Historians gen-
erally agree that the celebration
of Christmas took a decidedly
different turn in the 19th cen-
tury.
While traditions such as the
Christmas tree, the yule log, and
mistletoe predate the 1800s,
much of what we associate with
Christmas does not become ap-
parent until then.
There was an often tense
relationship between the clear
spirituality of Christmas and a
commercialization of the hol-
iday that was seen throughout
America by the end of the 1800s.
That complex dynamic was
evident in Genesee County as
well as the relationship between
deeply held religious beliefs
came to coexist simultaneously
with a consumerism rooted in
the workings of a modern com-
mercial society. As we move
deeper into the 20th century
that tension eventually eased,
as the commercialization of
Christmas, rather than being
seen as a threat to religious
beliefs, instead began to be
perceived as yet another way to
express the significance of the
season.
The commercialization of
Christmas in the 1800s, more
than anything else, meant a
consumer culture that was
spreading throughout the coun-
try — and throughout Genesee
County. By 1881 publications
such as the Progressive Batavian
featured stores offering a variety
of goods for sale at Christmas.
Shaw and Stiles featured
items described as follows:
More Christmas and New Year’s
cards than all the rest of Batavia
combined. The largest line of
Bibles, photograph albums,
prayer books and hymnals to be
found in Genesee County.
J.B. and H. Hewitt, located at
109 Main St. in Batavia, remind-
ed readers of their wide array
of dry goods and carpeting. Fi-
nally, U.H. Luther and Son of 55
Main St. in Batavia desired “to
inform the people of Genesee
County that they (had) filled
their store with (a) choice new
stock of groceries for the holi-
Mr. and Mrs. Claus pose with elves in a visit from Christmas past. The commercialization of
Christmas began in the 1800s but sharing presents eventually became part of the holiday.
day trade, which was to be sold
cheap for cash.”
This growing emphasis upon
purchasing goods at Christmas
also extended to items spe-
cifically designed for children
— such as toys. Local newspa-
pers discussed this, even in the
depths of the Great Depression
in 1931.
“Doll furniture departments
have replenished their stock
until it is possible to obtain any
household object desired ...”
one account reads from Dec. 14
of that year.
But gifts for children were not
always toys. We have accounts
of excited Genesee County chil-
dren who were thrilled to find
an orange in their Christmas
stocking. An orange in the late
19th and early 20th centuries
was not an orange as we think of
it today. An orange was a luxury
item coming from a warmer
climate; a rare fruit in Genesee
County in late December. Other
children excitedly opened a
wrapped gift and found a doll
cradle made from a paper box,
or homemade mittens and
popcorn balls not typically seen
throughout the year.
Season’s Greetings
The homemade gifts, and
even the manufactured ones,
remind us of the underlying
religious significance of Christ-
mas. It was a time for sharing
— hence it is not surprising that
in the midst of the economic
depression of 1893 the county’s
Relief Association worked hard
on Christmas Day to distribute
food and clothing to Batavia’s
poor. Children from economi-
cally hard-pressed homes were
happy to receive such cherished
gifts as nuts, candy, and orang-
es.
County residents lacking a
Christmas tree at home could
go to local churches to enjoy the
presence of a decorated tree.
Christmas, a time for giving,
was a moment to remember
the family gathered in a stable
so long ago — and to relish the
presence of one’s family today.
Accordingly, in Indian Falls
families gathered at one-room
schoolhouses in order to partic-
ipate in, and watch, Christmas
programs. Church Sunday
schools included parents who
brought gifts for the children,
such as a box of candy or nuts.
In recognition of the impor-
December 2019 • 7
growing commercialization of
Christmas in Genesee County
by the end of the 19th century, it
would be a mistake to conclude
that the spiritual, or religious
side to Christmas, was waning.
Indeed, the stress placed upon
family togetherness and church
attendance both suggest that
the day was about much more
than shopping and gift-giving.
Many of the gifts were home-
made — and even if they were
not, the emphasis remained on
the gift as a mechanism for fos-
tering family and community
links. The symbols of Christmas
— evergreen trees that remind
people of eternal life, wreathes
that are round and thus sugges-
tive of God who has neither a
beginning nor an end, and even
Christmas tree toppers point-
ing upwards to Heaven are all
symbols, among others, that are
suggestive of a spirituality that
MARK GUTMAN/DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO
was incorporated into com-
merce — but not displaced by it.
County churches at the start
of the twentieth century featur-
tance of the day, the post office ing a distribution of gifts sub-
in Batavia in 1900 ceased opera- sequent to Christmas services
tions at 10 a.m., while butchers, and programs featuring Mary,
druggists, and grocers closed at Joseph, and the baby Jesus,
noon. Banks remained closed angels, wise men, and shep-
for the entire day.
Despite the presence of a See GENESEE T14
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8 • December 2019 Season’s Greetings

Letters to Santa: Depression-era children

wanted shoes and oranges for Christmas
By MATT BALLARD
Orleans County Historian
ALBION — Another year
has passed, and another vol-
ume of Overlooked Orleans
has concluded.
To write another article
about Charlie Howard and his
Santa Claus School is perhaps
cliché for the Christmas sea-
son. Those years of perfecting
the spirit of Santa, dating back
to his childhood days when as
“a short fat boy” his mother
sewed a suit for him to play
the role, brought about a more
meaningful understanding to
the holiday season.
A man whose passions
rested with the children, who
anticipated the abundance of
gifts and dolefully observed
the quick passing of this fes-
tive time of year.
While perusing old issues
of the Orleans Republican, I
was drawn to a column which
appeared during the month
of December in which the
newspaper accepted letters to
Santa Claus for publication.
The short notes written to Kris
Kringle during the Great De- ORLEANS COUNTY HISTORIAN’S OFFICE
pression reflect a gentle con- Parents and children line up during a visit from Santa Claus in Orleans County in a photograph from 1936.
sciousness of the hardships
associated with the time. real one too. And I want a sled. what we ask for, so this year
Amidst the friendly but firm That is all I want because you I’m going to ask you again if
requests for the latest toy or have other children that want you can find a doll buggy will
the nicest doll came appeals and need them … My name is you bring one for my little sis-
for family support and gifts for Eleanor Louise Brooks and my ter Marjorie she wants a buggy
siblings. age is 11 years old.” (1936) real bad also some shoes and
I thought it might be worth n “Dear Santa Claus, My rubbers size 12 shoes … please
sharing some of those stories name is Leona Marcks I am 11 Santa try and think of us if you

this year.
n “Dear Santa Claus, I am a
little girl 2 ½ years old. I have
long curls and blue eyes. Dear
Santa, please bring me a big
doll, a doll buggy and a choo
choo train and some aggets.
Thank you very much. Don’t
forget my brother Junior, my
cousins Bobby and Richard
DeCarlo. Your pal, DeLois
Marie DeCarlo, 63 West Ave.”
(1936).
n “Dear Santa Claus, I am
writing my letter to you for
Christmas. I bet you are very
busy and some of your little
elves … I am going to ask for
a nice little type writter and a
years old. I have been a good
girl and help my mother. I
want shoes rubber gloves, my
sister Frances is 8 years old.
She want shoes rubber gloves,
my brother Edward is 10 years
old he want a hat, gloves.
Peter is 5 years old he want a
suit and stocking. Stanley is
4 years old and want suit and
stocking. My baby brother
Valentine is 1 ½ years old and
want shoes and a suit and he
want an orange. Thank you
very much. Yours truly, Leona
Marcks.” (1931)
n “Dear Santa, We always
rite you at Xmas but we won-
der why you don’t bring us
Peace
possibly can because Daddy
has been sick so he can’t work
and he don’t have enough
money to buy us things at
BE WITH YOU
all now. We like oranges and
candy too if you have some to
spare … With love from Eve-
lyn Durrant” (1933)
One can only imagine little
C.B. Beach & Son
Evelyn’s frustrations that her
requests for gifts appeared to
Mortuary, Inc.
go unnoticed; thankfully she 1903 - 2019 ~ Celebrating 116 years
did not realize the impact of
her father’s illness and work
4 - 6 Main Street, Corfu, N.Y. 14036
situation on the family’s Phone: 585-599-4520
Christmas plans. This is a Charles A. Herman Julie A. Herman
season for being thankful for Funeral Director Funeral Director
everything we have!

Charles W. Howard set the standards for Santa
By MATT BALLARD
Orleans County Historian
There is no better way to re-
flect upon the holiday season
than to recall the story behind
the foundation of the world’s
first Santa Claus school estab-
lished in Albion.
Thankfully, the history of
the Charles W. Howard Santa
Claus School was recorded in
1966 in Charles Howard’s own
words before his passing on
May 1 of that year.
As a young child, Howard
enjoyed crafting toy furni-
ture and wagons from wood,
which friends and neighbors
adored so much that they of-
ten gifted them to loved ones.
His mother sewed a suit for
him as a boy to play the role of
Santa Claus as he was “a short,
fat boy.” Wearing a “false
face,” his blue eyes were filled
with joy, but he felt the mask
was “more frightening to chil-
dren than his own.”
He always admired the
store Santa, but was never
able to work up the courage
to do it himself. One year,
he visited the Merrill & Son
Furniture Store in Albion and
suggested that they hire him
to play the role of Santa while
making toys in the front win-
dow; he was quickly hired and
paid $15 per week.
Eventually he wrote to a
store in Rochester, seeking
a similar position and was
asked to visit for an interview.
After traveling 35 miles out-
side of Albion, Howard arrived
at the store dressed in his suit.
The store owner took one look
at him and asked, “When can
you start work?” — no ques-
tions asked.
Howard was so terrified on
his first day that he refused to
exit the dressing room. When
the store staff eventually
forced him out, the smiling
faces of hundreds of children
melted those fears and the day
passed quickly.
The journey from Albion to
Rochester was a lengthy one,
but convenient by way of the
Falls Branch of the New York
Central Railroad. He would
wake at 4 a.m., complete his
morning farm chores with the
aid of a hired man, and his
Charles W. Howard, right, is pictured with a Santa Claus from the Santa Claus School in Albion.
The school, which later relocated to Michigan following Howard’s death, has been teaching Santa
Claus’s how to be the best Santas for 83 years.
wife would drive him to Albi-
on in time to catch the train.
It was after one particular
interaction with a child that
he fully realized the signifi-
cance of Santa Claus. On that
occasion, a little girl asked,
“Santa, will you promise me
something?”
“What is it you want me to
promise?” Howard respond-
ed.
V{xxÜá YÜ|xÇwá4
We’d like to take this opportunity to wish
all of our friends, customers and neighbors a
happy and healthy New Year. Thanks!
301 West Main St., Batavia 343-2139
Season’s Greetings
The child crept in closer
and whispered, “Will you
promise me you will never
shave?”
At that point he understood
that Santa meant a great deal
to children, an interaction
that led to a heightened curi-
osity about Santa Claus. He
began to study, reading about
his origins, and about who he
was — he quickly realized that
18
20
December 2019 • 9
Santa school legacy
continues in Michigan
The legacy of Charles W. How-
ard’s Santa Claus School
continues today in Midland,
Mich., where it is run by
Tom and Holly Valent, and
still bears Howard’s name.
The Valents, as children, visit-
ed Howard’s Christmas Park
in Albion. The park featured
several barns, a train and
some reindeer. There were
spaces for Santa’s work-
shop and sleigh, a restau-
rant, a life-sized Nativity
scene, and its own postal
system for Santa.
“Every child wanted to go
to Christmas Park,” Holly
Valent says on the website
for the Charles W. Howard
Santa Claus School.
Tom Valent, who grew up in
Salamanca, Cattaurugus
County, visited Christmas
Park and later attended the
Santa school when he and
Holly were expecting their
first child in 1975 – after
the school had relocated to
Michigan.
Howard, an Albion farmer,
established his Santa
school after being dis-
pleased with seeing Santas
in frayed suits and cheap
beards – and with a shock-
ORLEANS COUNTY HISTORIAN’S OFFICE ingly inadequate knowledge
of reindeer. He decided
he could start a school to
make a better Santa.
The first class consisted of
there was more to Santa than three men, including a weld-
er from New Jersey and a
he had ever imagined.
neighbor. Today, the school
See HOWARD T18 See LEGACY T18
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10 • December 2019
A Christmas story:
Dansville woman writes of holiday in 1906
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was
originally published Dec. 29,
2016, in The Livingston County
News and recalls life during
the holiday season 113 years
ago.
–––
T. Jeffery Clarke of Prince-
ton, N.J., shares this story from
his grandmother, Margaret
Amanda McNair, who writes
about what Christmas was like
for her and her family in 1906.
McNair was born in 1899 in a
house called “Engleside” near
Dansville. She lived her life in
three centuries.
Engleside, named to the
National Register of Historical
Places in 2009, is on McNair
Road in West Sparta off Route
36, not too far north of Dans-
ville. The historic estate in-
cludes the large Greek Revival
style main house, which was
built around 1848.
McNair’s story is a rare and
touching look at life 110 years
ago – before automobiles,
world wars, television and the
Internet.
Christmas in Dansville,
1906
Just before Christmas, our
whole family drove the double
bobsled into the village over
the hard packed snow. We were
snugly bundled under warm
lap robes with hot soapstones
under our feet for the hour
long ride, and the sleigh bells
strapped around the horses
made our chatter all the mer-
rier.
In front of Peck and Peck’s
Hardware Store, the horses
were tied to a hitching post and
the boys helped cover them
with heavy horse blankets. In
the window of this store stood a
life size model of a dapple gray
horse, in a complete harness,
and we knew each part of it,
from the bit and bridle, the
driving reins, the check rein,
the collar and hames, and back
to the croup, the hold backs
and the tugs. Papa and the
boys had business there while
mama, my sister and I went
The McNair family children are shown in a 1905 photograph. The young lady on the left is Margaret
Amanda McNair, the author of this story.
to W.A. Spinning’s Dry Goods
Store to find pretty, warm
woolen material for the dresses
Cousin Pearl would make for us
on her annual January visit.
We met together again at Pe-
ter W. Byer’s Shoe Store for new
shoes and high buckled arctics.
By now, the lights were coming
Wishing you a season
of wonder. . .
Jim Rudgers, Owner
Season’s Greetings
on up and down Main Street,
making the store fronts festive,
especially as we came to A. L.
Harter’s Toy Store, the real
point of the trip for us children.
Through the frosted win-
dows, we could see the sleds
hanging from the ceiling, with
the skates. Inside it was warm
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID ULF
and steamy, from the thawing
woolen mittens, caps and
mufflers. Mr. Harter was every-
Crocker’s
Ace Hardware
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newest drive thru lumber yard
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where showing us how the new
toys worked. A miraculous one
was the red fire engine. When
you gave it several hard pushes
and let it go, it would climb
right up a steep incline. The
Flexible Flyer was a new inven-
tion. It had a bar for steering
either with hands or feet, and
sharp steel runners for speed.
Marian was fascinated with a
set of mission style doll furni-
ture - a bed, a table, a rocker
and an arm chair just the size
for Arabella, her doll. Her big
brother watched her playing
with it and later that week, he
went back to town with his fifty
cents to buy it for her.
A beautifully made steam
engine was the center of at-
tention, as Mr. Harter lighted
the alcohol burner under the
brass boiler. Before long, the
hot water generated steam to
move the pistons to turn the
cog wheels that connected a
belt to a little circular saw, and
wonder of wonders, it would
saw wooden match sticks in
two! There were wind up trains
on little tracks, iron hook and
ladder wagons with horses
and firemen riders, dolls with
china heads and some that had
hair and would shut their eyes.
Tinsel hung from everywhere
making it a fairy land we hated
to leave, but it was beginning
to grow dark and the gaslights
See STORY T11
Complete Stove &
Chimney Shop Featuring
Vermont Castings
 Season’s Greetings December 2019 • 11

ing, in our flannel nighties

Story and bathrobes, we trooped in
around the blazing fireplace.
From T10 On Christmas Eve, we had
hung our five long black ribbed
were coming on up and down stockings on the mantelpiece,
the street. and now they were stiff, and
Before the long ride home, bulging mysteriously. As we
we went to the Greek candy took them down, Papa care-
kitchen for hot chocolate. The fully lighted the candles on the
proprietor, whose name we tree and watched them. We
never could pronounce, took poured out the surprises from
us back into his kitchen to show our stockings - jumping jacks,
us all the kinds of candy he balls, whistles, apples, English
made, which was spread out to walnuts, mouth organs, mag-
cool on marble slabs. He gave nets, crayons, a potato with
us samples to help us choose pennies stuck in slots cut in the
what we would buy. skin and best of all, an orange
The last stop was at Mr. in the toe of each one, a rare
Hammil’s Grocery Store. The treat. Then, we each found our
temperature was dropping rap- packages under the tree, and lo
idly and Mr. Hammil took us and behold, they contained the
children to the back of his store very toys we had played with in PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JANE SCHRYVER
by the huge red coffee mill, and the toy store! A view of Engleside about 1880
he, Mama and Papa made us
newspaper vests that went over
our heads and under our coats.
They added further insulation
against the bitter cold. Then
the sleigh was brought around
and loaded, and the quart of
oysters entrusted to the boys to
hold so it wouldn’t drip.
At home, how good that hot
oyster stew tasted to our chilled
bodies, with toast made on the
stove top. A beautiful, tall hem-
lock tree was cut in our woods
and dragged home through the
snow to stand in the front par-
lor. We trimmed it with strings
of popcorn and cranberries,
and the paper chains, paper
lanterns and snowflakes we
made, and hung festoons of
gold and silver tinsel. Candle
holders with gold counterbal-
ancing balls were clipped in
safe places on the branches
and three inch real candles
were fitted into the cups.
Early on Christmas morn-

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JANE SCHRYVER

A Christmas window display
from 1915 at Peck’s Hardware.
12 • December 2019
How to safeguard holiday guests with food allergies
Metro Creative Syndicate
Hosting for the holidays is
a fun way to bring loved ones
together during a special
time of year.
As enjoyable as hosting
can be, it’s no small task,
especially when guests have
food allergies.
According to Food Allergy
Research & Education, an
organization dedicated to
improving the quality of life
and the health of individuals
with food allergies, a food
allergy is a medical condition
in which exposure to a cer-
tain foods triggers a harmful
immune system response.
FARE notes that more than
170 foods have been report-
ed to cause allergic reac-
tions, and roughly one in 13
children in the United States
has a food allergy.
Food allergies are cause
for concern, as FARE notes
that every three minutes a
TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL (585) 343-8081.
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To Designate.
This Holiday Season...
Please Remember to
Celebrate Responsibly
Message courtesy of:
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Season’s Greetings
food allergy reaction sends away from safe foods at all one area of the home and n Place packages of wipes
someone to the emergency times. clean up thoroughly after the near food and encourage
room. n Read all food labels. meal. everyone to wipe their hands
Before planning holiday n Prepare and cook safe n Make a plate for each after eating, though encour-
menus, hosts should ask meals first before sealing child with food allergies aging them to use soap and
guests if they or their chil- them and setting them aside. before the meal is served to water is best. Walk around
dren have any food allergies Then make unsafe foods. avoid cross contamination. periodically to dispose of any
and then plan the menu ac- n Use separate serving Keep unsafe foods out of uneaten food or dirty plates
cordingly. utensils for each dish. Be reach of young children with and napkins.
When hosting large gath- careful not to mix them up. allergies. When planning holiday
erings, it may be impossible n Wash all prep areas and n Request that children menus, host should always
to avoid foods that trigger
eating areas with a paper with food allergies sit close keep food allergies in mind.
guests’ allergies.
towel and commercial clean- to their parents during the Taking steps to safeguard
Safe from allergies er. Avoid using sponges and meal. Ensure that those eat- adults and children with
The Asthma and Allergy rags, which can be a source ing nearby will be careful not food allergies can ensure ev-
Foundation of America of- of allergens. to accidentally spill or share eryone has a happy, healthy
fers the following food safety n Keep food isolated to unsafe foods. holiday.
tips to hosts.
n Wash hands before and
after eating or handling food.
n Prevent cross-contam-
ination in preparation and
serving by preparing dishes
in separate areas and wash-
ing all prep materials, such
as cutting boards, before
reusing. Keep unsafe foods
Don’t
Drink &
Drive.

How to make Kwanzaa celebrations special
Metro Creative Syndicate
Kwanzaa is a week-long an-
nual celebration in the United
States and other nations of the
African diaspora in the Ameri-
cans to honor African heritage
in African-American culture.
The celebration, observed
Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, is an opportu-
nity for families to gather and
celebrate their rich cultural
heritage. The celebration ends
culminates with gift-giving and
a feast.
Kwanzaa was the brainchild
of Dr. Maulana Karenga, a pro-
fessor and chairman of black
studies at California State Uni-
versity Long Beach in 1966. At a
time when rioting was prevalent
near where Karenga lived and
worked, he thought a celebra-
tion to unite African Americans
as a community and help them
reconnect with their heritage
could benefit his community.
The name “Kwanzaa” is from
the Swahili phrase “matunda
ya kwanza,” which means “first
fruits of the harvest.” Kwanzaa
pays homage to the traditional
harvests that take place in Africa
during December and January.
Kwanzaa presents another
way to reflect on the year that
It’s the holiday season. The time when many gifts are given...
and then returned. Make this year different!
GIVE THE GIFT THAT EVERYONE WILL LOVE!
Season’s Greetings December 2019 • 13
is drawing to a close and look the practice of self-determina- life is important and can keep songs and/or viewing artwork
forward to the months ahead. tion by setting goals or resolu- goals on track. Harness this from Africa are just a few other
Kwanzaa also presents an op- tions and seeing at least one or principle by figuring out a pas- ways to express your creativity.
portunity to focus on family, two through to fruition in the sion and sharing it with others n Imani: Faith can be ex-
community and traditions – weeks to come. through teaching or mentoring. pressed by religious devotion,
which already is a hallmark of n Ujima: Organize a commu- n Kuumba: Creativity can be or through belief in one’s peo-
the holiday season. nity-wide effort, such as helping explored through crafts, such as ple, parents, teachers, and lead-
Individuals and families can to fix up a neighborhood garden making a unity cup or decorat- ers. Uniting people in faith can
harness the meanings behind or raising money to support a ing for the holidays. Listening be another way for celebrants to
the seven principles of Kwanzaa less fortunate family, to cele- to or playing culturally relevant enjoy the holiday together.
by incorporating various tradi- brate collective work.
tions into their celebrations. n Ujamaa: This is the prin-
n Umoja: Celebrate unity by ciple of cooperative econom-
gathering together with other ics, and can be perhaps best
African Americans to discuss supported by shopping locally.
favorite components of African Local businesses owners also
culture and history. Share im- can support one another and
portant stories and traditions cross-advertise to keep revenue
with younger generations. in their communities.
n Kujichagulia: Encourage n Nia: Having a purpose in
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This Holiday Season...
please remember to
celebrate responsibly.
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14 • December 2019
Wreaths
From T6
artificial berries. Working
around the foam form,
arrange the boughs of ever-
green, using the floral wire
to wrap or pin into the foam
itself.
Keep the layers coming
until you get the desired
coverage. Embellish with a
ribbon or place a bow.
The blog “A Piece of Rain-
bow” says that creating a
wreath jig is an easy way
to make a wreath. Cut a
dollar-store laundry basket
bottom from the top ring to
make a template, on which
you can place wreath-mak-
ing materials so they keep
their circular form. Use
floral wire or natural jute
string to tie the materials
together.
Experiment with fresh
evergreen, twigs, holly
branches, or whatever ma-
terials you choose.
Thick card stock also can
serve as the wreath tem-
Happy Holidays to all our
Friends + Neighbors!
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Plumbing • Heating • Air Conditioning • Duct Cleaning
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plate. Attach artificial flow-
ers or leaves, spray snow,
ornaments, or other items
to the card stock ring with a
firm adhesive.
Many craft stores sell
wreath forms made of nat-
ural vines that have been
strung in a ring. These can
be decorated in their en-
tirety or left a little sparse to
let the natural twine show
through.
Wreaths may seem like
complicated creations. But
a little imagination and
the right materials is all it
takes to create a homemade
wreath.
Happy Holidays!
email: lbezon@rochester.rr.com
340 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 • 585.343.4663
CALL US 24 HOURS/7 DAYS
We Service All Brands!
Season’s Greetings
One could instead conclude
Genesee that the commercialization
of Christmas, if anything, re-
From T7 inforced — and spread — the
older stress on familial and
herds indicate that the deeper
community togetherness and
meanings of the season could
well-being that had long been
not be entirely replaced by
a part of the holiday before the
commercialization. 19th century.
METRO CREATIVE SYNDICATE
With a little imagination and
the right materials you can
easily create a homemade
wreath.
Lynn Bezon
cell 585.746.6253
ph 585.344.HOME
fx 585.343.8884
...with many thanks
for the gift of your business.
WILL’S
651 East Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 • 343-7830
Closed December 24th - 25th and Closed January 1st
Open Until 3pm December 31st
Visit our web site at: carpetone.com
 Season’s Greetings December 2019 • 15

Mulled wine is a classic for holiday imbibing

Austin American-Statesman
There isn’t a more classic al-
coholic beverage for Christmas-
time imbibing than mulled wine.
This drink is created by heat-
ing up red wine and adding spic-
es to it, in a simple but irresistible
combination. This recipe, from
Austin’s the Carillon restaurant,
also features the boozy supple-
mentary ingredients of apple
schnapps and a ginger liqueur
that will round out the big bowl
of seasonal flavors.
Note that the quality of the
wine does not matter in this case,
as you will be losing most of the
original flavor profile once you
heat it up and add all the other
ingredients. You also don’t need
to worry about precise measure-
ments with this type of recipe be-
cause the finished drink should
taste like your preference.
And if you’d prefer not to have
the spice of ginger in the mulled
wine, just add a ¼ cup more of
apple schnapps or a ¼ cup of tur-
binado sugar instead.
SPICED MULLED WINE
2 bottles of medium to full-bodied red wine
¼ cup apple schnapps
⅔ cup King’s Ginger Liqueur
Clove Take off heat and let stand
Cardamom pods until it has reached room tem-
A dash of nutmeg perature. Reheat the wine, mak-
ing sure not to let it reach a sim-
In a nonreactive pan, pour in
the wine and add the spices and mer, and add the King’s Ginger
liqueur and apple schnapps.
citrus peels. Bring to a simmer.
May the miraculous
spirit of this holy season
fill your heart and home
with peace, wonder and
feelings of good will.
We feel blessed to
The warming spice of mulled wine serves as the perfect drink to
celebrate Christmas
kick off the holiday season.
with such great friends
and neighbors.
Skin of one orange Star anise
Skin of one lemon 2 sticks of cinnamon
OFFERING HELP
FOR THE JOURNEY
Our best wishes to all for a
Happy Holiday Season and a Healthy 2020.
127 North St., Batavia, NY
(585) 345-0417 • geneseecancerassistance.org

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CLOSED NEW YEAR’S DAY
16 • December 2019
Facts about Three Kings Day
Metro Creative Syndicate
Jan. 6 , or Three Kings Day,
marks the close of the Christ-
mas celebration for many
Christians.
Although not traditionally
celebrated by all, Three Kings’
Day, is a Christian feast day
that represents the biblical
adoration of baby Jesus by the
three kings.
On this day, also known
as the Epiphany, people cel-
ebrate the visit of the magi to
the Christ child.
While some people are very
familiar with this feast day and
the customs surrounding it,
others are less so.
Here are some facts about
Three Kings Day.
n Three Kings Day also goes
by the names Little Christmas,
Denha, Theophany, D’a de los
Reyes, and the Baptism of Je-
sus.
n The Epiphany marks the
12th day of Christmas, falling
12 days after Dec. 25.
n It is customary for some
celebrants to bake ring-
shaped cakes and hide a plas-
tic baby figurine representing
the baby Jesus inside. In Latin
cultures, the cake is known as
Rosca de Reyes, or “The King’s
Ring.”
n The Bible does not specif-
ically mention the number or
names of the magi who visited
Jesus. However, oral tradition
has it that there were three
and their names were Gaspar,
Balthasar and Melchior.
n The gifts given to Christ
were gold, frankincense oil
and the resin myrrh. The gifts
are symbolic of Jesus’s impor-
tance. The gold represents his
royal standing, frankincense
his divine birth and myrrh his
mortality.
n Children may leave their
shoes out on the Epiphany for
presents, similar to they way
stockings are hung. The shoes
are filled with hay or treats for
the Three Wise Men’s camels.
In exchange, candies and toys
450 Ellicott St., Batavia
BUS: (585) 344-1416
RES: (585) 344-1034
MOBILE: 356-5559
EMAIL: optimum@localnet.net
Season’s Greetings
are left for the children.
n Three Kings Day is one
of the most significant reli-
gious holidays in Latin Amer-
ica, where the magi are more
prominent figures than Santa
Claus.
n In Britain and elsewhere,
Twelfth Night is the evening
that precedes the Epiphany,
and Christmas decorations METRO CREATIVE SYNDICATE
should remain up until then. Three Kings Day is an important holiday in the Christian faith,
Also, until as recently as the and one that brings the holiday season to a close.
1950s, Twelfth Night was a
•
time for wassailing. Wassailers •
•
went house to house singing •
and wishing neighbors good
health. Heartfelt wishes for a
n Until the 19th century, the
Epiphany was more important Merry Christmas
than Christmas Day.
n Roast lamb was tradition- We’ve loved every minute
ally served on the Epiphany. of serving you this year.
Thanks for your support.
WESTERN N.Y. CONCRETE CORP.
QUALITY READY-MIXED CONCRETE
POURED WALLS • FLOORS • FOUNDATIONS
DRIVEWAYS • INSULATED CONCRETE FORMS
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How to care for a Christmas cactus
By Jessica Damiano
Newsday (TNS)
Dear Jessica: My Christmas
cactuses are almost in full
bloom. Both plants are about
40 years old and are in need
of repotting and new soil. Any
help on how to and when to
do this would be greatly ap-
preciated.
— Walter Paluch
Dear Walter: First of all —
congratulations! Keeping a
houseplant, especially a fin-
icky one like Christmas cactus
(Schlumbergera bridgesii),
thriving for 40 years is deserv-
ing of some serious green-
thumb respect.
You obviously already know
this, but to illustrate for oth-
er readers — and provide in-
struction for those attending
their first rodeo this year, the
plants can be a bit tricky. Gen-
eral care guidelines require
that from September through
December, the plant is kept
in a 50- to 65-degree environ-
ment, receiving only mini-
mal water and misting twice
a week. To force blooms for
the holidays, plants need to
be kept in complete darkness
from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily for
eight to 10 weeks before de-
sired bloom time, which typi-
cally falls on Christmas.
When buds form, the plant
should be moved to a sunny
Andnd a HHealthy
Merry Christmas to You A
Thanks for your business & to the many friends we’ve made this year.
John Morrill, Owner 24 Hour Snowplowing, Shoveling & Salting
Commercial • Residential
location in the main part of
the house and regular water-
ing should be resumed. Do not
move the plant — even slight-
ly — after this time. Seriously,
don’t even rotate the pot. Blos-
soms will drop at the slightest
provocation.
In March, on alternate years,
plants should be repotted into
the next size container, plant-
ed in a mix composed of equal
parts houseplant potting mix,
coarse sand and perlite.
From April through June,
keep plants indoors in indirect
sunlight and water frequently.
Include African violet fertilizer
at half strength with every sec-
ond watering.
During July and August,
move the plant outdoors to a
bright, sunny location and al-
low the soil to remain fairly dry
to promote the development
of buds.
INSURANCE AGENCY
ealthy NNew
ew Year!
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Season’s Greetings
Rinse and repeat.
While we’re on the subject
of holiday plant care, let’s talk
a bit about poinsettias.
Many folks ditch these hol-
iday staples after their “flow-
ers” fade (they’re actually not
flowers but rather colorful
modified leaves called bracts
— but let’s call them flowers
here because everyone else
does). Nevertheless, poinset-
tias can be kept for years with
proper care. Again, however,
holiday rewards don’t come
easily.
If you have these beauties
in your home right now, pro-
vide water and sunlight until
they stop blooming. When the
flowers fade, allow the plants
to dry out.
When they have entered
dormancy, lay plants on their
sides in a cool, dark place,
such as an unheated cellar,
Warm
Wishes for
a Joyous
Holiday
Season
41 Liberty Street
Batavia, NY 14020
Phone: (585) 219-4214
Fax: (585) 219-4877
December 2019 • 17
until April. Check on them pe-
riodically; if the woody stems
start to shrivel, mist them with
water though this may not be
necessary.
In April, move the plants
back into the main part of
the house, trim about 2 inch-
es from the end of each stem,
place by a sunny window and AGNES MONKELBAAN VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/CREATIVE
water regularly, keeping soil COMMONS ATTRIBUTION-SHARE ALIKE 4.0 INTERNATIONAL
LICENSE
A flower on a Christmas cactus.
See CACTUS T23
Happy Holidays to all +
a Prosperous New Year!
Home Improvements
Property Maintenance
• Replacement Windows & Doors
• Siding • Roofing • Seamless Gutters
• Decks & Porches • Pole Barns
• Garages • Additions • Painting
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18 • December 2019 Season’s Greetings

witnessed an increase in enrollment Butters of Coldwater, Mich., was an ex- perience.

Howard
From T9
It was in 1937 that he started the
school, an event that made headline
news. His first class consisted of one
student, Frederick Wise, a welder
from New Jersey who paid $15 for
his tuition. The lack of response was
disheartening at first but he was en-
couraged to raise tuition in an effort
to increase the perceived value of the
program. Gradually increasing the rate
to $25, then $40, and finally $50, he
each time.
“Santa originated in the home. It
was best to keep him there,” was How-
ard’s reflection upon the establish-
ment of the school.
With no official schoolhouse or
classroom, classes were held inside
the family home at the intersection of
Gaines Basin Road and Route 31.
As interest in the program in-
creased, he enlisted the help of experts
in various areas. Charlie Hood of
Medina was respected as a great show-
man and so his assistance was helpful
in that aspect of portraying Santa. Ed
pert in reindeer, so he was brought in
to assist with one of the most import-
ant aspects of the Santa experience.
During World War II, the shortage
of men led to women attempting the
role, but as Howard recalled this only
worked if the woman had a “deep
voice.” One woman had such a voice
and was a huge hit until store patrons
complained about Santa visiting the
ladies’ room!
Howard went as far as to try a mail
order course, which failed miserably;
the spirit instilled by Charlie was the
most important part of the school ex-
He told store owners, “To have what
it takes to be a good Santa, one must
have it in his head and in his heart
rather than under his belt … they
could take care of that without effort.”
From a young age, he realized that
teaching the role of Santa was a great
task and always viewed that task as a
privilege. So important was this role,
that Howard remarked, “Show me a
store’s Santa or a community Santa
and I’ll tell you exactly the kind of store
or community it is.”
It is no surprise that Orleans County
had the best Santa of all; the original.

Legacy Residential & Commercial

Sales & Service
From T9

teaches some 300 joyful and jolly

new and returning Santas in a
three-day session each October.
Howard died May 1, 1966.
The school was taken over by 653 Ellicott St., Batavia (585) 344-4405
Nate Doan in the 1960s, who in WWW.BATAVIAGARAGEDOOR.COM
1968 moved the school to Bay
City, Mich. In 1987, the Valents
moved the school to Midland,
Mich.
The school became a non-profit
organization and is the longest
continuously running Santa Claus
school in the world. Tom Valent is
the dean of the internationally-rec-
ognized school, and has taught
classes on being Santa Claus
around the world.
–––
On the Net:
https://www.santaclausschool.
com/

Wishing You & Yours

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This Holiday Season
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 Season’s Greetings December 2019 • 19

A Christmas 1919 advertisement for a Geneseo department

store offering all the latest records, toys, sleds and other popular
items.

Vintage Christmas
The Livingston County History Department shares a
selection of Christimas-time advertisements from 100
years ago. They include ads for a Geneseo department
store, an ad for women’s silk stockings, and Standard Oil
Company of New York.
That year, Christmas was on a Thursday. The U.S.
president was Woodrow Wilson. One of the year’s most
viewed movies was “Spring Fever,” directed by Edward
Sedgwick, who is credited with discovering Lucille Ball.

Let Faith
Be Your Guide
May the love and compassion of
our Savior fill your heart with
peace and contentment.
We wish you a blessed Christmas.

ALL BABIES
A Christmas advertisement from the Livonia Gazette from December 1919. CHERISHED

Happy
H a p p y Holidays!
Holidays!

A New York Leader in Quality Milk Production

and Ag Innovation

585-948-5777
OAKFIELD, NY

A 1919 advertisement for “the stockings so many women want.” lambfarms@hotmail.com • lambfarmsinc.net
20 • December 2019 Season’s Greetings

SYDNEY SCHAEFER/JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS

Constable Hall, located along John Street in Constableville, Lewis County, celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2019. According to Constable family lore, the mansion, which is
now a historical museum, was the inspiration for Clement Clarke Moore’s “ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Moore was a family friend who stayed frequently at the home.

‘St. Nick’ poet a reluctant mythmaker

By BEN BEAGLE
ben@batavianews.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: Versions of
this story were previously pub-
lished in the Dec. 24, 2015,
edition of The Livingston
County News, and the Dec.
24, 1999 edition of The (Bat-
avia) Daily News.
“A Visit from St. Nicho-
las,” or as it’s more popularly
known “ ‘Twas the Night Be-
fore Christmas” is a holiday
staple for many.
It was a beloved story read
often during my own child-
hood growing up in Lewis
County in northern New York.
But more than tradition, it
was because of a long-held
belief that Constable Hall, an
old mansion turned histori-
cal museum in the southern
Lewis County town of Consta-
bleville, provided inspiration
for writer Clement Clarke
Moore, who was a frequent
visitor to the mansion.
Constable Hall is something
of a contemporary of Living-
ston County’s Wadsworth
Homestead, which was built
in 1804. Construction on the
federal-style limestone Con-
stable Hall began in 1810 and
was completed in 1819.
Moore sent the Constable
family a hand-written copy of
the poem, which has been lost.
The museum does still have a as white as new-fallen snow. membered for, “An Account
chess set sent by Moore in its Yet the 19th century poet of a Visit from St. Nicholas,”
collection. was a reluctant mythmaker. more commonly known today
Today, we share the story For more than two decades as “ ‘Twas the Night Before
of Clement Clarke Moore, his Moore denied authorship of
poem and Constable Hall. the work that he is most-re- See HALL T21
–––
Clement Clarke Moore
provided us with the defining
image of Santa Claus: a chub-
by and plump man with twin-
kling eyes, cheeks like roses, a
nose like a cherry, and a beard
2 Main St.,
Oakfield, NY
(585)
948-5266
 Season’s Greetings December 2019 • 21

Hall
From T20

Christmas.”
Moore was a writer and
scholar, described as a dour,
strait-laced academician. By
19, he was fluent in French,
Hebrew, Italian, Greek and
Latin. He had degrees from
Columbia University. Among
his writings was a dictionary of
the Hebrew language.
Fortunately, he had chil-
dren.
A gift to his children
“The rhyme is easy to re-
member, and the imagery
is magical,” Sandra Gillard,
retired children’s librarian at
Richmond Memorial Library,
Batavia, said of “ ‘Twas the
Night Before Christmas.”
“It captures the excitement
every child feels waiting for
Christmas morning.”
Moore penned the story
as a gift to his six children for
Christmas 1822. He read it
aloud for SYDNEY SCHAEFER/JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS
the first time A bedroom inside Constable Hall, which may have inspired Clement Clarke Moore’s popular poem “ ‘Twas the Night Before
fireside at Christmas.” Moore was visiting his cousin, Mary McVicker Constable, who lived in the house with her four children.
the family’s
Chelsea per was running the piece as a Moore, meanwhile, spent only son of Benjamin Moore, Not much is known about
mansion gift to its readers. many years following its pub- the president of Columbia when Moore finally confessed
to an audi- “We know not to whom we lication denying that he was College and bishop of the to writing his famous poem.
ence of his are indebted for the following the author. Protestant Episcopal Church “At some point before ‘A
children, description of that unwea- “He was a scholar, and in New York. Visit from St. Nicholas’ was
relatives, Moore ried patron of children – that didn’t want to be recognized Clement Moore graduated published with his name on
servants and homely, but delightful person- as being the author of such a top of his class from Columbia it, someone finally convinced
slaves. It is unlikely he ever ification of parental kindness thing,” said Paul Hickcock, College in 1798. In 1801, he him that it was a good story,”
meant for it to travel beyond – Santa Claus,” wrote the pa- director of the Troy Public received a master’s degree in Hickcock said.
their ears. per’s editor, Orville Holley. Library, where the original Oriental and Classical Litera- Such a good story, in fact,
But a year later, a relative “We hope our little patrons, publication of the poem is ture. He was later a professor that readers clipped it from
from Troy, Sarah Harriet both lads and lasses, will preserved. of Oriental and Greek litera- their newspapers and saved
Butler, copied the poem and accept it as proof of our un- In 1844, Moore finally ture at the General Theologi-
gave it to the editor of her local feigned good will toward them included “A Visit from St. cal Seminary in New York. See HALL T22
newspaper. – as a token of our warmest Nicholas” in a collection of his
The ballad of Santa Claus, wish that they may have many poetry.
appearing anonymously as a merry Christmas ...” Poet, educator, scholar
“An Account of a Visit from St.
Nicholas,” was first published
The poem quickly spread
from newspaper to newspa- Moore, from the Long Is-
Merry
per. land town of Chelsea, was the
Dec. 23, 1823, in the Sentinel
in Troy. It appeared on page Christmas
three. Nothing flashy, just one
more item among five col-
Happy Holidays from
umns of solid text.
An editor’s note along with
Thomas Wenhold PT PC our family
it described the piece as hav-
ing a “spirit of cordial good-
ness in it, a playfulness of fan-
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The note said the newspa- 25 Lake Ave., Lyndonville, NY 14098 343-6158 Director, Proprietor
22 • December 2019 Season’s Greetings

Nicholas feels unusually poor

Hall
From T21
copies. It has been reprinted
countless times, and more
than 40 editions are on record
in the Library of Congress.
Inspired by upstate visit
Moore may have been
inspired to write his famous
poem on a trip to the state’s
North Country in 1822. He
was visiting a cousin, Mary
Eliza McVickar Constable,
in Shalerville (later renamed
Constableville), on the Tug
Hill plateau.
Constable’s husband had
died in 1821. She and her four
children lived in a mansion
(now Constable Hall, a histori-
cal museum).
Moore was a frequent visi-
tor to the house, said John P.
Constable Jr., 83, who lived in
the Hall in 1948, the last of the
family to call it home. (Consta-
ble, the last generation of Con-
stables to live at the mansion,
died in 2006.)
Constable Hall has a large
porch – 125 feet long, that
brings to mind the line “To
the top of the porch! To the
top of the wall!”; a chimney in
every room, which may have
inspired such a line as “Down
the chimney Saint Nicholas
came with a bound”; and win-
dow shutters that opened in
– possibly Moore’s inspiration
to write “Away to the window
I flew like a flash/Tore open
the shutters and threw up the
sash.”
And tending the garden was
a Dutchman named Pieter.
As one story goes, Pieter was
rather plump and downright
jolly. He would be Moore’s in-
spiration for Santa Claus, says
Constable.
Other sources, say the inspi-
ration came from a roly-poly
Dutchman who drove Moore’s
sleigh home from Greenwich
Village on Christmas Eve 1822,
or from more literary sources.
Regardless, the modern
description of Santa Claus was
born.
His worthy friends
Moore sent the Constable
family a hand-written copy
of the poem, but Constable
said he doesn’t know what
SYDNEY SCHAEFER/JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS
The game room inside Constable Hall. Clement Clarke Moore gave the family a chess set one Christmas.
happened to it. The original
sold at a Christie’s auction for
$255,000.
The museum still has a
chess set sent by Moore.
Then there’s a notebook
that John P.
Constable Jr.
had which
belonged
to his great
uncle, Ca-
simir Con-
stable, the
third-gener- Constable
ation owner
of the Hall. The book contains
a copy of Moore’s poem with
a note that Moore may have
written to Mary; it is addressed
“To the Lady who wears a
Crown and her subjects.”
The note says: “Though St.
“Merry Old Santa Claus” by Thomas Nast was inspired by the
description of St. Nicholas in Clement Clarke Moore’s poem.
owing to the pressure of the
times, he is still rich in good-
will and good humour, and
hopes these trifling tokens of
his regard will be received with
pleasure and help to make a
Merry Christmas for his wor-
thy friends at Constable Hall.”
The Christmas spirit
Moore’s St. Nicholas has
become an enduring reminder
of giving, happiness and the
Christmas spirit.
“Santa Claus, prior to this,
was more adult-oriented,”
said Gillard, the librarian. “But
here, Moore portrays Santa
Claus as a jolly old elf and that
has a lot of child appeal.”
Every Christmas Eve, Con-
stable said, the family – like
many across the county –
would gather to read Moore’s
poem.
“It was part of our fami-
ly’s history,” said Constable.
“Reading it was like history in
the making. It covered so ma-
ny people’s lives.”
–––
About Constable Hall
Built by William Constable Jr., the
third generation of the family in the
United States, Constable Hall was
completed in 1819 and housed
the family for two more genera-
tions before being sold by John P.
Constable Jr. to be renewed, pre-
served and opened to the public.
Constable Hall was opened by the
Constable Hall Association in
1949.
Constable Hall, 5909 John St., Con-
stableville, opens for the season
in late May and closes for the sea-
son in October.
For infomration, go to www.consta-
blehall.org, email constablehall@
rocketmail.com, or call (315) 397-
2323.
10597 Main St.
Alexander, NY 14005
585-591-1140
1-888-344-0176
sales@sunnysidecyclesales.com
 Season’s Greetings December 2019 • 23

Cactus
From T17

moist but never soggy.

Around Memorial Day, you
can move them outdoors —
or continue to keep them as
houseplants over the summer.
Either way, fertilize once a
month with one teaspoon per
gallon of a complete (20-20-
20) fertilizer product.
Around Labor Day, check
for insects, picking any off by
hand or rinsing the plants with
a gentle stream of water to re-
move them, and bring plants
indoors. If they’re already in-
doors, continue to provide the
same care. Place by a sunny
window, and water, and fer-
tilize monthly. Poinsettias do
best if temperatures are kept
between 70 and 75 degrees
during the day and 60 to 65 de-
grees at night.
To form buds, poinsettias
require a period during which
they are deprived of light for
about 15 hours each day. So BEN BEAGLE/LIVINGSTON COUNTY NEWS FILE PHOTO
for 40 days beginning on Oct. When the holiday season ends, what do you do with the real Christmas tree that you may have cut yourself or purchased from a tree
1, keep them in a very bright, lot? Fear not. There are many imaginative ways to come up with handy uses for Christmas trees once the holiday season ends.
sunny spot from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. every day, then move
them into complete darkness
from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. (A clos-
et is perfect for this.) Do not
Many ways to recycle Christmas tree
skip this, even for one night, or Metro Creative Syndicate n Prop up the tree near a bird feed- n Keep some branches to use as kin-
buds may not form. This is not When choosing a real Christmas er to provide another perch and shel- dling in a wood stove or fireplace, or as
for the lazy — or faint of heart. tree for holiday celebrations, consum- ter to birds that stick close to home in aromatic logs for next year’s yule fire.
But again, keep your eye on the ers should think about the many ways winter, such as chickadees and finch- n Sink an old tree in a personal
reward. that trees can be repurposed after the es. pond. Fish and tadpoles will live and
By Nov. 10, you should no- holiday season. n String the tree with various treats lay eggs around this sheltered area.
tice bracts taking on a reddish Some towns collect discarded trees for birds and put it in a sheltered lo- n Collect some pine needles and
hue. From this point on, keep to use them for various purposes. cation. Ideas include homemade suet, sew them into fabric packets to make
plants in the main part of the However, homeowners can get in on cranberries and millet. scented sachets for closets or drawers.
house around the clock and the action as well. n Mulch the tree and use it in the There are many imaginative ways to
continue to water and fertil- The Old Farmer’s Almanac offers garden in the spring. come up with handy uses for Christ-
ize. You should be seeing red these great ideas for post-holiday tree n Use boughs to insulate perennials mas trees once the holiday season
(or white) in time for the holi- use: in the garden. ends.
days, and can bask in the glory
of self-satisfaction, plus save a
few bucks on new plants. TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL (585) 343-8081. Wishing you the timeless treasure of
Christmas. The warmth of home, the love
of family and the company of friends.
Happy Holidays! Have a blessed and meaningful
Christmas!
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24 • December 2019 Season’s Greetings

The history behind New Year’s traditions

Metro Creative Syndicate
New Year’s Eve and New
Year’s Day are a time to both
reflect on the past year and
to look forward to the excite-
ment the months ahead will
bring.
There may be confetti,
there are probably noise-
makers and some bubbly
is likely overflowing from
champagne flutes.
New Year’s celebrations
can be traced back thou-
sands of years to ancient
Babylon. And as with many
holidays with deep histories,
traditions are the hallmark
of many New Year’s celebra-
tions.
While many people per-
form these traditions by
rote, it can be interesting to
delve into the history behind
various components of New
Year’s celebrations.
Champagne
Toasting the new year
with a sparkling wine can be
traced back to French cham-
pagne producers. Cham-
pagne, a sparkling wine from METRO CREATIVE SYNDICATE
a specific region of France, It can be interesting to delve into the history behind various components of New Year’s celebrations.
was used in the baptism of
the Frankish warrior Clovis, but the New Year’s Eve cele- tradition of dropping a time to the sitting or new king and
according to the Champagne brations were later moved to ball at harbor so that sailors were considered essential to Original celebrations in
Committee of France. the New York Times building could set their own time- keeping the kingdom in the New York centered around
Soon, champagne became in 1904. pieces while at sea, Palmer gods’ favor.
a key part of religious events, Fireworks were part of devised the idea of dropping The Romans also had a
listening to the bells of
coronations and soirees – as those celebrations, but hot an illuminated ball on New similar tradition of swearing Trinity Church ring at
well as secular rituals that ash and sparks falling on Year’s Eve. This has been tra- oath to royalty at the start of midnight, but the
replaced formerly religious spectators led to a ban on dition since 1907. the year. Many of these tra- New Year’s Eve celebrations
rituals, according to the book fireworks, and event organiz-
“When Champagne Became ers needed another spectacle
Resolutions ditions merged into modern
were later moved to the
French” by Kolleen Guy. to draw crowds, according New Year’s resolutions can resolution-making, accord-
ing to Live Science. New York Times building in
Champagne manufac- to PBS. be traced to the Mesopota-
turers eventually linked the Publisher Adolph Ochs mians. Ancient Babylonians These are but a few New 1904. Dropping an
bubbly to festive occasions asked his chief electrician also made spoken resolu- Year’s traditions. illuminated ball has been
with family, and New Year’s Walter Palmer to create tions during a 12-day-long The history behind these a tradition since 1907.
celebrations became another something visually appeal- New Year Festival. These traditions is storied, just like
ideal time to pop the cork on ing. Inspired by the maritime resolutions were oaths made the holiday itself.
a bottle.
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 Season’s Greetings December 2019 • 25

3 strategies for a safe New Year’s Eve

Metro Creative Syndicate
New Year’s Eve is one of
the most festive nights of the
year.
Counting down to a new
year while simultaneously
saying goodbye to the cur-
rent year provides grounds
for celebration for millions
of people across the globe.
New Year’s celebrations
vary depending on where
the partying is taking place,
but it’s common for people
to check their inhibitions
at the door on Dec. 31. That
can make for a fun evening,
but also puts celebrants
in jeopardy of making bad
decisions or confronting
the consequences of others’
poor decisions.
Adhering to three simple
safety strategies can increase
It only takes a
relatively small amount
of alcohol before
people’s judgment
begins to falter, and
judgment only suffers
further with each
additional drink.
ment when their blood alco-
hol concentration, or BAC,
reaches .02.
That means it only takes
a relatively small amount
of alcohol before people’s
judgment begins to falter,
and judgment only suffers
further with each additional
drink. METRO CREATIVE SYNDICATE

the chances that this New Adhering to simple safety strategies can increase the chances that this New Year’s Eve is memorable
See SAFE T26 for all the right reasons.
Year’s Eve is memorable for
all the right reasons.

1. Travel in packs
Most people who are out
and about on New Year’s Eve
are focused solely on having
Santa Tested
fun.
However, some criminals
see New Year’s Eve as an
Santa Our best wishes to the community
and a heartfelt
opportunity to prey on un-
suspecting men and women
who may not be as alert to
danger as they are on other
Approved THANK YOU
for all your continued support as
nights of the year. For ex- we approach our 22nd year of
ample, a recent report from
Australia’s Bureau of Crime providing the very best in
Statistics and Research comfort care.
found that the number of
violent offenses between From our house to yours
9 p.m. and 3 a.m. on New
Year’s Eve is nine times with much love and gratitude from
higher than it is on other the Crossroads House Family
nights of the year.
By hitting the town with
friends and staying with
those friends throughout the
night, New Year’s Eve revel- Tether her heart to yours
ers can make themselves less
vulnerable to criminals.

2. Don’t overindulge 585-343-3892

in alcohol www.crossroadshouse.com
The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administra- HansMoellerJewelers.com
tion notes that people who MASTER IJO JEWELERS TM
consume alcohol begin
experiencing a loss of judg-
26 • December 2019
The origins of
Baby New Year
Metro Creative Syndicate
Excitement for a new year
abounds every January 1.
Baby New Year is one of the
more recognizable symbols of
the New Year’s holiday, partic-
ularly in print advertisements
and television commercials.
Perhaps you’ve wondered
what role Baby New Year plays
in the celebration?
While he may seem like
a relatively modern icon,
this cultural mainstay has a
lengthy history.
One theory suggests Baby
New Year was celebrated as
far back as 600 B.C. in ancient
Greece, when a child was pa-
raded around in a basket upon
the arrival of the new year. The
baby represented rebirth, and
Greeks believed their god of
wine, Dionysus, was reborn on
New Year’s as the spirit of fer-
tility. Other historians say that
the custom even predates the
Greeks to the ancient Egyp-
tians.
Even though the baby new
year custom was originally
frowned upon by Christians
and deemed a pagan tradi-
tion, eventually Christians
embraced the symbol as well,
albeit in a different way. The
end of the year is marked by
the birth of the Christ child,
and this became a special way
to interpret Baby New Year.
In modern times, Baby New
Year has lost any connection
to a deity or religious figure.
Rather, he is now interpreted
as a child who arrives at the
start of the year and eventual-
ly ages into Father Time. The
baby is depicted as an infant
or toddler wearing a diaper
and a sash with the year he is
representing (and often a top
hat). He is sometimes depict-
ed holding or associated with
an hourglass, a noisemaker or
other item either pertaining to
time or New Year’s Day festiv-
ities.
Father Time is often por-
trayed as an elderly man with
a long, gray beard. The Baby
New Year/Father Time mes-
sage boils down to “out with
Season’s Greetings
Safe are vulnerable to potential-
ly unsafe highways. That’s
because everyone shares
From T25 the roads, and drivers never
The pressure to overin-
dulge in alcohol on New
Year’s Eve can be consid-
know who else will be on the
road when New Year’s Eve
festivities end and everyone
goes home. The U.S. De-
the old and in with the new.” erable, but revelers should partment of Transportation
People bid goodbye to Fa- avoid situations where they notes that, during the last
ther Time and welcome this might be tempted to drink half-decade, an average of
cherubic child who will car- too much. Such overindul- 300 people died each year
ry them through the next 12 gence only makes people in drunk driving crashes be-
months and grow with them. vulnerable to bad decisions tween Christmas and New
The Baby New Year idea and even criminals looking Year’s Day. To avoid be-
eventually developed into a coming such a statistic, New
METRO CREATIVE SYNDICATE to prey on inebriated vic-
“First Born” tradition as well. Year’s revelers can celebrate
While he may seem like a tims.
Many towns, cities and hos- at home and invite others to
relatively modern icon, Baby stay overnight.
pitals have instituted contests New Year has a lengthy history.
awarding the first baby born in 3. Don’t get A few simple safety strat-
egies can make sure New
the new year the title of “Baby behind the wheel Year’s Day conversations are
New Year.” Such children are own gifts and recognition to
often the subjects of local news the lucky child and his or her Even people who avoid all about the fun from the
coverage and get their picture family in turn for complemen- alcohol on New Year’s Eve night before.
tary publicity.
in the newspaper. Gifts, such
Baby New Year is a symbol
as complimentary diapers, a
case of formula or baby food of the fresh start the new year
or other baby supplies may be brings. His relevance in cele-
offered. In addition, private brations has endured for cen-
companies may offer their turies.
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5 of the least healthy holiday dishes
By Nancy Clanton
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS)
A lot of time and effort goes
in to making a holiday meal.
Tables will overflow with family
favorites and traditional dishes
such as candied yams and green
bean casserole. But is this food
actually good for you?
A typical holiday meal can
easily exceed 3,000 calories,
according to research from the
Calorie Control Council. Some
of the least healthy dishes might
also be the most popular.
Here are five to look out for:
Deep-fried turkey
Roasted, skinless turkey is
fairly healthy. When food is
fried, Medical Daily points out,
the amount of fat it absorbs
during cooking increases. Deep
frying your turkey adds calories
and fat that aren’t necessary.
You can save even more calories
by choosing white meat over
dark. According to Bon Appetit,
“an average serving of dark meat
with skin hits about 200 calo-
ries and 8g fat. Save nearly 100
calories and 13 grams of fat by
choosing white meat from the
breast and skipping the skin.”
Green bean casserole
Half a cup of plain green
beans has only 20 calories. If you
follow the green bean casserole
recipe that is on a can of Camp-
bell’s cream of mushroom soup,
however, the caloric intake
jumps to 227 for a half cup serv-
ing.
Candied yams or
sweet potatoes
with marshmallows
Just 4 ounces of candied
sweet potatoes adds about 187
calories and 20 grams of sugar
to your meal. Another thing to
consider when eating all that
sugar is your teeth.
“If marshmallow-loaded
candied yams are a tradition in
your household it might be time
to reconsider,” Dr. Matthew
Mullally, a dental surgeon, told
thedailymeal.com. “Marshmal-
lows are essentially pure sugar.
Also, there’s really no reason
to sweeten yams. Yams them-
selves are loaded with sweet-
Season’s Greetings December 2019 • 27
ness, as well as nutrients that high-calorie, fat-laden, high-so-
don’t stick to the surface of your dium choice.”
teeth.” Stuffing contains about 480
Consumer Reports suggests a mg of sodium, thanks to the
“plain baked sweet potato (103 broth. Try using a low-sodium
calories) or roasted sweet potato version this year.
chunks (about 120 calories per
cup)” instead.
Pumpkin cheesecake
According to Consumer Re-
Stuffing with sausage ports, a slice of pumpkin pie has
A dish that is mostly bread, about 280 calories and around
butter, seasoning and sausage 25 grams of sugars. But if you
packs a lot of carbs. A cup of make a cheesecake from other-
your average bread stuffing is wise healthy pumpkin, Bon Ap-
RICK KIMPLE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION-SHARE ALIKE 2.0 GENERIC LICENSE
about 175 calories. Add in sau- petit points out, “you’ll finish off
Half a cup of plain green beans has only 20 calories. If you follow
sage, Medical Daily reports, and dinner with a massive amount
the green bean casserole recipe that is on a can of Campbell’s
“you’re staring down the barrel of calories and fat.”
cream of mushroom soup, however, the caloric intake jumps to
of 400 calories per cup side dish “Be mindful of how much 227 for a half cup serving.
and a week’s worth of regret.” you serve yourself,” said Amy
“Plus the stuffing absorbs a Keating, R.D., a nutritionist
lot of the fat from the turkey,” at Consumer Reports. “If you
cardiologist Dr. Adam Splaver double or triple your portions —
of Hollywood, Florida, told the- which is easy to do — you could
dailymeal.com. “Add in some consume a sky-high number of
sausage and you are looking at a calories.”
Christmas Liturgical Schedule
Liturgical Christmas Novena With Vespers
and Eucharistic Benediction
(Evening Prayer)
at Our Lady of Mercy
Day 1 Mon, Dec. 16 – Day 5 Fri, Dec. 20 6:30pm
Day 6 Sat, Dec. 21 – 6:00pm
Day 7 Sun, Dec. 22 – 6:30pm
(Following 5:30pm Mass)
Day 8 Mon, Dec. 23 – 6:30pm
Day 9 Tues, Dec. 24 – 6:00pm
(Following Christmas Vigil Mass)
Christmas Eve
4:00pm – St. Brigid
4:30pm – Our Lady of Mercy
Christmas
Midnight – Our Lady of Mercy
7:15am – Our Lady of Mercy
10:45am– Our Lady of Mercy
OUR LADY SAINT
OF MERCY BRIGID
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585-768-6543 585-768-6543
28 • December 2019 Season’s Greetings

Thank you
to all our customers
for a wonderful year
and Best Wishes for
the year to come!
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