In Wide-Eyed Wonder ...

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From the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library 

The library caption reads: 
"Large group of children watching Christmas gifts being given. Taken for the Leader paper. Date 12/17/1948."

I would know those pews anywhere.  These were taken in the First United Methodist Church on Cherokee Street.  

As to identities of those featured in the photos, not so much.  Feel free to offer up suggestions here or on my Facebook page.  I love the expressions on their faces, don't you?

As with yesterday's post, it seems post-war costume manufacturers were missing the mark when it came to Jolly Ole St. Nick.

A Wesson Family Gets a Visit from Santa

John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

The library caption reads: "Barlow Christmas, January 1949

Group of 23 includes men, women, children and a Santa Claus. A Christmas tree is visible in the background. This group was identified in handwriting on the back of photograph as 'Barlow Family - Wesson,' however, the envelope had 'Robertson Family'."

I suppose it's possible that both families are represented.  Feel free to chime in if you recognize anyone. 

I do wonder, however, have to wonder about that Santa Claus and the youngsters' initial reaction.

A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and a Nonagenarian -- UPDATED

From the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

The library caption reads: "Betty Price Dunn Cake and Christmas Tree, December 20, 1936

Betty Price Dunn, identified as the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Price and Rebecca White Price, is sitting by a large birthday cake with candles. A small Christmas tree is seen behind the cake. She was the wife of Samuel Dunn, Jr. This photograph was taken on her 90th birthday."

To do the math, this means she was born in 1846.  If anyone has information on her background, please feel free to leave a comment here or on my Facebook page.

Here is an article on Mrs. Dunn's mother on the occasion of her 100th birthday.  It seems longevity runs in the family.  The bottom of the second column contains information on Mrs. Dunn and the home in which the top photo was most likely taken. 

The above article is from the Bicentennial Special Edition of the Daily Leader (1976), courtesy of Bettie Hatcher Cox via her mother's archives and scanned in by Deenie Tallant.

Up from the Ashes ...

From the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

And the windows are dressed for Christmas.  This photo has to been from the late 1960s. Followers of this blog will know I have previously featured photos of the fire that burned down Woolworth's and the neighboring five and dime, Morgan and Lindsey's, on Cherokee Street.  The cause of that fire was believed to have been a faulty heater in the rear of M&L.

This is the first photo of the replacement store that I have seen in the library's online collection.   

Morgan and Lindsey did not rebuild.  I am unclear when Woolworth shuttered this store, but this building is still standing and is home to, I believe, a women's fashion business.

More Christmas Floats ...

Both Photos from the Don Jackson Collection, LLF Library

Judging by the cars and trucks in the photos, these pictures are even older than the ones we have been featuring this month. My best guess would be that they are from the late '40s or early '50s.  The first float appears to have been sponsored by the community of Heuck's Retreat; the second, the Brookhaven Exchange Club.

While I do not recognize anyone from the first float, there is a great chance that a follower here or someone on my Facebook friends' list may be able to identify the adults and child on the second float.

I find both pictures intriguing, not so much for the floats themselves, but for the buildings in the background. The white structure in the first photo is oh so familiar, but I am not placing it.

The second photo clearly shows an old hip-roofed home that stood next to the Jewish Synagogue.  It was eventually replaced by a brick building that housed Dr. Russell Burns' dental practice and is still there today.

As always, please feel free to chime in with names and possible identification of the buildings, as to when they were built and who owned them -- here or on Facebook.

The synagogue, for those who may not be familiar with it, is one of the oldest in the state and up until it was decommissioned and turned into a museum and genealogical center a few years back, was believed to be the oldest continually operated synagogue in the state. 

It has been featured in a large coffee table book on famous synagogues from around the world.  In the years since an elderly New York friend showed me the photo and the blurb,  I have been unsuccessful in locating that particular book again, so, unfortunately, I am unable to provide the exact title and author. 

Christmas Fairies and Girl Scouts

Both photos from the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

As with yesterday's post, the date is uncertain, but is most likely mid 1950s.

The young lady leaning forward with the garland in the top photo strongly resembles Lynda Hedgepeth Murray.  I do not recognize any of the other "fairies" but I am hopeful those of my friends on Facebook who went to Brookhaven High School with Lynda will be able to confirm my suspicion and identify the others.

In the bottom photo, I wonder if it's not from 1958, since the two young girls standing near the fireplace look a whole lot like Debbie Giles Rushing and her older sister Pam.  I could be completely wrong about that identification, so if someone out there knows better, please leave a comment here on or my Facebook page.

The young ladies holding the dolls on the rear of the float also look very familiar, but I don't dare venture a guess for fear of being way off.

Angels We Have Heard on High ...

John Holly Williams Collection -- LLF Library

John Holly Williams Collection -- LLF Library

The top photo is from the 1956 Christmas parade -- A choir of angels singing Heavenly strains to the music of an accordion, no less!

The date of the second photo is not listed at the library.  A best guess would be that this picture is also from the 1956 parade.  On magnification, the "Southern Belle" in the approximate center of the background, surely looks a whole like my cousin, Lynda Hedgepeth Murray.

Any help on the identities of the singing angels in the first photo is most welcome!  Hold down Cntrl and the + key on a PC, or the Command key and the + key, to enlarge the image.

Please let me know names, either here or on my FB page!