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Tuesday December 11, 2012 Edition
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Holiday Traditions of the Area A Window in Time with F. Ann Sullivan

For local historian and retired teacher F. Ann Sullivan holiday traditions are the glue that binds across generations and time.
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For local historian and retired teacher F. Ann Sullivan holiday traditions are the glue that binds across generations and time.

Tuesday December 11, 2012

By Cookie Steponaitis

The holidays are steeped in tradition for F. Ann Sullivan, local historian, and the most important is that, “ People seem to slow down, be friendlier, get to know one another and really mean it more than at any other time of the year.” Spending an afternoon with Mrs. Sullivan and her iconic collections of memories and memorabilia is like looking through a window into the world of holidays past, present and if she has her way about certain traditions, most definitely holidays future.

Mrs. Sullivan focused on holiday traditions beginning with her childhood memories of the Little City and the region from the 1940’s forward. “You have to start with the churches and social organizations,” recounted Mrs. Sullivan. “The story of the decorations, services, traditions and events are really linked to traditions that date back even to my grandmother’s time.” Growing up in a home filled with music and cooking, “ Annie” as she is known to this reporter remembers her mother baking and frosting literally one thousand cookies for the holidays and recounts that she and her brother were lucky, “ if we even got to eat one or lick the pan.’ With caroling, gatherings and her father’s patients (Dr. Wisell was the local dentist), there was a never ending need for holiday treats.

“Our family always looked forward to Midnight Mass at the local Catholic Church,” shared Annie. “We would celebrate the mass in Latin, which did not change until 1965 and our feet would all make crunching sounds as we walked in the snow. Upstairs the men’s choir (sorry ladies) would sing the traditional hymns and celebratory songs. Mrs. Charbonneau would patiently play and the booming voice of my dad and Charlie Barrow who owned the Rexall Drugs in town could be heard over the whole group. Every lady in the church wore a hat and the bells rang at midnight, saluting the entire town.” While the Wisell clan was always at the Catholic services, Annie remarked at length about the diverse traditions that each church had, including the Methodist Church Carillon, the keyboard organ that plays at 4:00 p.m. daily to this day and can be heard outside on the streets.

Walking the streets of the town was a magical experience for Mrs. Sullivan because civic groups competed for the best decorations and offered prizes for the homes, businesses and trees that were the most festive. “One women’s group,” remarked Sullivan “was simply called the As You Like It Group and they focused on touring and visiting all the homes on the streets of town. Sometimes they would carol, other times they would come in for a visit, but the holiday season always signaled the beginning of increased city activity and lots of visitors.”

When it came to spectacular displays of lights, Sullivan focused on two traditions that the town flocked to each season. “At the main lights in town and all down the main street, “shared Annie. “There were strands of lights strung across the street. The park was not as illuminated as it is today, but the crèche was lit and people would be walking up and down the streets singing, shopping and talking.  It was very common to drive your car into town on a Friday night and simply park on the main street. You saw people who you hadn’t seen in ages and you visited and enjoyed the lights.” The other huge tradition was the special displays the students of the Week’s School would create. Under the leadership of Arthur Bodette who ran the woodworking program on campus, the students would begin in early fall and create spectacular exhibits of lights and wooden panels showing English carolers and music would play on the McDonough Drive campus. “People came all the way from New York State to see the lights and the Weeks School display each year,” commented Sullivan. “Then they would stay and shop. It was really fun to walk down the sidewalk, eat hot chestnuts and to look at the extensive window decorations.

No shopping malls existed then and Mrs. Sullivan focused on how Main Street was the center not only of town but where the locals shopped. “You have to understand that the Blue Laws were in effect at that time,” shared Annie, and pausing to see the bewildered look on this reporter’s face grinned and added, “You are such a child.” Sullivan went on to explain that the Blue Laws required that all stores were open on Friday night until 9:00 p.m., closed at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and were not allowed to do business of any kind on Sunday. “That was the one day of the week that you were to be home and centered on your family unit,” remarked Mrs. Sullivan. “Teens were not allowed to work and people traditionally gathered for the big Sunday meal that happened around 2:00-3:00. Only the local Mom and Pop stores were allowed to be open and could only sell necessities.”

Returning to modern times Mrs. Sullivan is encouraged that some traditions are still prevalent and have a firm hold in the hustle and bustle of modern life. “Just take tonight for example,” she shared. “There is a holiday band concert in the high school tonight and soon to follow are the local choirs and special events at the Opera House. The cards have begun to flow in and people have called whom I have not heard from in months.” She grins and lists off her own plans and goals for the season including lights, family gatherings and time to write those cards of her own that she has previously in years past been too busy to do.  With one more quick story and the famed Sullivan sense of humor that is the hallmark of this story teller and historian, she concludes the interview with one more thought and a wish. “Traditions can’t be underestimated,” Sullivan states with conviction. “They ground us, link us, and bring out the best in us past, present and future. I truly am so looking forward to all the festivities and most of all the music. “  She did mention she is hoping to hear her favorite hymn O Holy Night at this year’s Christmas Mass echoing from the choir above, just like she did as a child, all those holidays ago.

 


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