Letters to America Letters to AmericaIt seems strange but I cannot remember anything about the Christmases in Rochester. I’m pretty sure there was always snow on the ground and I can remember going to Woolworths(1) to buy presents. I don’t remember much about Santa Claus except that stockings were hung over the fireplace in the living room, and we had a big tree in there, which was decorated on Christmas Eve. There were lights also on the big fir tree in the front garden. There must have been presents to open but I don’t remember doing that, nor having Christmas dinner. There were a few days holiday from school but it was not a long holiday as it is in England. Boxing Day is not an American custom. Nor do I remember school carol concerts. Religion was not a part of school life.
That brings me to think of church. We went regularly to Sunday school at St Thomas Episcopal Church which was about a mile away. We were usually taken in the car but often walked home. In the church was a simple very lovely carved wooden altar in a light colour, oak I expect. The Sunday school was held in other rooms in the basement. On Palm Sunday we were given palm fronds to take home.
A Palm Sunday picture of us all in our new clothes.
We always had new outfits for Easter. If I look sour it was probably because Sandy was pinching me, something he did often when we were
having a picture taken, and something Teddy would never have done. Perhaps I should have told somebody, but never did. Actually from
the position of his arms I don’t think he was.
Speaking of new clothes; most of mine were not new. I regularly received new dresses etc from somebody who was always referred to as “Libby’s little girl” who was a bit older than me. A boxful of clothes would arrive by post. I never met Libby or her daughter. I believe they lived in Philadelphia. My parents regularly sent money to America for my upkeep. I know that because Mary told me and complained that Carl never gave her any of it. I remember having my feet measured in an x-ray machine at a shoe shop more than once but I never had the opportunity to choose a dress. This didn’t bother me at the time. I never saw a clothes shop as there were no local shops other than a grocer’s [Loblaw’s], and even that was too far to walk.
