Booth House Christmas

Booth House 

The home my Maternal Grandparents lived in from the 1940's-1965.

Before they bought their little home and aluminum Christmas Tree

 I showed you a couple of weeks ago.

It is owned now by Eastern IL University

My Grandparents lived on one side and Miss Mary Josephine Booth lived on the other.

My Maternal Grandparents returned to Charleston in 1939.

Unlike my Paternal Grandparents they did not take as many pictures until my brother and I came along.

My Mom circa 1944 in front of Booth House.

1957 is the oldest picture I have

Before I was born and my brothers first Christmas.

Christmas time 1959

My Dad and Maternal Great Grandfather celebrating their birthdays the same date

December 19th.

My sweet Grandmother has her Christmas pin on.

Do you see the twins??

it was my first Christmas

My Great Grandfather Andrew Jackson Snyder

1960 look at all the wrapping paper remnant's!

my Raggedy Andy Doll

4 generation picture

my brother was 4 and I can see he has his Sunday School pin on his little jacket.

this was so cool, it had running water. I look happy then, but I hate washing dishes now!

1962
so grateful for the pictures of my brother and I together

1963
I did not show the picture where I am on my brothers rt.
so yes the gun was pointed at my head accidentally.

1963
luckily I have all the things on the book cases.
Especially the Santa.

1964

1964 the last year at Booth House
My cowgirl outfit!
My Barbie car!
and hey Mark got a train.
Memories of my first Christmas's
The house is not a home now, but it was a place of warmth, love and happiness at one time.
Hope you enjoy the flashback pictures.

Christmas Time at 1515

This week I head to 1515 for Christmas time in Charleston.

It is so special cooking in my Grandmother's kitchen, placing the tree in the same spot as it was that first Christmas in 1925.

Look at the bowl of oranges and nuts under the tree. The tree is small and the present few, but I know it was a wonderful Christmas at 1515.

Here is the tree from 1943
I think of how my Grandparents were so sad that year, my Dad had just been drafted into WWII after graduating from High School.

Candlelight Christmas Dinner that year.

during the War their were still plenty of presents under the tree

I am sure a very happy year
A son home from the war and 2 new Grandaughters
look at all the presents!

Cousins Mary and Martha remember this Christmas, the year they got their Terri Lee Dolls

2014 Cousins Marty and Mary decorating the Christmas tree in the same spot where they found their Terri Lee Dolls under the tree so many years ago.

When I look at this picture it makes me think they aren't really in their 70's, they are looking at the tree through the eyes of childhood.

1961 Mary holding me and Marty holding my brother Mark

I was not as happy on Grandad's lap!

In 2009 when I repurchased the house I knew where the tree would go.

I used tissue paper and vintage wrapping paper. 

Mary put her Terri Lee Doll under the tree.

Grandmothers pie plate was placed under the tree full of nuts as it had been so many years ago.

Also my Grandmother's box of blocks she got as a little girl.

2009
The first few years we had a real tree but I had to take it down before leaving and trying to figure out what to do with it was difficult.

lighting up the same corner

wow look at all the presents!
We have a large Christmas party for all our friends in Charleston and on Saturday the cousins have a "PJ party" we stay in our PJ's all day, unwrap our presents, eat leftovers, watch old Christmas movies and drink hot chocolate. My favorite day of the year besides Christmas. Well, we pretend it IS Christmas that day.

candy cigarettes and plenty of giggles!

leftovers in the dining room.
The same dining room that my Great Grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1933. They were married on Dec 25, 1883

The next day is cookie making in Grandmothers kitchen. We cool the cookies on her Hoosier cabinet, I have used her blue crock and wooden spoon to make them since 1980 and of course we can put some in her cookie jar



now into our 6th generation of enjoying Christmas time at 1515

from 1925 to a 2015 selfie
Wishing you Merry Christmas from 1515

Stay tuned for Part III
Christmas past from Booth House
next week

Grandma's Aluminum Christmas Tree

Back in 1995 when my Grandfather passed away and we were cleaning out his home, I decided I wanted to take my Grandmothers aluminum Christmas Tree and color wheel.

I hated it growing up, when they moved to a new home they bought it and no longer had a real tree.

My Mom thought I was nuts! But it came home to my house and found a home in my Pink Bedroom and every Thanksgiving Eve my Mom and I would put it up. I miss that tradition with my Mom.

I love looking at our family pictures from Christmas

and yes the aluminum tree.

I still have the Santa that lights up my living room ever year, the round marble table and the ruby candy dish.

1966 the first year, I guess they were trying to get a picture with the color wheel at night.

I still have the Styrofoam ornaments and still use them also. See the boot?

1969 Santa moved to the front window to greet guests.

yes that is me 1966 and my sweet Mom and brother.

I see Mark got some GI Joe clothes and I am sure I am unwrapping some Barbie clothes, since I see my new Alan doll in the picture.

1969

I look older than 10?

That box is my Easy Bake oven......why yes I still have it!

Look, a White Christmas too!

Same year, sitting my Grandma's dining room with my parents and brother.

I can honestly say I still have everything on the table with the exception of my brothers

"Mark" mug, notice the red and white check mugs with our names on them we always drank out of.

1970 playing with our Snoopy Game.

I always had a new outfit for Christmas, and I can see I had my new charm bracelet on.

I miss those days, Christmas has never felt the same since my Mom passed away.

But having 1515 brings back some of the magic for me.

here is the same tree now at 1515.

Do you see the Styrofoam boot ornament?

I now decorate it with all pink ornaments.

maybe Grandma knew after the boots glitter is pink!

So I am so glad I grabbed that tree some 20 years ago.

Who would of thought it would of started at my Grandmother Willingham's home and end up at my Grandmother Winkler's home.

Next post will be the trees of 1515 starting in 1941 to the present.

Followed by the trees of Booth House, pre aluminum Christmas Tree home.

I hope you enjoy these nostalgic Christmas pictures.

Ann

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