It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year—Take Time to Reminisce about Holiday Traditions and Share Stories from Years Gone By This Year!

Every family getting together for holiday celebrations knows there will come a point in the gathering where a child will ask a grandparent “What did Santa bring you when you were little?” or what it was like to celebrate that special holiday. It may be that a grandparent will bring up the subject without a prompt, and that’s when the fun begins.  

The stories will bring laughter, and maybe even a bittersweet tear will be discreetly whisked away as the reminiscing begins with years that seem so far away.  And then suddenly that same child will remember the ugly sweater grandpa wore two years ago at the family gathering and the laughter begins all over again. Because the magic of holidays are the special moments we all recall, even, and maybe especially, when we’re children. Memories past, memories in the making, that’s what holiday gatherings are for, after all.  

We asked our residents to share what the holidays were like during the ‘50’s when many were youngsters, still in awe of the glitter and glam of holidays but without the stress of being the person who had to do all the cooking, baking, shopping, serving, and more of the bustle we feel today. It was fun to see them reach back, add some giggles and laughter and describe “what it was like” back then. 

Betty Koening, from Residences at Coffee Creek in Chesterton, just celebrated her 94th birthday December 10th and she was happy to reminisce about 1950. It marked the first Christmas she spent with her husband. The young couple lived in the Dalton Apartments in Gary—she said it was owned by her husband’s family. “Both our parents and families came to our apartment that year. I didn’t have to cook, his mother cooked the dinner. My sister was there, too,” she explained. 

Their daughter Nancy was born in 1953 so teddy bears were among the type of gifts she received from Santa as a toddler.  Later in the decade, it was dolls, of course. By 1959 or so he could bring Barbie to Nancy. Betty recalls that Barbie had all the clothes and accessories Santa could leave under the tree at that time. 

Betty worked in the advertising Department at Sears in Downtown Gary and vividly recalls the sights of the bustling merchant community during that ‘50’s decade. “The shopping was such a big deal. The merchants all had lights. The entire district from 5th Avenue through 8th Avenue where Sears and Gordons were located, were all lit up.  Mr. Gordon used to be at the top of the stairs in his store.  All of Broadway was lit up with strings of lights and all the people shopping.” 

“We used to go down to the steel mill entrance north on Broadway to see the big tree they had every year with all the lights. The mill had the Goodfellow Carolers, all dressed up in top hats in different colors, like something from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol .  They went around to the schools and other businesses to sing.  When our family got together, we’d usually sing after the dinner. We had a piano.” 

Betty said the Kiwanis always held a big Christmas Party at the Hotel Gary’s Crystal Ballroom where all big events in the city were held at that time. Over the years celebrations change and there are new activities to look forward to—like the Holiday Luncheon for families and friends planned for December 22 at Residences at Coffee Creek.  While there aren’t any huge trees like the one that once graced USS Entrance at Broadway, there are multiple trees decorated in different styles and colors throughout the Residences at Coffee Creek to create the festive atmosphere. 

Residences at Deer Creek in Schererville has also decked their halls! A festive feeling is always welcomed and appreciated by residents and families who gather for their annual celebration–complete with fancy hors d’oeuvres and sweet treats prepared specially by their award-winning Chef Vanessa. 

One resident, when asked to recall holidays from years ago, quipped “There was no talk of gluten-free or vegan meals back then. Everyone ate what was served.” 

The residents also shared a common thought about families being together and doing activities together:  “The whole family went out together to chop down a tree” and “There were large, extended family gatherings…”  Add to that, the lament “Everyone dressed up. Everything is too casual now.” 

As for decorations “Only the wealthy had fancy new aluminum trees” and “People in the city went to see the city lights. County homes did not decorate their yards.”  

In those days from years ago there was a greater sense of community “People came caroling and you invited them in for hot chocolate. Nobody worried.” 

Reminiscing and traditions tell us a lot about ourselves, how we’ve grown and changed, what was valued then and what is valued now.  It’s also the advice our own Lindsey Sherron, Licensed Clinical Social Worker for Residences Senior Living, has recently encouraged us to use as we navigate through the season, which sometimes may be difficult.  It’s a great time to rekindle memories and reach back to traditions adapted for today that will be brand new again, a way to both enjoy and to cope, whichever way you need to look at memories.  All in all, it’s a wonderful time of year! 

Residences at Deer Creek Family Celebration

HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2021 from everyone at Residences Senior Living—Deer Creek in Schererville and Coffee Creek in Chesterton! We are so blessed to be able to share memories and make new memories with our dedicated staff, our residents and their families and friends every day and especially during this holiday season! 

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