Advent Calendar : Outdoor Decorations

Did people in your neighborhood decorate with lights? Did some people really go “all out” when decorating? Any stories involving your ancestors and decorations?


I don't remember anyone in my neighborhood decorating with lights quite like we did.  We lived out in the country, but you could see our house for miles.  Dad really went all out with the lights, the plastic outside decorations, etc.  We had everything from Santa and sleigh up on the roof, the Nativity, Frosty the Snowman, etc.  Not to mention all of the strings of lights along the rooftop of the house and garage.  I remember one year the lights on the garage were left well until springtime.


I haven't tried to keep up this particular tradition, though I imagine I will when I get grandkids.  Right now the only outside lights I use are net lights in the bushes, and I do have a plastic Frosty the Snowman that I inherited a few years ago (see below):


Mom says: 

I don't recall  people decorating as much outside during the 50s and 60s as they do today.    My dad made a star with lights and placed it outside on the chimney but mostly our family decorated the inside of the house. 

 We probably started decorating when Travis was 2 and cried after watching "Frosty the Snowman" because Frosty had melted.   We bought a large snowman and put it outside to show him that Frosty came back and we've been decorating ever since (40+ years).   We enjoy decorating outside with lights mainly for the granddaughters. 

Yes, they gave me Frosty - so I will always know that he's still around.

Hearty Greetings for Christmas

Mr. Clarence Stuber

Spencerville Ohio

R.R. # 5

New Corydon, Ind.

December 22, 1922

Dear Uncle Clarence


I am anxious for Santa to come.  I wish you could be here for Xmas.  Bring Trixy and come with Aunt Vera.  I have a cold.  Hope you are well.


From Mildred 


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This card was sent to my paternal great-uncle, Clarence STUBER, by his niece, Mildred MILLER.  She would have been 4 years old when this was written.  Mildred was the daughter of Galen and Mary (HALEY) MILLER.  Clarence was the husband of Mary's sister, Vera (HALEY) STUBER.

Sunday's Obituary : John Cooper LeMaster (1935-1953)

Source: Lima News, Lima, Ohio, June 10, 1953, page 2.


Pfc. John C. Lemaster



Ft. Recovery - Funeral services for Pfc. John Cooper Lemaster, 18, who died in Korea of mortar shell wounds March 27, 1953, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Riffle funeral home with the Rev. Robert McCleary in charge.  Burial will be in Spring Hill cemetery.


The body will arrive here Wednesday morning.  An honor guard from American Legion posts of Ft. Recovery and Portland, Ind. will conduct military rites.  The youth attended elementary school here and junior high school at Portland.


Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Lemaster; a brother, Larry, in the Army; a sister, Donna Jane, at home; the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lemaster, Portland, and Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Gibbons, New Weston, and a great-grandfather, John Burkey, Portland.


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There is a memorial to him at the FindAGrave website, which states that he died at Pork Chop Hill.


The obituary has his grandparents wrong, they were Chesley and Clara (BURKEY) LeMASTER.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.