HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 Christmas Newsletter
T DECEMBER 2009 HERITAGE PROGRAMS CHRISTMAS LONG AGO in College Station, Texas City of College Station ▪ Department of Parks and Recreation ▪ Heritage Programs Conference Center ▪ 1300
George Bush Drive ▪ Room 107 ▪ College Station ▪Texas ▪ 77840 HOLD.cstx.gov ▪ aboykin@cstx.gov ▪ 979.764.3491 James H. Dozier, A.C. Johnson, Glen Cook, and Mae Boswell (wife of City
Manager Ran Boswell) enjoy the festivities of a City Hall Christmas Open House. c. 1960. Peggy Ames, first grade student and guest at City of College Station Christmas Open House, 1950.
The first City Hall Christmas Open House was held in 1948 in the newly constructed City Hall at 101 Church Street. If that address rings a yuletide bell, it is because you have probably
dined in the reception area or quite possibly the jail. The City of College Station now leases the building to Café Eccel. On December 22, 1950, a number of citizens signed the guest
book at the annual Christmas Open House. Among the signatures were those of Mrs. E.E. Ames and her little girl, Peggy. One would imagine that never in her wildest dreams did little Miss
Peggy, think that she would be retiring from 27 ½ years of city service 59 years later. Peggy Ames Calliham retires this month after a lifetime of service to this community. We’ll miss
you! .
Christmas in College Station wasn’t always snowflakes and gingerbread. An influenza epidemic postponed an Aggie football game in 1932. The Christmas of 1940 brought with it yet another
influenza epidemic. The December 12 Battalion headline read “Epidemic is not Unusual.” The campus paper reported five consecutive days with more than 200 patients in hospitals. Plans
were made “to use Post Graduate hall in case the number of cases increases abnormally.” Two days later, with 300 men on the sick list, A. & M. College closed its doors and classes were
dismissed early for Christmas. On December 2, 1964, the Chicago Tribune reported that Texas Aggies were inoculated at a rate of 150 per hour after one student was diagnosed with meningitis.
By December 3, 1964, the Dallas Morning News headlines read “Aggies Taking Shots in Meningitis Scare.” The paper was quick to add that “Classes were not called off, and the fact that
a student was standing in line to receive a shot was not a valid excuse to miss class.” WINTER DOLDRUMS . C Christmas greetings from Charlie’s (Opersteny) Food Market at North Gate.
The Battalion, December 1, 1936 The North Gate “strip mall” covered in a frosty snow. c. 1920s. The YMCA building on the A&M College campus receives a dusting of winter white from a
snowfall in 1929. Looks like the winter doldrums hit the Boykin household (Karen (l) and Anne (r)) one Christmas morning in 1963on Hereford Street. The outlook brightened once the bonnets
and curlers were removed and they donned their new sweaters from Beverly Braley’s at Townshire Shopping Center.
Christmas Scenes May the many Blessings of Christmas be with you now and through the New Year! The Bonnen children in front of their home at 201 Lee Avenue. Christmas in the Park, December
2008 Snow at Cy Miller Park pond, 1986. A&M Consolidated High School choir sings Christmas carols at University National Bank. 1974. “I know H20 plus dirt equals snow but get that thing
out of the Teachers Lounge.” Mr. Streger, A&M Consolidated High School Science teacher, 1963. Louis Leinweber, Clay and Thomas Boykin play with the ultimate spoils of Christmas, their
trains. Hereford Street, 1963. HHe len Glover once wrote about the Millican family that “The Millicans reached Washington on the Brazos in December of 1821 but had to wait for Stephen
F. Austin to arrive on Christmas Day.” In 1972, a story about early campus life in The Eagle reported that “Christmas season was the catalyst for the first campus-wide social event which
was initiated for cadets and faculty children. Because many cadets were unable to return home for Christmas, faculty families invited them to share a large decorated tree and an elaborate
party with them at the ‘Y.’”
Thank You! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your dedicated support of Heritage Programs. I am truly grateful for the many angels out there in the community who are helping me
to preserve our history. A very special thanks goes to the Historic Preservation Committee, the Parks and Recreation family, and the City of College Station. Anne Boykin DECEMBER 2009
HERITAGE PROGRAMS COORDINATOR Shipping Address 5555 Street Address City, State 55555 $5/pp; Reservations required by Jan. 11th R.s.v.p. to aboykin@cstx.gov or 979.764.3491 Sponsored
by Texas Roadhouse, WTAW, Scott DeLucia and DeLucia Mail Service. 5555 Street Address City, State 55555 Ph 555.555.5555 FX 555.555.5555 Exploring History Lunch Lecture “Restoration of
the Texas Governor’s Mansion” with Donna Beth McGowan, chair Governor’s Mansion docents Wednesday, January 13, 2010 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. College Station Conference Center 1300 George
Bush Drive College Station, Texas COMING IN 2010! Karen, Anne and Clay Boykin at 1013 Winding Road. Christmas, 1956.