My Mother's Christmas Memories - New York 1932-1942

The photo on the left was taken in 1932, Mom's first Christmas. The tree is on a
 covered sewing machine cabinet and is between the chair and a single bed. In another photo, presents are seen arranged on the bed (see the small photo below). The home was in the Bronx at 1130 Arnow Avenue. The family was living at the same address in 1933 and that Christmas tree was larger. Under the tree was a rocking chair and teddy bear. It was Mom's second Christmas and her sister's first. 

My mother, born in 1932, spent her childhood in New York. As a young child, she lived with her family in Manhattan, the Bronx, South Ozone Park, Jamaica, Queens Village, and Bellerose. In 1941, her parents purchased a home in Franklin Square, a hamlet in Nassau County.

Janet and Betty received Shirley Temple
dolls in 1937. The family was living in
Queens Village at 92-43 214th Street.

Mom's family always had short-needle balsam fir trees and decorated the tree on December 23rd. Mom said the tree was usually purchased at a corner market; however, when they moved to Franklin Square, the tree was purchased from Ralph's Farm Market.  Their tree had glass balls and much tinsel that was put on one strand at a time. 

On Christmas Eve, Mom and her sister hung a long sock on the bedpost and went to bed early as Santa was coming. 

Stockings were opened first on Christmas morning. The girls received oranges, nuts, and a candy cane along with small toys. One year they received a cardboard umbrella filled with candy. Mom continued the tradition as I remember getting nuts, an orange, and one candy cane in my stocking. However, we didn't hang a sock. Mom made our stockings out of felt.

The family was living in Bellerose in 1939 when Santa brought the kitchen set, complete with running water. Mom and her sister were so happy to see it under their tree as they had asked for it after seeing it advertised in the local hardware store flyer.  

The next year, the girls received a dollhouse with furniture and electric lights in each of the three rooms. Their father built it out of scraps and found items. Mom stopped believing in Santa that year as she recognized the fabric her mother used for the curtains.

Betty and Janet received this dollhouse in 1940. Wallpaper and 
accessories were added later but most of the furniture is the original. 
The family lived at 248-50 89th Avenue in Bellerose. 

24 Rule Street, Franklin Square
Now 149 Rule Street
Photo taken about 1947

Mom's family moved to Franklin Square in Nassau County in May of 1941. She remembers getting this doll as a Christmas gift in 1942.

Mom's parents exchanged the same gift every year. Her mother received a box of candy and her father received a carton of cigarettes.

Christmas dinner was usually a big meal. Sometimes turkey and always cut out Christmas cookies. Mom's parents did not have family in New York so there were no large gatherings.  

Thank you to Mom for sharing her Christmas memories!

Merry Christmas to Aunt Janet and Mom!

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2021 

Sources

Family Photographs; scanned images, from the privately held photo collection of E. M. Bryan, Virginia Beach, VA 2021. 

Interview with E. M. Bryan (VA), by D. B. Quinn, 8 October 2021. Transcript held in 2021 by D.B. Quinn (VA).