What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Christmas on Elmwood Street, Part Three - Updated and Reposted

Christmas on Elmwood Street, Part Three!

Again, this is a repost of the story about my Dad, "Billy Mursch", written from his own words.  I am so thankful that I took the time to listen and write down these stories as he told them to me...they are priceless and precious.  Little did I know that  Christmas (2010) would be the last Christmas he would spend with us here on earth.  Now he is rejoicing with the angels in heaven and enjoying the REAL celebration of Christmas with my mother...and most of all, with Jesus.    I hope you will enjoy this last episode from the story of "Christmas on Elmwood Street", reposted in memory of my sweet Daddy. 

The Mursch House on Elmwood Street, Crafton, PA, 1929



Elva and Bill Mursch
(My Grandparents)
Billy Mursch
This is the third and last part of the mini-series of "A Chapter in the Life of Billy Mursch", Crafton, Pennsylvania, Circa 1929.  If you've missed the first two parts, please look back on my blog for the last few days to catch up with us!  (This story is written from his perspective).



Madame Schumann-Heink singing Silent Night
Click on the link above to hear her singing just
as it was back in 1929 on the radio.
On Christmas Eve our family gathered in the living room to listen to Madame Schumann-Heink sing Silent Night in German on the radio. This was a tradition for many families during those pre-WWII years, and one that was very special to my father especially as it reminded him of his German family heritage.

Then we would “hang up our stockings by the chimney with care”, and in the morning we would gleefully sing out "Merry Christmas!" to each other as we discovered the treasures of perhaps a new handkerchief, an apple, nuts and maybe some candy tucked inside! After opening our gifts ("The Boy Ranchers Among the Indians" YES!! A new pocket-knife? Wow, Gee Thanks, Santa! ) we would gather around the table for a delicious ham dinner with all the trimmings. My mother was a wonderful cook, and even when times were tough, she could create a meal that made our celebration a very joyous time together.

Later in the evening our family would take a walk around the neighborhood and see all the homes decked out in their glorious Christmas displays. It was truly a festive time on Elmwood Street! Such happy, happy memories.


Oh yes, one more little adventure to share with you:
Our family faithfully attended church at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran in Crafton. My mother was quite involved in the Ladies’ Circle of our church, and this particular year she was to host their meeting at our home shortly after Christmas. Unfortunately, our Christmas tree had shed its needles rather prematurely, and the tree stood quite bare in our living room. She was embarrassed at its nakedness, but hadn’t had time to take it down prior to her meeting. While she was out doing her errands before the meeting, I happened to notice that one of our neighbors had already discarded their Christmas tree and had left it on the street for the trash men to pick up. That tree still had many more needles on its branches than ours, so I thought it would be a wonderful surprise for my mother if I switched the trees and redecorated it before she arrived home with her lady friends for the meeting! I quickly made the exchange and cleaned up the mess just in time for the ladies to arrive at our door. Much to my chagrin, my mother was mortified that I had taken this tree off the trash heap and brought it in to our home, but the other ladies all laughed and thought it was just wonderful of “little Billy” to be so ingenious and creative! So she recovered from her embarrassment and praised me for my thoughtfulness. (Whew! That was a close one!)
Our Christmas Tree (before the needles fell off)
 



Introducing my fiance' Dorothea Tedlie to my family.
l to r:  Ruth Mursch, Dorothea Tedlie, Marion Mursch, Mother Elva
Mursch, (back row, l to r): Dad William H. Mursch,
Me "Billy" William F. Mursch, and brother Paul Mursch, circa 1940
(click on pictures to enlarge view)
Yep, growing up during the depression in the outskirts of Pittsburgh had its difficult moments, but all in all, God had truly blessed our family with His peace and joy. Not too many years after that I introduced my beautiful fiancé, Dorothea Tedlie, to my family in that same house, and then a few years later brought our own four children home to visit their grandparents so that they could taste the Anise cookies and the Sand Tarts and experience Christmas the way I had growing up on Elmwood Street.

Looking back, I have to stop and thank the Lord for all His wondrous blessings to me for the past ninety-two years. I am so thankful to have had Godly parents who brought me up in a Christian home so that I could pass on that same heritage to my children and to their children and to all future generations.
It is my Christmas prayer that each and every one of you will cherish your family and treasure the gift of the “Prince of Peace”, Jesus Christ, that precious Baby in the Manger and our Savior today.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

"Billy Mursch"
(08/09/1918-4/19/2011)

The Mursch Family a few years later, circa 1952
in the dining room of the house on Elmwood Street.


 

The Mursch Family 1969
Paul, Grandpa, Marion, Grandma, "Billy", and Ruth.


Some of the Mursch Family, 1982


The "Billy Mursch" Family, 2005 (most of it)
The Very Distinguished "Billy Mursch"
2010, age 92.  What a guy!!!  (UPDATE: THIS
WAS TAKEN AS HE ENJOYED HIS
LAST THANKSGIVING WITH HIS FAMILY.  We all really miss his wit and charm...)

Link to "Christmas on Elmwood Street, Part One"
Link to "Christmas on Elmwood Street, part Two"

Back to the Present:    I hope you all enjoyed this little walk down memory lane with me as my Dad "Billy" told his stories from his childhood.  One thing I have learned this past year in particular as I have been researching my family genealogy, it is so important to take the time to talk to our elders while we have the opportunity.  So much history and knowledge is lost when we don't ask the questions and write down their stories.  For most of us our parents and grandparents are long gone.  So we need to tell our own kids and grandkids our stories while we can. I know...they probably don't want to sit down long enough to listen...so write your story...use your blog as a way to share the past...the traditions...the good memories and the sad ones too.  Because we do so much on social media we are losing the hand written letters and journals and photo albums that are real and not virtual.  When the technology changes much of what we have put in social media will be lost.  Share your story now while you can.  And if you still have your elder loved ones near you, ask them about their lives and record it somehow. Every life matters!

After Christmas I will be sharing what I learned in my genealogical research on Ancestry.com this past year. It is quite an interesting story and I know you will enjoy reading it. So stay tuned, and have a very Merry Christmas!!

29 comments:

  1. Aunt Pam, you have a done a beautiful job giving a peek into Grandpa's childhood. If you feel inspired, please keep it going. Maybe someday you can print these up for the family! (I love the photos too.)

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  2. Dear Sandy, I am so glad you have enjoyed these stories. As you well know, our Dad, your Grandpa, is a very unique person, with a warm and funny personality. I hope I can capture a few more stories before it's too late. I want his legacy to live on. Love to you all. Aunt Pam

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  3. What a treasure of Family History! What a blessing to read it.. Thanks Pam.

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    1. Thank you, Mary. I feel honored that you have visited here today. Thinking of you and your family at this time...and praying for you at Christmas. Blessings to you and yours.

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  4. So glad I followed the trail of "virtual breadcrumbs" from The Dedicated House to your comment on The Frugal Little Bungalow to your series Christmas on Elmwood Street. I really enjoyed Mr. Mursch's story, including the old photographs and youTube carol. Thanks for sharing it! And the photo of him with the moustache photo prop is the perfect way to top it off!

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    1. Oh! I'm so glad you came by for a visit! I'll have to follow the trail back to you and get better acquainted. Isn't this fun? I'm so happy you found us here! Please come again some time!

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  5. What a wonderful post of memories and photos Pamela. I truly love reading about past memories of friends. Sorry it took me so long to visit here but I'm now able to sit and use the keyboard with no pain. Have a day of blessings my friend.

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    1. Oh, Toni, I am so glad you are feeling better! I pray you will continue to get stronger each day. Thank you for stopping by for a visit today..and glad that you enjoyed my Dad's stories. It was such fun hearing them from him...so glad I wrote them down when I did!

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  6. Just loved your father's stories of Christmas memories, Pam. Thanks so much for sharing with all of us!
    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you Martha Jane! I am happy that you enjoyed the stories. It was fun to re-read them again! Be blessed today my friend!!!

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    2. Thank you Pam for putting this together, I remember going to Grandma and Grandpa's home at Chiristmas many times when we were kids, she always has dishes of candy sitting around and Mom would we were not to touch it! Grandma would say it was there for us to enjoy! I think we got to eat some after dinner. I loved those Christmas cookies Grandma made, especially the Anaise caps. Anne and I have the dishes that were used for Christmas dinner there.

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    3. Russell, I just realized that you wrote these messages here in 2016. I guess I didn't see that it was from you before, and now I see it and it is very special to me. I love that you have those dishes of Grandma's...that is pretty amazing!! Merry Christmas. I hope you will see this message even tho I am answering it 2 years later!! Love you, big brother, more than ever!!

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  7. I don't know why this published without my name? Russell

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    1. And I don't know why I never saw your messages before. So glad to see it now. It is very special to me. Thank you for reading and enjoying and reminiscing with me.

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  8. Always love traveling back in time with you! Love the story and the photos.

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  9. I don't know how I overlooked this fact when last I read this post, Pamela, but my Dad was also named William, and being the youngest of three, was always called "Little Billy" by everyone in his family. Enjoyed time traveling with you once again!
    Blessings, my friend!

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    1. Oh wow, Martha! I am just now seeing this message after two years! How about that! Your Dad and my Dad were both "Little Billy"! That's so cool. My dad was little Billy I guess because his dad's name was also Bill.

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    1. Thank you, Brenda! I don't believe I've met you here before, but I am glad you came and enjoyed reading these stories!! I hope you'll come again.

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  11. Pam, I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting with your father. I loved viewing life from his perpsective and learning about your heritage. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

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    1. Thank you, Dianna. I am just now seeing these former messages from 2 years ago! And now I don't think you are on Blogger anymore, but I wish you were! Thank you for your kind comment!

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  12. After reading part 2 and part 3, I'm all caught up. Oh gosh, so much there that reminds me of elements of my own childhood. My family has never made anise cookies, but they were and still are around. I happen to hate anise. lol Thanks for a wonderful trip back in time.

    By the way, my son and his family live in Crafton Heights. Sadly, his Christmas present to us seems to have been his Facebook post today. He doesn't name us specifically, but while it was a rant to all the conservative, Trump-supporting, racist (if you are not actively supporting BLM...you are racist) Christians...it was implied that it was to his family as well. Anyway, the gist of it is that if we aren't willing to become who he wants us to be he is "prepared to walk through life without us". And the final blistering comment..."Whether you like it or not, I thank you because you have made me who I am." Meaning he hates what we stand for so much it pushed him the other way. Sigh. I'm a little sad and I will keep praying, but honestly, the boy I raised and loved so much ceased to exist a long time ago.

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    1. Oh Stacy, I am SO sorry your son is so filled with such bitterness and hatred. All you can do at this point is keep praying for him...keep the lines of communication open on your end. The day will come when he will see the error of his ways and I pray it won't be too late to reconcile with you all. Just commit him to the Lord and let HIM do HIS work to turn His heart back to Himself, and eventually back to you. On the other thoughts, I am glad you enjoyed reading these little stories. I haven't had the anise cookies since my grandmother last baked them in Florida. She said they never were the same in Florida because the little "caps" on top didn't set up right due to the humidity or something. They have to sit in a cool place to set up right before baking them, and she didn't have those cool attic steps anymore once they moved to Florida...so that treat was removed from our Christmas cookie list. But we still make the Sand Tarts every year. That is my son's Christmas gift to the family...he bakes them and we eat them! LOL. I hope you are able to dig out from under the snow today!

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  13. Hi there Pam, I have very much enjoyed this journey through your past and the memories of your Dad and yourself these past several posts--what a treasure these remembrances and photos are and will be for your family in the years to come. Your are so right, and I am always telling our children this....this "social media" thing will rapidly change and may not even exist for future generations, I have hung on tight to scrapbooks, diaries, photo albums, old letters and the like--these tangible things are treasures that should be treated as such and saved for the ones who come after us. I loved seeing the pictures of the trains and how this tradition got started in your family. I do love the blue lights you added, yes they are blue....but I even like those better, they are unique! Enjoyed reading about your family, and glad you stopped by to see me too, happy weekend my friend!

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    1. Oh thank you Debbi for stopping in and enjoying this little "blast from the past" with me. Yes, I fear that future generations won't have much to look at in the way of picture albums, as I rarely print pictures anymore...they are all in my computer or on flash drives and who knows if those will work in the future? But I can't afford to print them all out. Thankfully we still have the OLD photos that do exist. I'm glad you like the "Blue Light Special", as I am calling it! It's fun and I am so happy we took the time and energy to put it all back together again. Life's too short to not allow ourselves time to "play". Have a blessed weekend!!

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  14. In 1956-1958 my family lived in a similar-looking house as your Mursch House on Elmwood Street. So much charm in the architecture. My house was in Lockport, New York, near Buffalo. We had a lot of snow in the winters. From there my father was transferred to Los Angeles where the architecture and the weather were quite different! I enjoyed this post, Pam.

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    1. Thank you for visiting Barbara. I wish I could revisit this house the way it was! I was so little when we went there that I don't remember much except the front porch. Seems like my sister and I had a tea party on the front porch. Yes, I can imagine the architecture and the WEATHER were MUCH different in L.A. Same for us moving to Florida from PA in 1956.

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  15. What a hoot about the Christmas tree switcharoo! Ingenious, for sure! Interesting, his being raised in the Lutheran church. Me, too. Excepting my generation, my great-great, great, grandfather and uncle were all Lutheran ministers. I used to feel sorry for my father and his siblings when he'd recount: As children, they weren't allowed to see their Christmas decorations until after services on Christmas eve when his father would throw open his study doors to reveal the tree.

    Looking forward to what you want to share from researching more of your family tree!

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    1. My family never decorated the tree until Christmas Eve. We would help do a little decorating before we went to bed, but then they would finish it after we went to bed and then we would see the finished tree on Christmas morning. We always left it up until Jan. 6th, Epiphany, and also my mother's birthday! My grandparents were Lutheran and my father was raised Lutheran. I was christened in the Lutheran church in PA, but when we moved to FL. in 1956 there was no Lutheran church nearby so we joined the Methodist church, which is what my mother was. So I was confirmed in the Methodist church. When I married my Baptist husband and then he became a minister in a C&MA church, which is similar to Baptist, I decided to be baptized by immersion. (My hubby baptized me in the Atlantic ocean and almost drowned me...very memorable occasion!) But at least I know I've got it covered no matter what. Praise God it is Jesus Who saves us!!

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.