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!!