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Community Corner

Christmas in Collinsville 1941

Stories from wartime.

 

December 1941 Collinsville, much like the rest of the country, was focused on the United States entry into World War II.

While Christmas would nevertheless arrive that year, the war would intimately and integrally impact the everyday lives of residents, organizations and businesses; bringing them, perhaps, more in tune with the true meaning of the season.

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Here are some of the Christmas stories of that time:

As expected, town churches: Trinity, St Patrick’s and Collinsville Congregational, were busy with live music, pageants, roving carolers and gift giving — via Santa at times — for the children.

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At the town Cinema, there was a benefit performance to raise funds for less fortunate members of the community. A non-perishable food item brought admission, for a child, to the matinee.

Thomas C. Dyer demonstrated his support of the war effort by decorating his home with a large letter “V” for victory; surrounded by seasonal greens and bright colored lights.

By December 1942, Chairman of the USO War Fund Campaign, Dr. George Eddy, would be organizing armed forces gift drives — soap was a popular commodity — among town residents and businesses.

Mrs. Christine Whitney ran the Canton War Council, which sent ‘Yuletide Remembrance Packages’ with a gift of $3.00, plus a photo of downtown Collinsville to members of the armed forces from the, “folks at home.”

By 1943, the U.S. Treasury would be urging Collinsville Saving Society Christmas Club savers to move their monies into war bonds.   

It wasn’t until November 1945, when the town’s WWII veterans began arriving back home, that they too would again experience the meaning of Christmas in Collinsville. 

Coming Monday: Remembrance Packages

Here’s the Deal

Happy Holidays and many thanks to Mary Ellen Cosker for her continued inspiration and devotion to capturing the history that helps to define our town.

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