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A Bossier Christmas in 1939by Ann Middleton
An article in the December 21, 1939 issue of The Bossier Banner described how Bossier Parish residents would be enjoying Christmas in 1939.
"Christmas will be a gala season in Bossier Parish this year-what with college boys and girls returning home, school being out and a general festive air pervading the parish."
"Beginning last Saturday, the out-of-town students, from Normal and Louisiana College, began the homeward trek for the holidays. The students from institutions have been arriving all this week, with the pupils from the State University coming in Wednesday."
"The bank in Benton, Court House offices and offices in the Agricultural Building in Benton will remain closed until Tuesday, the day after Christmas, the holidays including a half day Saturday."
"The holiday was officially opened Tuesday evening, for Benton, when a benefit double-header basketball games [sic] was sponsored by local agencies to raise fruits, candie and canned foods for the needy of the community."
"In Bossier City and in Plain Dealing organizations are sponsoring Christmas cheer parties and are raising ample funds to see that all needy families are taken care of at this season."
"Bossier City has been gaily decorated, in evergreens and impressive colored lights strung upon the main street, under the direction of town officials and Waterworks Superintendent J. J. O'Donnell for some two weeks now. The bank, stores and Town offices will be closed in both Bossier City and Plain Dealing during Monday."
"Teachers from all of the six high schools of the parish are making their plans to finish their last -minute shopping and leave for home as soon as school is out this week. School will not re-open until Monday, January 1st, giving pupils and instructors nine holidays."
"Families throughout the parish are plan[n]ing holiday reunions and sumptuous Christmas dinners, as well as getting ready for family trees, Santa's visit and neighborhood dances and parties."
And, for a 2012 take on holiday goings-on, here's a note about how you can track Santa:
One of the many important functions performed by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is tracking Santa Claus as he travels across the world on Christmas Eve. This page explains how a 1955 misprint in a Colorado Springs newspaper led to this immensely popular service and the creation of a Santa-tracking website that gets nearly nine million unique visitors each year:
http://www.norad.mil/about/Santa.htmlYes, Virginia (and Colorado), there is a Santa Claus, and NORAD knows where he is.In addition, there is now an app for tracking Santa!