Merry Christmas From Buford's Past!

Another brief Christmas related blog this week...

From Dec. 15, 1939 Green & White: 

Junior Red Cross to Help Toyless Children in Buford
So that no child in Buford need go without a toy at Christmas, the Junior Red Cross under the instruction of Miss Jothette Smith began November 24 making Christmas cards and toys. The members plan to give the toys to small children who otherwise would receive no gifts. Some of the toys made are the following: The gingham dog and calico cat; dogs carved of wood and painted brown; oilcloth cats; Indian doll; pink and blue flannel rabbits wearing overalls; ducks, dogs and chickens carved out of soap; airplanes made out of wood; squirrels, elephants, dogs and storks carved out of wood and placed on wheels; remembrance cards; dolls....

Dogs seemed to be a popular crafting choice! I would have loved to have seen those charming gifts!

The City of Buford has been providing for the less fortunate for a long time, at Christmas and year round. Check out the included 1957 photo from the City's Gift Programs from the museum's J.C. Dover collection. Dover was the Buford City Manager for 22 years, from 1952--1974.

And from the same 1939 issue of the Green & White: 

Christmas Pageant to Feature Nativity in Cast of 129 Tonight

Blanche Phillips to Star as Angel; Second Grade to Render Christmas Carols

Special numbers by the second grade will open the Christmas Pageant which is sponsored by the home economics department and the second grade tonight. Admission charges will be 10 and 15 cents, proceeds being divided between the two sponsors. 

Sounds like quite a production! With 129 students in the cast, I'm wondering if the entire student body was involved--or a large portion of them, anyway!I'm assuming the two different admission prices were age based. 

It's interesting to note that up until 1950, all of Buford's children and teens attended classes in the same school building. Look for a future blog about the history of the Buford School system.

The blog will be on holiday break next week, but will be back for the New Year. 

Merry Christmas!

Rebecca