Letter from Ervin Downes in Germany during WWI
A wartime family letter from Ervin Downes written November 28, 1914, from somewhere in Germany. He notes six brothers serving, describes combat divisions, rationed money, cave shelter, Paris and Belgian passes for officers, and a wish for an early Christmas at home. He sends money as a souvenir and asks mother to share greetings.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Germany
Robert
Jimmy
Paris
Belgium
Pass
Col Ervin Pippin Awaits Xmas Parcel
A December 2 1941 letter from Cpl Ervin S Pippin to his mother notes he is well and waiting for birthday and Christmas packages. He laments limited cigarettes to two packs weekly, mentions eight drivers sharing a room, and describes cutting wood to stay warm while awaiting letters.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Col
Ervin Pippin
Xmas
Cpl Ervin S. Pippin
Himother
Silent Night Origins From Alpine Village Chapel
Christmas Day 1818 witnessed the first public performance of Silent Night in an Austrian village. Priest Josef Mohr penned the text after blessing a newborn in the Alps. With a broken organ, organist Franz Gruber quickly set music on a guitar, and village children sang the carol that became a world favorite. It later reached the Saxony court and spread to America via Tyrolean singers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Josef Mohr
Alps
Franz Gruber
Gruber
Haydn
Court of
Saxony
America
Beguiling History of Christmas Carols and Hymns
Trudi McCullough notes from the Baltimore Sun that many so-called Christmas carols are actually hymns with solemn tunes by Bach Handel and Mendelssohn. She contrasts merrier carol origins with dances and lists real carols like Deck the Halls Boars Head Cherry Hunting and Good King Wenceslas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boston
Milwaukee
America
Bach
Handel
Mendelssohn
King Wenceslas
Trudi McCullough
The
Baltimore Sun
Army Pfc Gerald Lyons Killed in Action in Germany
Official notice confirms Pfe Gerald Lyons, once reported missing, was killed on November 21 in Germany. He had not been a Caroline county resident, worked for an Denton oil company, and recently lived in New Jersey from which he enlisted. He served about two years with the 116th Infantry and was a son of Fred Lyons and the late Mrs Lyons. Survived by father and three brothers Fred Cambridge Vernon Camden N J Lloyd Easton, plus half sister Elizabeth Conley Gloucester N J and half-brother Larry Benny Allentown Pa.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pfe
Gerald Lyons
Germany
Pfe. Lyons
Caroline County
Denton
New Jersey
116Th Infantry
Fred Lyons
Lyons
Fred
Cambridge
Vernon
Camden
N. J
Lloyd
Easton
Elizabeth Conley
Gloucester
Larry Benny
Allentown
Killed in Action Cpl Alvin R Moore Dies in Germany
Cpl Alvin R Moore son of Elwood B Moore formerly of Ingleside was killed in action in Germany on November 25. Inducted May 1941 he arrived in France in late September. He is survived by wife Virginia of Louisville, father Elwood of Ridgely, sisters Mrs Frank Usilton Greensboro and Mrs Lewis Usilton and Mrs Ralph Walls Centreville, Mrs Noah Merchant Philadelphia, brothers Spencer Ridgely and Elwood Massey.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alvin R. Moore
Elwood B. Moore
Ingleside
Germany
Corporal Moore
France
Virginia Moore
Louisville
Ridgely
Frank Usilton
Greensboro
Lewis Usilton
Ralph Walls
Centreville
Noah Merchant
Philadelphia
Also Mentioned on This Page
Lam
Charles Downes
Dad
Son
Ervin
Shining Star of Bethlehem
Sym
Bolic
Caroline County Bank
Greensboro, MD
R. H. Stafford & Son
Burrsville, MD
Ano
Rita
Alli
Poole
Federalsburg, MD
Phillips Packing CO. Inc
Peace Time Packers
Phillips Delicious Foods
Euunloyers
Eastern Shore Public Service
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!