Christmas Holiday Gatherings Across Iowa Families
Numerous households in Burlington Davenport and surrounding towns plan Christmas Eve and Christmas Day gatherings. Families include the Stychs, Courtneys, Bertottis, Lanner families, Wilsons, Dippels, Brusts, Burnetts, Clark, Lippelgoes, Hetzlers, Swansons, Bockwaldts, Lilienthals, and Carrolls with dinners, gift exchanges, and extended relatives visiting from Rockford Ames and Iowa City. Names and addresses appear for multiple households as they host relatives during the holiday period.
Santa in Shorts Surprises Billings Crowd
Fair Weather Santa Laura Lee Keski of Billings Montana recounts a breezy encounter as Santa Claus, dressed in shorts and a short sleeve shirt, answers children’s wishes amid an unseasonably mild spell in the Billings area this week.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Laura Lee Keski
Billings
Mont
Santa Claus
Mrs Mary Blackburn Answers Santas Mail in Iowa Town
Randolph Iowa AP reports Mrs Mary Blackburn serves as Santa’s secretary and post mistress for nearly two decades. She handles incoming letters at a special mailbox outside the post office, balancing wishes with parent expectations and sharing a tale of a boy who asked for a pony and was soothed by Santa’s sled explanation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Randolph
Mary Blackburn
Santa
Santa F
Iowa
Fireplace Shapes Christmas Tradition Through History
The fireplace has long been tied to Christmas, from Santa entering chimneys to 1419 tile mandates in London. Tiles evolved from Dutch and Spaniard influence, shaping mantels with scenes of ships, landscapes, and portraits. American builders used crude stone hearths, now with over 250 ceramic tile options nationwide.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Santa Claus
Santa
SS. Nicholas
Clement Clarke Moore
St. Nicholas
London
Breda
England
Colonies
Jlo
America
Tile Council of America
Christmas Carols Through the Ages Sing Joy to All
A brief reflection on carol singing as a Christmas tradition. The piece notes the timeless chorus glory to God and peace on earth and emphasizes how songs preserve legends and forebears of the season across generations.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Maynard Stych
George Stych
Gerald
Courtney
Wapello
Burlington
Mrs. Stych
Neil Courtney
Robert Bertotti
John
Agnes Bertotti
Doris Lane
Spring Valley
Ilinois
Lisle Wilson
William Wilson
Billy
Bobby
William Thompson
Connie
Peggy Sue
Carl Dipple Jr
Bill
Woodlawn
Carl Dippel Sr
Lula Wedekind
Edwin Wedekind
Erie
Ronald Burnett
4Th Begg
Birlington
Fred Brust
Floyd Burnett
Brust
Mike Reaber
Dawn of Godfrey
Donald Clark
Don Jr
Craig
Cypress
Tammy Clark
Curly Clark
LaVern Lippelgoes
Arlene Wolford
Davenport
Lee McKee
Janet
Briarwood Lane
Eve
Lawrence Rada
Lee Anne
Rockford, Ill
Ransom McKee
University of Iowa
Judy Laske
Elmert Hetzler
Wallace Nyweide
Joel Hetzler
Stephanie Ann
Mascaline
Horace Miller
Tom
Bob
Judy
Harland Hetzler
Jane
Jeff Monticello
Robert Swanson
Iowa City
Gaylord Swanson
Iowa State University
Ames
Fred Swanson
Roger
Nichols
Denis Whitehaen
Bettendorf
Alfred Bockwaldt
Bob Bockwaldt
Allen Lisenthal
Bill Lilienthal
Lisa
Lawrence Lilienthal
Tom Lilienthal
The
State University of Iowa
Sara Lilienthal
Towa State University
Loren Cole
Scott
Doris Carroll
Roscoe Avenue
Blaine
Shawna
Kobe
Debbie
Randy
Susan
Muscatine
Harold Albrecht
Laura Albrecht
Lois Albrecht
Dennis Albrecht
North Iowa Area
Cace
Proffit’s Mobil Service
Big Déllar
Kate Greenaway
Tillie
Coder
John E. Tillie
W. W. Coder
J. B. Mark & Sons
West Second Street
J. WM. Mark
Wes Ach
Best
John Deere
Leo Herlein
Ralph Dircks
Farm Supply CO
Frank and
Margaret Lee
Richard Trader
Irving Lenker
Muscatine, Iowa
Kenneth Swanson
Dial
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