Christmas Back In The Day

[birwood]

As I remember....Back in the day, the 50's & 60's, Christmas decorations in all the neighborhoods, all the different business districts, Downtown was aglow along Woodward and out E. Jefferson, up Michigan Ave, Grand River, Gratiot, on DSR buses, Police & Fire Stations, Libraries, Schools, City Parks & Rec Centers and Outdoor Ice Rinks. Kids could see Santa at Federals, Wards, Sears, Kresges, Woolworths, J.C Pennys, Winklemans and Hudsons. Nativity scenes in front of churches, some schools, parks and some store fronts. Menorahs in the Jewish neighborhoods. Christmas pageants and concerts at all the schools. People freely stated Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah to each other
Yeah... Detroit was just a tad different back them.

[313WX]

As I remember....Back in the day, the 50's & 60's, Christmas decorations in all the neighborhoods, all the different business districts, Downtown was aglow along Woodward and out E. Jefferson, up Michigan Ave, Grand River, Gratiot, on DSR buses, Police & Fire Stations, Libraries, Schools, City Parks & Rec Centers and Outdoor Ice Rinks. Kids could see Santa at Federals, Wards, Sears, Kresges, Woolworths, J.C Pennys, Winklemans and Hudsons. Nativity scenes in front of churches, some schools, parks and some store fronts. Menorahs in the Jewish neighborhoods. Christmas pageants and concerts at all the schools. People freely stated Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah to each other
Yeah... Detroit was just a tad different back them.

That's one thing I miss, the fact that Detroit had tons of its own Royal Oaks and Birminghams throughout the city, or cities within the city [[7 Mile and Gratiot, Grand River and Greenfield, Harper & Van Dyke, Chalmers & Mack, 7 Mile and Livernois, Grand River & Lahser, Jefferson & Chalmers, Warren & Outer Drive, 6 Mile and Gratiot, etc.).

And of course, while the Hudson's, Crowley's and Kern's department stores were the main attractions, the 2 huge Montgomery Wards stores at 7 Mile/Gratiot and Grand River/Greenfield along with that huge Sears store on Gratiot/Van Dyke had their own draw for the holidays.