Retrospective Article: Recalling Christmas 1936 in Paris

Re-written from an article originally published on December 26, 1936, By

Corney Simmonds,

Reflecting on the bustling Christmas of 1936 in Paris

One is transported back to a time when the town was alive with festive spirit and goodwill. As the clock at the Paris Post Office struck midnight, signaling the start of Christmas Day, the streets were not deserted but filled with citizens exchanging warm wishes and spreading joy Amidst the late-night activities, the tireless efforts of the Paris Children's Aid Society were evident, ensuring that no child was left without a gift be it shoes, sweaters, coats, or toys. The Paris Lions club, along with other benevolent groups, had been busy delivering parcels filled with oranges, candies, dolls, and skates, bringing smiles to many faces Even in the midst of the celebrations, a near-tragedy occurred on the outskirts of Paris when Gordon Hughson's truck collided with a pole, causing a disruption in the area's power supply Miraculously, no one was harmed, but the incident left a lasting impact on the surrounding communities

Above photo: Scanned from a vintage postcard with the caption “Main Street Paris, Ontario” aka River Street, known today as Grand River St. N. this snapshot captures the essence of downtown Paris in 1936. The old Post Office with its majestic clock tower, opened on July 1, 1902. Sadly, the historic building met its end in February 1961. The vacant lot eventually found new life as the site for Bank of Montreal and an IGA grocery store (now Rexall). Photo: The Paris Museum & Historical Society

Above photo: The ice-harvesting season was short, running from midJanuary through February. Ice harvesting involved cutting large blocks of ice from frozen bodies of water, such as Watts Pond and the Nith River in Paris,

The Paris Museum & Historical Society