PHOTO VIA WIKICOMMONS British Illustrator John Tenniel drew this panel of Father Christmas (Santa Claus in the United States) and a young waif in Dec. 1895.

The most popular holiday movies tend to be ones people grew up with such as “A Christmas Story” (“You’ll shoot your eye out!”); anything with the Grinch, “Home Alone,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas;” the debated “Die Hard;” the whimsical “Ernest Saves Christmas;” the forgotten “Batman Returns;” or “It’s a Wonderful Life” (“Everytime a bell rings…).

During this time of the year, when watching these films together, some older family members may rhapsodize “I remember one Christmas when…” and a nostalgic story will be shared and a memory remembered. For just a few moments the gray hairs and wrinkles are gone, and that elder matriarch or patriarch is once again a child opening their favorite present, having a snowball fight, or singing “O Come All Ye Faithful” with a friend, for example.

Sadly, Christmas memories can only go as far back as the oldest living relative. However, thanks to the Lock Haven Express archives, Yuletide memories can go back further.

How about 1895?

Well according to the Dec. 21 edition of that year, a peek can be shared.

First, pardon an abrupt rabbit trail. In an eye-grabbing headline a reader will see “Senate Takes Action” with “Venezuelan Commission Bill Passed by the Upper House.”

It is worth noting that a conflict with the United States and Venezuela are making headlines today in December. Consider that an international incident involved the South American country and the U.S. in December a century and three decades later.

According to an article found on the web site of the Office of the Historian (which is part of the State Department), “The Venezuelan Boundary Dispute… (occurred)… when the Venezuelan Government protested alleged British encroachment on Venezuelan territory.” The United States feared this as an encroachment of the Monroe Doctrine which said European powers could not colonize in the Western Hemisphere.

Second, in another headline, across the page, “Store Window Scenes,” a writer described “Many Beautiful Sights and Scenes for Christmas.”

“There are many beautiful things to be seen in these holiday times,” began the article. “And in a number of windows attractive sights give pleasure to both old folks and children.”

Harder and Stevenson’s store on Main Street had “one of the most attractive windows in the city.”

“It is a representation of a scene in the woods, and there are a number of finely mounted specimens of (stuffed) birds and sea fowls, some of which are rarely seen in this vicinity,” the reporter wrote. He wrote about “two owls, barn hawk, prairie chicken, a sea gull and an osprey. The gull and osprey are sea birds, and both were shot recently in the pool of the Lock Haven dam.”

A store owned by “Messrs. J. W. Bridgens & Son — have a representation of a waterfall in deep woods in one of their windows.”

The reporter praised the “ingenious arrangement (of) snow white handkerchiefs.” Each “are kept in motion all the time.” He further says the “miniature waterfall appears… natural as if real.”

The P. M. Sloan & Company had an “exhibit (of) a miniature set of furniture which was made at the Lock Haven furniture factory. Some little girls will be very happy when she receives the furniture on Christmas day, and one thousand little folks will receive a present on Christmas day, samples of which are shown in another window.”

The article concluded at Keller’s shoe store. The writer said, “there is a fine display of foot wear, which attracted considerable attention.”

Third, for Lock Haven area residents who wanted to look their best for the holiday, a notice about barber shops was put out.

“All barber shops in the city will be closed on Cbristmas day, but will be open on Christmas eve until 11 o’clock,” the brief said. Whether this was morning or evening, it did not say.

However, this was an “order by the Barbers’ Protective Association.”

One final item comes from an advertisement on page four for “George Loder’s Department Store” which was located at 23 and 25 East Main Street.

“Now for the rush and the push and the jam. If you’re wise you won’t wait for the last days, but come early and remember it’s only a few days till Christmas,” the ad read.

Loder’s advertisement said, “We are here and the goods are here. And you can’t make any mistake buying at our store. We are going to try and take care of you this year and if necessary (we) will have twenty or thirty more clerks than ever before. We have arranged to help (to) make your buying X-mas presents easy.”

In a different font customers were entreated to “Come and and get the prices (and) come and see the goods.”

Like any merchant Loder promised, “We know we can do better for you than any one else in Lock Haven in the following: China, Skates, Lamps, Toys, Glassware, Sleds, Pottery, Rocking Horses, Books, Candies, Albums, Silverware, Dressing Gases, Plush Goods, Celluloid Goods, Dolls, and loads of goods that we can’t speak of.”

Then constrained by space, the ad said, “How we would like to lease the newspaper and tell you all about them and quote you the prices! We can not.”

This could be the text for a modern television commercial for Old Navy, Walmart or Target.

In conclusion, one great thing about sharing history is seeing it as a guide for the present.

Sure, the gifts may have changed, but headlines and consumer philosophies share similarities.

It is comforting to know that no matter what time of the year it is, what century it is, the people of today have a lot in common with the people of yesterday.

Who knows, maybe some Spirits of Christmas Past are watching movies with us and our families as that certain angel helps George Bailey and “gets his wings.”