When Thanksgiving was the start of the holidays in Purcellville 

By Liz Tenney Jarvis

Looking back to a time when holiday decorations were not out in stores before Halloween, many longtime Purcellville residents reflect on when Thanksgiving was the exciting start of the season. The shopping, celebrating, dreaming and the gathering together would then begin in earnest.

Nancy Walsh bought a Radio Flyer wagon for her daughter’s first Christmas (won’t say how many years ago).  “The nice thing was that you did not have to put it together,” she exclaimed. 

A good number of memories float back to Nichols Hardware as downtown was lively and exciting that time of year. Valerie Gallahan remembers going to Nichols Hardware and sitting on Santa’s lap. “My parents would go there and put our Christmas on layaway.”

Debbie Allen Stamper said, “remembering when I worked for my step-dad who owned Jim’s Shoe Repair which was across from Nichols Hardware Store back in late 60’s/early 70’s. At Christmas, Nichols used to play ‘Snoopy and the Red Barron’ on outside loudspeakers.”   

Not only would the music set the level of holiday excitement downtown but the prospect of window shopping and purchasing a tree would also be a much anticipated event. Cathy Crosen Kennan recalls shopping at Pancoast Brothers, “but I hated buying clothes as a kid so I couldn’t wait to leave there and look at all the shiny toys and gadgets at Nichols Hardware. Then go to Demory’s and get bags of candy that I couldn’t wait to fill in all our candy dishes at home. The last thing on the list was stopping off at the White Palace and getting dinner before heading home.”  

One gentleman had this memory from long ago, “We bought our Christmas tree from Lynn Adams. He had a building and lot across from the mill. The building was demolished to make the parking lot there today.”  Longterm Purcellville resident, Beverly Chiasson had a similar fond memory: “I remember picking out trees there every year with Dad [then] bringing it home and putting it in a pail of water that always froze.”

Joanna Garber Miller said she remembers going to, “Demory’s Store for Christmas candy, Mr. Thompson’s 5 & 10 Ben Franklin Store for Christmas decorations, and Nichols Hardware to visit Santa Claus.” With Christmas candy so dazzling youngsters, Sue Lynn Peoples remarked, “My father, William P. Lynn, owner of Lynn Furniture, would buy candy for our family at the little market store around from his work – Demory’s I think – the week of Christmas. He would come home with all sorts of candy; all separated into little brown paper bags. I always thought it was so magical to peer into each bag and discover what treat was there.”

The tradition of mailing a letter to Santa was facilitated by a special red mailbox that moved around town over the years. Nat Leiby expressed wonderful memories from her childhood, “I remember in the early 2000’s (and possibly before) there used to be a mailbox outside of Purcellville Marketplace (where the Autozone is now) where we could “mail” our letters to Santa. It was so exciting. And then Purcellville Marketplace always had a whole section decked out for the holidays too.”   Chris Santonicola St. John added, “When we moved to Purcellville and my daughter wrote a letter to Santa – we got a response from Santa.” Nichols Hardware Store would like to bring back that beloved box.

Holiday shopping traditions could be found in other areas of town. Kim Easterday McGaha remembers her Dad taking her to the now long gone Drug Fair and “buying my mom a hand mixer for Christmas one year. That’s when Drug Fair sold radios, small electronics and even some clothes. I can’t remember the ladies clothing store’s name (Door of Fashion) but we would go in there and buy her sweaters. Such good memories of growing up in Purcellville.”

For many who grew up in the Purcellville area, one had to make do with very little. The joy of the holidays would come in non-material ways.  

Vicky Payne found this family story to be astonishing:  My dad told me this story once and it blew me away. My great grandmother, Carrie Ball Payne would go into Purcellville only once a year and always at Christmas to buy a small Christmas present for each of her six children and one pound of sugar. That sugar would last her an entire year. Everything else they ate came from their farm. The children received no other presents during the year. This was early 1900’s.

The Simms family here is a large one and for Larry Simms, the holidays were steeped in traditions and in special gatherings: African American families were especially busy during this time of year, making every attempt to fulfill family needs as opposed to family desires. A sense of “family” was far more important than material things. Kinship, and extended family gatherings was the norm.  

 “A family of seven siblings along with both parents was enough motivation to make our holidays a true time of joy.” He adds that with 17 aunts and uncles, Sunday gatherings in particular were always an adventure, but everyone always left happy and full.

Ashley Payne nostalgically recalls: “I do know that one of my favorite things for the holiday season in Purcellville is right after Thanksgiving, and the Merry Christmas sign on the Purcellville Family diner is lit till after Christmas. The parade has always been big in our town. But little things like that Merry Christmas sign being lit up each year sure does make it still feel like home.”