How Christmas in Owensboro Looked and Felt When I Was Growing Up in the 70s and 80s

There may not be another time when great memories come to the surface as often and as pervasively as they do at Christmas. It doesn't take much for me to "hop in the time machine" this time of year.

Sears and the Sears Catalogue

When I drive down 2nd Street downtown, in front of the Wax Works building, I always remember when it was Sears. And that leads me to remembering the excitement my sister and I felt when those Sears Christmas catalogues (Wish Books) would arrive in August. It made for a long holiday season (in a good way).

The Owensboro Christmas Parade's Twists and Turns

A little more than a decade ago, the Owensboro Christmas Parade was rerouted to run straight down 2nd Street from Owensboro Grain to where the Owensboro Convention Center stands today. Before that, however, it was a snake-like route that began on 11th Street (yes, straddling the railroad track) turned north onto Frederica, then east on 3rd Street before heading down Daviess Street, and then finally ending downtown. My family always watched it from the concrete wall across from Anderson's Department Store, now the Owensboro Museum of Science and History. Here's a look at the parade long before my time, and maybe yours, too.

Christmas Light Neighborhoods

For the last several years, the Lashbrook house in Stonegate off Highway 54 has been a top destination for Christmas light viewing. But when I was a kid, the top neighborhood/subdivision was Forest Hills, and we couldn't wait to get there. And there was a house on Parkway Drive (back when it was a dead-end) that really lit up the neighborhood, not to mention the night sky.

Drive-Thru Nativity Scenes

I'm glad churches still have drive-thru Nativity scenes. I have great memories of participating in such events when I was a kid at Hall Street Baptist Church, now Life Community Church. Sightseers would drive around the church, take in the Nativity scene, enjoy the puppet show (that's where I come in; I was part of the puppet ministry), enjoy live music from the choir and a storytelling scene. Hot chocolate and snacks would come to us from the church basement windows. Good times. Great memories.

The Color Wheel

No, I'm not talking about the art class color wheel. I'm talking about the the thing that spins that features a light beneath four panels (colored red, green, blue, and yellow). Ideally, you'd put one under an aluminum Christmas tree, eliminating the need for a lot of ornaments. But Mom had Dad situate it in the front yard and spotlight the house because she always wrapped the front door in red or green metallic wrapping paper. It was a great effect.

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Memories are how I enjoy the holiday season. I could go even further in conversations about TV specials and shopping, but I'll leave it here. These are my favorites.