Doing My Christmas Shopping in Martins Ferry One Week Before Christmas in 1958

Once again thinking back
Christmastime Martins Ferry
Shopping list inside my gray wool mitten
Trudging through virgin white knee-deep snow

The walk uptown
Past Teare’s Drug, the rowdy Antler Bar
Finally down South Fourth Street
Woolworths, the Fenray Theatre

Emptying my Christmas Club account
All seven dollars and nine cents
At the old Citizen’s Bank
Just north of Isaly’s, best ice cream in town

In 1958, seven bucks bought a lot
Presents for Mom, Dad, my sister, both grandmas
Magically, the right gifts always appeared
With at least a dollar to spare

Arms full, the walk home
Along South Fifth Street
But first a stop in the library
Then a browse of candy at Tidbit’s

The snow started again
A week till Christmas
I hoped, prayed it would last
Ensuring Santa’s on time arrival

Author: Don Iannone, D.Div.

Biography Photographer, poet, teacher, complementary medicine provider, interfaith minister, and former economic developer. Holds a Doctorate in Divinity, Master of Divinity, Master of Mind-Body Medicine, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology. Clinical certifications in Reiki, guided meditation, life purpose coaching, and spiritual counseling.  Author of 12 books, including two new books in the contemporary spirituality field. Learn more here. Contact Information Kosmos Consulting and Research website: https://www.donaldiannone.com/  Visual Advantage Photography website: http://www.visualadvantagephoto.com Flickr Photo Page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/don-iannone Contact Don Iannone by email: diannone@gmail.com

3 thoughts on “Doing My Christmas Shopping in Martins Ferry One Week Before Christmas in 1958”

  1. I remember visiting my grandparents at 911 Pearl Street. in Martins Ferry…. The fire house on the corner where they gave me all the pop I wanted because my grandfather was Harold Michael. The candy store across the street from the fire house. Trips to Islay’s Ice Cream. The smell of a nearby bakery. Trips to Oglbay Park. Swimming the the pool there. It was the mid 50’s…Life was good.

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