Christmas Time in Culver - 1944;

It's December. 1944, the fourth wartime Christmas in which many of our local servicemen and women have had to be away from the old hometown and so for the sake of the record, and for their benefit, we would like to describe Christmas at Culver, a la 1944.

It appears that the Lake Maxinkuckee area will have a white Christmas, and with the packed snow and ice on Liberty Hill and other favorite spots, the sledding should be excellent.

Maintenance men. Mont Foss and Foster Butler have removed 50 truck loads of snow from the streets to make 3 slight dent in the piled snow downtown.

Ice skating and the winter time sport of fishing through the ice should be in vogue this Christmas since the lake presented its overall coating of ice on Monday of this week.

While OPA regulations will not permit outdoor lighting, there is the flicker of a few electrically decorated Christmas trees in those homes that are fortunate enough to have some 1941 Christmas tree bulbs.

While Culver is not a Scotch community, you will appreciate that its citizens are a thrifty lot and therefore there are a liberal number of lighted trees to be seen by those who pass by at night.

Of course, the holly and fir decorated streets, the festooning, etc. of years gone by are not to be seen.

The State Exchange Bank, the Post Office, and the local merchants all report the annual Christmas rush of business.

State Exchange Bank officials point out that the flow of money is the equal of that in former years.

The Post Office force is being given its usual rush as they make every effort to dispatch precious packages to their respective designations. Local Post Office officials pointed out that this year's early mailing of packages to service men had spread the vital Christmas mailing over a longer period of time.

Even though shopping has been a bit more difficult due to scarcities and other inconveniences, it appears that enthusiasm in purchasing gifts is about at the same level as in past years. All local stores report a thriving business even though they are unable to meet the demands of the discriminating shoppers.

Most merchants agree that sales will equal, or better, the mark set last year. As one merchant stated, "We could sell more if we had the merchandise.

Judging from the way Union Township went over the top in the Sixth War Loan Drive, a favorite gift this year will be a bond.

Incidentally, shopping for the discriminating smoker will be extremely difficult. The easiest method for overcoming the problem of gifts of named brands for your favorite friends is to compromise on a sack of smoking tobacco, unless you're willing to take your chance on "Stoopies."

This Christmastime description of Culver would not be complete if we did not tell you about the local enthusiasm in basketball.

Interest in the local quintet promises to reach a new high this Christmas season, and if the local basketeers are successful on the court Friday night, the "Hot Stove League" will have some hot sessions while the team takes off a few days.

Sunday Schools and churches are enthusiastically contributing fine programs to this year's festive seasons.

While it won't be a true Culver Christmas until after the war, the hometown fires will remain burning until everyone can participate in this season dedicated to Him who said, "Peace 0n earth, good will toward men."