“Saranac Lake has gone all-out for Christmas this year with more outside Christmas trees and holiday lights than ever before shining over the white snow.

“The village has put up three large trees in Riverside and William Morris parks and at Berkeley Square. The village also, is responsible for the strings of lights across the main streets and the Carnival Committee has helped by placing little evergreen trees at each lamppost.

“But residents, too, have contributed to the merry air of festivity. Many more than years before residents have placed many-colored lights on trees placed on their lawns.”

Churches and schools back in the day produced many more Christmas programs which included all students, no matter if one could not sing or dance, but maybe fill in a crowd scene for a play.

(Provided photo)

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Bloomingdale students perform

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Can’t even scratch the surface to include all of this long story but will attempt to include most of the students involved.

“The pupils of the Bloomingdale Union School presented a Christmas program for parents and friends at 7:30 o’clock Wednesday evening at the St. Armand Town Hall.

“The holiday entertainment was under the direction of Mrs. Audrey Wood, principal and teacher of grades 5 and 6; Miss Nellie Fletcher, grades 1 and 2 and Mrs. William Plumley, grades 3 and 4.

Here are a few of the students featured in Part 1: Carolyn Clark, Betty Mae Hogle, Sandy Hayes, Roger Lawless, Patrick Finnegan, Danny Sussey and Veronica Stickney.

Vernetta Green, Phyllis Childs, Susan Jones, Branda Parent, Linda Lavigne and Joanne Durrett. Forrest Durett, Donald Clark, Bucky Hayes, Bobby Rottner, Nelson Parker, Gordon Green, Patty Menga.

Part 2: Mary Rosella Skiff, Gerald Woodruff, Billy Wilson, Jackie Bigelow, Tony Gaughan, Peggy Wilson, Gerald Shore, Betty Lombard and Ardeth Downs.

Grades 5 and 6: Pat Howard, Janette Wilson, Merrill Helms. Rose Parker, Mary Trumble, Beverly Downs, Jackie Pelkey, Wilfred Skiff and Nancy Lawless.

Also, Joline Weir, Diane Wardner, Barbara Plumley, Karen Lawless, Donna Childs and Sally Helms.

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Lake Clear Presbyterian program

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This was also a lengthy story filled with names and program titles … following is an excerpt: “Pupils of the senior, junior and primary Sunday School classes of the Lake Clear Presbyterian Church gave a Christmas program at the church Wednesday evening.

“Mrs. Charles Fisher was organist for musical selections of the program and Mrs. John Finlayson, Mrs. George Donaldson, Sr., and Mrs. Robert Kimpton, Sunday School teachers were in charge of the evening’s entertainment.

“Billy Jaquis was announcer and introduced the recitations, musical selections and plays. Mary Strack welcomed the audience and Roger Gardner recited ‘The Christmas Tree.’ The entire congregation joined in singing ‘Joy to the World.'”

Here are a few who participated in the evening’s program: Lorraine Russell, Evelyn Campbell, Ralph Martell, Barbara Donaldson, Peggy Jaquis, Patricia Powers, Norma Martell, Darrel and Stanley Finlayson. Also Diana Moody, Patricia Kent, Beverly Donaldson, Marilyn Petty, Gail Donaldson, Janice Finlayson, Harold Jaquis, Gordon Anderson, Donald Paye, David Deuel, James Ramey, Mace Moody, Jr., Roger Donaldson and Richard Donaldson, Leroy Finlayson, Le Esta Kimpton and many others already mentioned.”

“Each child also received a Christmas box containing popcorn, candy and nuts and was given an orange.”

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Various church services

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“A midnight Mass will be celebrated tonight in St. Bernard’s Church under the direction of the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Clarence A. Kitts, pastor of the church and the Revs John Wiley and Henry McFadden, assistants to the pastor.

There were various carols preceding the Mass along with the traditional ‘The First Noel.’ “Soloists will be Mrs. Joseph Foley, Mrs. Daniel Page, Miss Margaret Buckley, Robert Munn, Benjamin Augustini, Fred Mader and Jack Buckley.”

“At 11 o’clock tonight there will be a festival service of Holy Communion in the Church of St. Luke the Beloved Physician. The Rev. Ernest B. Mounsey, rector of the church will deliver a brief address, ‘Bethlehem Story’.”

“In the Methodist Church from 11:15 until 11:30 tonight, organ music will be heard followed by a service of carols and devotional reading.

“The chimes will be played at midnight and then parishioners will listen to ‘Gesu Bambino’ by Yon, to be sung by the choir.”

“Christmas Carolers will meet tonight at the Presbyterian Church at 6:30 and then be transported by truck to various locations in the village to sing for everyone in town.”