Holly Johnson

Hormel Historic Home

Christmas is all around us these days, and I have wonderful childhood memories of traditions and events with my family.  Now I am blessed to be making memories and traditions with my own children. Nothing formal or elaborate, but filled with love, joy, family and fun.

The following is one excerpt from the 1940s manuscript of George’s brother, Rev. William Henry Hormel. At nearly 80-years-old, he described how he and his siblings were raised to recognize Christmas within their church. At that time they attended the German Methodist Church in Toledo, Ohio.

“They (church leaders) also took a practical interest in our social and recreational interests and needs. They believed in the need of supervised outings and games for the youth, and they seemed to enjoy the special occasions prepared for us as though they were one of us. Advantage was taken of the special holidays during the year to prepare a good time for us, and they spared no pains in their preparations. The annual preparation for Christmas was an outstanding event. For weeks we were kept busy learning appropriate songs and choruses, committing to memory our selections for speaking and dialogues, and training us at the rehearsals for the program on Christmas Eve.”

“Two large evergreens, as tall as the room would allow were placed on either side of the large platform. These two trees were joined together by a long arch, which spanned the space between them and was decorated with sprigs of evergreen. The trees and arch fitted out with candles, when lighted, made a most imposing view for us children.  On the wide platform under the arch and between the trees, many of the boys and girls had their first experience in speaking before an audience. The songs, dialogues, and pieces for speaking were carefully chosen with reference to the birth and mission of Jesus, the Christ. They carried a message in simple things, which we could easily understand. The room was always crowded even to standing room with eager and interested families. The program of the evening was emphatically in the interests of children and youths, but all joined heartily in singing the well-known Christmas songs.”

I am sure you have many of your own memories and I hope you are relishing those as we draw closer to Christmas.

Michael Veldman and Friends VIP Dinner

Friday, December 13

Tickets are still available for the pre-show dinner to benefit the Historic Paramount Theatre and the Hormel Historic Home on Dec. 13.

If you already have tickets to the show you can still add the dinner to your agenda for $50 per person.

If you do not have tickets to the show please call the Paramount for availability, 434-0934. Tickets for the dinner and show are $65 each.

Social Concerns: Laughter, the Best Medicine

10-11 a.m. December 16 (Monday)

Join us for this special Social Concerns program presented by Julie Champlin. She will tell us that laughter is undervalued and underestimated as a natural way of taking care of ourselves.

Come discover the powerful medicine of laughter.

Please give us a call to let us know you are planning to attend: 507-433-4243.