Dorothy Magnuson recalls Christmases Past

By Kelsie Hoitomt

GLENWOOD CITY — The holiday season was one spent surrounded by her parents and siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and a bundle of cousins for Dorothy Magnuson.

Dorothy grew up in her home on Maple Street in Glenwood City along side her three sisters and two brothers, who were each the children of Henry and Millie Busch.

“It was a very exciting time in town,” said Dorothy. “People always decorated their homes inside and out along the street.”

Inside her home, the music and programs played through the radio as the family decorated their real tree a few days before Christmas.

“We had electricity being in the city so we decorated with lights and green and red paper chains,” shared Dorothy. “I remember my mother had these porcelain angels with real hair and paper skirts that made it look like they were flying while they hung from the tree.”

Outside the house is where the fun happened during the winter season when all the neighborhood kids gathered to play.

The pond at the fairgrounds was a local attraction for kids as they could walk down, put on their ice skates and circle around.

The snow provided countless hours of entertainment as well for all the kids as they built big snowforts and had many a snowball fight.

“I remember the farmers would come into town with their horse and sleigh and we would hop on the back, ride out of town about a mile or two and when the next sleigh was coming by, we would hop onto that one and hitch a ride back to town for something to do on a Saturday. The farmers never seemed to mind,” laughed Dorothy.

Also arriving in town on a horse and sleigh during the holiday season was Santa Claus.

“He would go store to store around town and us kids would follow him around and then he would give each of us a bag of candy,” shared Dorothy.

The fun didn’t stop there either. The kids gathered at the old Trinity Lutheran Church on Christmas Eve where they put on their best Sunday outfits, a red velvet dress for Dorothy, and they presented their program.

“I remember one program I had a speech to say and I goofed on my words. I was supposed to say Merry Christmas to you folks and it came out Merry Christmas you smokes,” chuckled Dorothy.

Dorothy and her family walked to church every Christmas Eve and then by the time they got home, the presents had arrived under the tree.

This was the evening the presents would be opened and each child got one gift. It was a doll that seemed to be stuffed with straw and had long legs and arms that Dorothy remembers.

“Aside from dolls, gifts were very practical in those days,” explained Dorothy. “ I always got a pair of red mittens with the cable stitch on top from my Grandma Busch.”

After presents, the Busch family would make homemade popcorn and Millie would light the Christ Child candle that sat along a windowsill before bedtime.

It was on Christmas Day that the entire family gathered at “Grandpa Bartz’s” to eat a big meal around the table and open a few presents.

That tradition stood for many years until his passing and then the family gathering moved to the home of her uncle, Henry Bartz.

“Christmas was a special time because we not only celebrated the holiday, but we also celebrated two birthdays that day. My uncle Henry’s was on Christmas and my younger sister was born Christmas Eve.”

Once Dorothy had her own children with late husband, Arnold “Arnie”, they began to celebrate at their home.

“I hosted at times. My sister and I would switch usually so if I didn’t have Christmas, then I would have a New Years Eve party,” explained Dorothy.

A long standing tradition in the Magnuson household is baking cookies, especially Sanbakkels.

“I make those every year. It was something that Arnie’s mother used to make and since his passing I’ve carried on the tradition,” shared Dorothy.

Today, Dorothy celebrates the holiday with her daughter Geri, her six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

“Geri and her friend usually pick me up and we go to church service in the afternoon on Christmas Eve. Then I go to her home and gather with all the kids on Christmas Day, or at least some point around the holiday,” said Dorothy.

Even though she no longer hosts from inside her home, Dorothy likes decorating with lights, a colorful tree and other Christmas trinkets. She truly enjoys the holidays and the changing of the seasons.