JERRY PERSON
Its December already, and for Huntington Beach this month has always
held a special meaning. In a more politically incorrect time,
holidays this month meant Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Christmastime has always been a joyous yet solemn occasion and
nowhere was this more true than in Huntington Beach.
This week we'll see if the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce's
1935 slogan of "A merry Christmas for every person in Huntington
Beach" really came about.
Bill Gallienne and members of the chamber began the holiday season
with a Yule Cheer Fund drive to raise money to bring food and gifts
to needy families during those dark Depression times.
The chamber took an added interest in seeing that Huntington Beach
would capture, for a third time, the coveted Orange County Coast
Assn's trophy for the best-decorated and most brilliantly lighted
city on the Orange County coast.
Willis Osborn of the chamber was appointed general chairman for
decorating Main Street and the entrance to our pier. His committee
worked tirelessly at turning Main Street from Pacific Coast Highway
to where the Main Street Library is today into "Christmas Tree Lane."
Our historic arch over Pacific Coast Highway at Main held 20
brilliantly illuminated Christmas trees atop the arch. And at the
entrance to our pier, the committee erected a huge lighted tree with
six smaller ones around it.
A stage was erected by the pier for a large 50-voice chorus.
Chamber President Delbert Burry saw to it that barrels were placed
at Downtown stores in which toys and clothing could be dropped off
for the needy. This custom is still with us with barrels at our fire
stations today.
Vera Burry, Roy Patrick, J.K. Sargent and members of our fire
department assisted Burry in this effort.
Nearly every civic organization in town helped the chamber with
their yule time drive.
The First Methodist Church's Sunday school was busy working on
their Christmas play, "The Christmas Story in Scripture and in Song,"
with J. Lorenzen in charge of the project.
While at the home of Stella White, the Huntington Beach Garden
Club was rehearsing Christmas Carols for their Christmas party.
Gifts, games and carols would form a major part of their Christmas
program and each member was expected to bring a gift to the party.
Pastor L.E. Rowe was busy getting his Foursquare Gospel church in
shape for its dedication on Dec. 23 and making sure all was in
readiness for the visit of Aimee Semple McPherson, the church's
founder.
