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Letters from Folks I used to have guestbooks, but things always went wrong. Suddenly the host would just evaporate or, as in the last case, the relentless vandal-pornographers found it and there was nothing I could do to stop the flood. The whole spirit of this "place" is as an island of refuge from that vast, dead sea of corruption, so I just had to take it out. My heart is heavy with the loss of literally hundreds of lovely messages and stories. So- I will here again attempt to save your letters.... and. especially, your STORIES! They make it all worthwhile. If you had written me in the past and your letter was lost, please write again!
--"Papa" Ted
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October26, 2011:
Ted…I’m both saddened and gratified when reading your ‘announcement’. Saddened of course, because of your
ongoing struggle. Gladdened to perceive that you’re making a Stand and continuing on as best you can. Rough
times ahead; certainly. Challenges: certainly. A reflective and increasingly enlightened outlook on your life,
along with a rewarding new role you’re to play in it? An absolute certainty! Miracles? Well, like thousands of
others…you may become one!
Ted…you know, as well as I…when one door closes…others open. I can say that with assurance from personal
experience. Yup, I also found myself in a similar, perhaps not as severe (malignant melanoma; Clark scale: 4)
situation as has been ‘dropped’ on you. Age wise, I’ve a few years on you, so don’t take this as preaching;
rather, a friend-to-friend reminder; He…will not lay anything upon you… He knows you can not handle.
And likened to my experience…your life is about to refresh. As for new doors opening He has not taken His
wondrous gift from you…you’re ability to think. With guidance from family and friends…I’m confident, and He
knows, you’ll choose the right door.
It’s been twenty-five years since I almost lost my left arm to cancer…and I’m still discovering new doors. So
if, Papa Ted’s Place’, which has brought joy to millions, winds down a bit…I believe it’s His way of making room
for you to choose other doors.
As for myself and Editor Jerry Azzaro…we feel deeply that the publication of ‘Papa Ted’s Place’ photo feature
will frame a fitting tribute to you and your ‘Place.’ A place you’ve made for yourself in the hearts of millions
around the world.
Unless I hear differently from you…The Side Track will be placed on the cyber news rack in the beginning of
December…with advance ‘copies’ of your Feature Story going to you and Antoinette . And, I’m sure; our readership
will also find a place for you…in their hearts!
With sincere respect warmest wishes
…Jack
Jack, I'm not sure just what kind of miracle
brought you to my website and to cherish it the way you do, but I'm sure you are a Godsent angel. You are one
of those doors that opened... just when all seemed to have closed.
It seemed in view of all this that little Christmas houses were a trivial, materialistic kind of thing -
especially in view of the terrible plight of so many of us in America - and the world - these days. I was
actually ashamed of it and of myself for being so delusional and small. But a few like you have made me realize
that somewhere, somehow - evidence of what we once had - and were - had to be laid down, because two current
generations, now, have no notion of it and have come to accept our terrible decline as "normal" and are being
swayed into accepting less and less with every passing day. No! There once was an America like that where
people could delight in trivial but lovely, happy domestic little things. The little Christmas houses were but
one of the many happy "little" things we took for granted. The little things added up to the Big One -
Happiness. Giant skyscrapers are built from tiny bricks, the vast Universe of tiny atoms. Instead of the happy
trivialities we once enjoyed, I now see fear and worry from every side. Instead of little Christmas houses I see
real houses rotting vacant from foreclosures, drugs and suicides. Instead of the joy at birth of a child, I
despair of what kind of life that baby has been born to.
If it is time for me to go so be it. I'm too old and weakened to adapt much anymore. There is no time left to
realize my dreams, and i had many. But I enjoyed my time. It's been a "Magical Mystery Tour." I saw America as
She was, but is no more.I've seen other parts of this world as well. I've had my three score and ten and
though never rich, I lived like a king compared with so much of humanity. I've got no room to complain. . I'm
fighting it, but really wonder what there is to survive for. Perhaps I belong in "Papa Ted's Place." Part of me
certainly does. But possibilities have arisen that may extend my time and if that's the case it means that He
has more for me to do - and my next job will be discovering what that is. Pray for further doors to open, for
further good acts I can do - even if it's just the right word to say to someone when they most need it now and
then.
I am so looking forward to your article and as soon as you have it online, please send me the link so i can
post it? I know it will add a fine thing to the site. I will be proud of it that someone cared that much.
Thank you, Jack. God Bless you. I will be posting your letter and this response on "LETTERS FROM FOLKS."
tonight.
Your Friend,
- Ted
October 26, 2011:
Hello Papa Ted....Just re-found your sight (I kept looking for uncle Ted
and getting Ted Nugent!!lol!)
Sooo sorry to hear of your health problems....Please know that I am
placing you on several prayer lists and will personally pray for you on
a regular basis....Please do not give up hope!! I LOVE your site, as it
brings back 'warm and fuzzy' memories of a simpler time....You are such
a GREAT asset to the vintage Christmas community and have given us such
a wealth of information-for this I am truly grateful.....
I am a 48 year old housewife/Mom who is bedridden from severe
Lymphedema (severe swelling in both legs and hips from a botched
c-section 17 yrs ago)....I collect Putz houses and vintage Christmas
plastics (wreaths/trees etc) and enjoy setting up my village every year,
as it brings back memories of childhood and an escape from the realities
of adulthood which are not too pleasant.....I also sell stuff on ebay to
bring in some grocery money, as I am unable to work......
Please know that you are thought of everyday, and wished nothing but
BLUE skies, SPARKLE cotton, and the HAPPIEST of memories!!! GOD Bless!!!
Mrs. D
I hardly know what
to say to such a touching tribute, "Mrs. D." These have been sad and fearful days, indeed,
and the thoughts that come so dark so often. One wonders if one has done a single good
thing in this world or been of any value in it. But when I hear something like this I feel
perhaps i may have done a little good afterall. Efforts are in progress to reconstruct the site in dfifferent
locations so that it will be there - somewhere - after I am gone.
But that may be a while. So many good folks have been praying for me - and I just got news of
a possible new therapy for me that seems a miracle. So keep those prayers coming! I absolutely believe
they work!
- and God bless YOU!
December 19. 2010:
Hi, Mr. Althof,
I read the article on your collection in the Post Gazette and wondered if you can help me out.
I have been looking for years to replace some small chalk Nativity figures. I inherited what is
left of the set from my mom and believe it dates to the late 1940s or very early ‘50s. The
pasteboard stable is gone but I still have the crèche and several of the figures. I am
particularly interested in finding small chalk lambs and shepherds. Do you know of anyplace or
anyone that might have these items? I’d really appreciate any assistance you can offer.
Thanks
Mary Ann Smeltzer
Gee, Mary Ann - i wish I
could, but Nativities and Crech's are not my forte'. I don't collect them, though I do have one
of the chalk sets you speak of. It was a cheap one from one of the dimestores years ago and
is the same as the one we had when I was a kid. We kids used to ride the Baby Jesus around in the
train, afraid He might be getting bored.
Those types were sold by the millions right up into the '60s, and I see chalk pieces often in
antique shops and flea markets - even occasionally in the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores. My advice to you is to go on the prowl in such places. I'm sure you'll turn them up eventually.
Good luck and Merry Christmas!
December 14, 2010:
Hello,
I will like to know if you ship out of United state to Dublin in Ireland and if you also
accept credit card as form of payment.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Well, I've never shipped to
Ireland but would certainly do my best. What is it that you want?
I can't accept credit cards because I'm not really a business. I just supply these little
doors and windows as a sort of hobby thing to fellow Christmas house collectors.
This is very curious to me. There is great interest in this sort of thing in Canada, Germany
and Holland, but I've never heard of this from Ireland or the U.K. I've never known if this
sort of thing was practised on the Emerald Isles. Please tell me more?
December 10, 2010:
Hi,
I wanted to tell you that I love your website. Thank you for sharing all of the
wonderful photos and information about putz houses. A good friend of mine has spoken
fondly of the train platform that they had when she was a child. She believed hers
to be the only one in existence, a wooden board with a place for the tree and a
beautiful miniature metal fence, made by hand by her grandfather. (if I can get a
photo I will email it to you). They have a few of the putz houses, although I
believe that, from the size of the platform, only a few of them have survived. She was
amazed to see that her platform was not alone.
I wanted to make a comment or two on your mystery 30's - 1927 / 37 / 41 photo. One
thing that caught my eye is the flag on the wall, the 3 american flags, and the toy
soldiers. I was thinking that the diamond 2 is some kind of second rangers flag /
pennant / guidon. The second rangers wore a 2 in a diamond on their helmets during
WWII. However, the second rangers were not formed until 43, which does not support
your 41 theory. The pennant over the curtain is consistent with 30's / 40's style
that were sold at PX's, but were also common at tourist locations (I collect wwii
militaria and have several of these pennants, everything from the Army Air Force to
the Empire State Building). But again, hard to date them to an exact date. Another
interesting is the "Boy Scouts to the rescue" book - Scouts to the Rescue was a movie
in 1939. And the book, Boy Scouts to the Rescue was first printed in 1921 (although
this is not the original cover art). Donald Duck is another clue - he debuted in
1934, but his body was changed in 36 to the body that we now associate with donald.
Donald did not get his own cartoon until 1937. Donald Duck remains more popular than
Mickey throughout the war.
I'm not sure I helped much, but I believe this is either 39 (and the flag is
something totally unrelated to the US military or a WWI souvenir) but could possibly
as late as 45 / 46.
Thanks again for taking the time to make the site.
Denise =
Your friend was
certainly under the wrong impression that her train board
was the one-and-only! They must not have gone around and seen other people's
Christmas gardens as we did. Outdoor lights were expensive and primitive in
those days,and although some did, the emphasis was the indoor display. Some people competed
ferousciously with it - then as now. Lucky for our present day collectors!
December 02,2010:
Every once in a while I google my dad's name to see what is out there. I found your
website and I am quite touched by what you said about my dad's book.
Thanks for keeping "his life's devotion" out there. For surely Christmas was that to him. Did you know him?
Eve (Snyder.)
How amazing to hear from you,
Eve. But you needn't thank me. We need to thank your Dad for "The Christmas Tree Book." If
one were to have but one book about Christmas, that's the one to have.
November 30, 2010:
Hello!
I am so happy to have found your site! My Dad recently passed away and my family has
inherited a few Lionel train sets and about thirty little paper houses. I don’t recall
seeing them as a kid – probably because they were put away with the trains – which my
Dad wouldn’t let us touch even when we kids were well into our 20’s and 30’s.
(I cannot say that I blame him!) My husband and I have been given the honor of
building a train garden using my Dad’s stuff. It has been so great to learn so much
about the “Glitter Houses” along with safe ways of cleaning and restoring them. Most
of ours are torn and warped, but I hope to have them ready for the train garden soon.
Also, I wanted to share something that has worked well for me. Rather than dismantling
the houses and ironing them I have had success putting them in a veggie steamer
(over hot water on the stove) and just reshaping them while they are warm and damp.
Some of the really bad warping required 3 or 4 steamings and coolings to work back
into shape, but for me it is much better than taking them apart. Also, while the paper
is still warm and damp, little bends can be straightened without tearing or breaking.
I will send some pictures when I have a few completed. I am very excited about my kids and great nieces being able to see it all!
Thanks again for your web site!
Julie Ann Craft,
Abingdon, MD
November 29, 2010:
LOVE YOUR WEBSITE! Thank you for having this wonderful website with so many vintage
pictures, I am especially fond of all those that show the wonderful way that Christmas
trees used to be decorated, as well as the less than perfect shape and size of the
trees. The ones we get in my part of the world (South Carolina low country) are very
"perfectly" shorn in N.C., so, we have gone to the field for the past 5 years to cut
ours down. I just have to have a more natural looking tree.
I am fascinated by the Dickey family photos. You can trace some of the tree
ornamanents as they appear over the years.
I had never heard the term putz until discovering your website.
Thanks again and have Happy Holidays.
Terry
Thank you for
writing to tell me that, Terry!
Yes, I am with you. I love the style of trees back then - as I remembered them as a
kid. Lots of open spaces for ornaments to hang free and catch the lights like planets
in the mysterious Heavens. No two alike. Yes, we have the same featureless "cones" up
here, too. That's the way these farmers grow them deliberately now, and I don't
like it. You practically have to pound the ornaments in with a rubber mallet. Then
everybody's tree looks the same. It's as if they couldn't make artificial trees look
real - so they turned it around and made real trees look artificial. There is
something very wrong about that. It's against the very Will of Nature which makes no
two snowflakes the same and gives different fingerprints to identical twins.
I remember my Mom was always looking for the perfect tree and never found it and thank
goodness! I don't think she'd have really liked it afterall if she did.
November 25, 2010:
My son who is 37 forwarded this site to me. we are originally from Pgh, Pa but now
live in Florida. Thank-you so much for all the childhood memories. makes me very
nostagic but at the same time i get that warm and fuzzy feeling we all love. Just
wanted to say thanks. Definitely you're site will be bookmarked.
Lynn Wasnesky
Venice, FL
November 24,2010:
Hello,
I’ve just come across your (very fun) “Christmas in the 1920s” page, and I have a
little more information on the “Hauck family” photo, which might interest you. The
photo shows the Huck family’s Christmas tree in Takoma Park MD, in (according to the
family) 1912. The dollhouse visible to the right was donated to the Montgomery County
Historical Society by Lona Huck, whose father Joseph built the dollhouse, and Ms.
Huck provided a copy of the photo to go with the toy; information provided by the Ms.
Huck, as written by the gentleman who delivered it for her: “The photograph was taken
in 1912. Actually three trees were bunched together to give the appearance of a
single tree. All of the decorations on the tree, with the exception of the Christmas
balls, were hand made by Mr. Huck.”
I hope this info is helpful to you!
Joanna Church
Director of Collections
Montgomery County Historical Society
111 W. Montgomery Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850
301-340-2825
www.montgomeryhistory.org
www.afinecollection.wordpress.com
November 24, 2010:
Greetings: I came across your website and wondered if you might be interested in some
images of our annual Christmas putz. In our case, we don’t always use a tree (though
this year we did). We are very fortunate to have the huge putz collection accumulated
by one family in Allentown, PA – ranging in date from the 1920s to the 1970s -- to
draw upon, and every year it can be different. I think we are the only museum that
has an annual putz here in the U.S. – other than the Christmas museum!
This year’s theme is Alpine Village – last year (pictures attached) had 6 tables with
different themes.
Please feel free to contact me with questions! We love our putz!
Candace Perry
Curator
Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
Pennsburg, PA
www.schwenkfelder.com
November 24, 2010:
Dear Papa Ted,
The Christmas Putz in The Lutheran Home at Topton, PA ("A Tinplate Christmas Putz"),
will be open Saturdays and Sundays of December [closed Christmas Day] from 1:00 PM to
4:00 PM. Admission is free. For directions, use the following name and address: The
Lutheran Home at Topton, One South Home Avenue, Topton, PA 19562.
Thank you for providing a Link to the Putz on your wonderful Website.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Philip Smith
November 20, 2010:
My Dad died in Augest of 2009, and I inherited all of his family slides. I was
scanning a bunch of them when I came across these old photos. I never remembered that
my Grandparents had a Putz Village under their tree in 1958, but I was only 2 years
old that year. Not sure what happened to them, but they never displayed them again
after that year. I did inherit their Spinner Ornaments though that can be seen on the
1958 tree. I also found a few photos showing the set that I now own that we
displayed as a family in the late 1960's. It was a set of the Alpine Village Lights
that I think we got at Sears. The last (1975) photo was the last time the village
was displayed by my family until I received and displayed it last year for the first
time since 1975.
I'd be honored if you posted these on your website. I'll have photos of my own Putz
Display next month sometime. This year it is going on our newly acquired cardboard
fireplace. I also followed your recommendation, and acquired about 3 dozen of the
newly produced Barclay Mini Figures for my village this year. I also won a few dozen
of the old flat Heinrichsen figures as well. Thanks again for your site.
Dave W.
November09,2010:
Dear Papa Ted,
Really enjoying all the vintage pictures you put up on your website. My sister and I are
drooling over some of the Christmas presents and ornaments on the trees. I posted one of your
photos of a five and dime drugstore from the 1920’s on Mike Wolfe, American Picker’s Facebook
page and got many responses including one from Mike Wolfe! I am going to put your link up on
his page to give you credit since so many of his fans would really appreciate your photos.
Thanks again for sharing…
Recycle on,
Bonnie Clark
Oh,dear! I hope those Pickers
don't come here and try to "pick" me!(LOL) But thanks for the boost and for enjoying, Bonnie.
November 04 - ?, 2010:
Good day….regretfully, not having heard back from you and considering a soon approaching
deadline, I’ll likely have to call off my proposal for featuring ‘Papa Ted’s Place’ in our
T.T.O.S. newsletter until perhaps, a future Winter issue.
However, on the chance that you have been too busy catching up with other projects, you might
recheck your E-mails for the idea that I send on November 9 or 10th. Also, as I suggested,
maybe just a listing of your site address with a few introductory words would suffice and
indeed, be better than a larger presentation….that is to say; Let ‘Papa Ted’s Place’ speak for
itself!
In retrospect, I’ll confess that I was perhaps a little too eager and elated from not only
hearing from you but that you also suggested placing a ‘Pineville’ pix or two of mine in the
‘Putze’ page! If that enthusiasm reflected too strongly in my proposal for a feature article of
your Site, I apologize…particularly, if it added to the concerns of your workload. In the
meanwhile, I’ll continue being enthralled with your site and look forward to continued
communication with you.
With warmest regards and respect,
Jack Ahearn.
Oh, Jack! You have my
profoundest apologies! It's all my fault. At this time of year I get virtually inundated
with e-mails and pictures and they sometimes just sink into that quicksand of "scrolling
down." But I am (finally) getting around to putting your exqusite little "Pineville" putz on
the website. Those humble "Pinevilles" have a special place in my heart and history, and I
would be honored to be mentioned in your newsletter.
November 01, 2010:
Hello Papa Ted!
I've been lost browsing your site for a couple of hours now!
I don't even know how I stumbled upon it, but I just want to thank you, from the bottom
of my heart, for putting this together, and articulating the sentiments of "The Magic
Window"...
I just turned 40 this year, but my goodness, I've been realizing lately that the world is
losing something so, so, special.... and real... and substantial.... and tangible... and
relevant.... with the passing of the pre-war generation - and your site just articulated
exactly the vague but distinct sense of an almost mourning that I've sensed lately...
whenever I read an old magazine or book, watch an old movie, fight it out with the
teachers at my daughter's school about why kids still need to learn reading, writing, and
arithmetic and especially when I walk
through a WPA park, bridge, fountain, library.... you just perfectly put that feeling
into words!
Thank you!
Vanessa London
Yes, Vanessa, I think
the Country is in a sort of mourning, but doesn't know for what. The holidays have become confused as has
everything. Pumpkin trees at Halloween, for Heaven's sake! We're two full generations from
the kind of Christmas and National Spirit I've depicted here. The now kids never knew it, and
too many of them just don't get it. Their parents didn't get it, either, and that's why. The
wrong views were put before their "Magic Window." Too many failed to clean the glass...
December 08, 2009:
Greetings,
My wife Cindy and I discovered your website just a day or so ago; since then,
we've enjoyed quality hours enjoying and making mental notes of the wonderful
vintage and contemporary displays. Somewhat a generational thing in my family
has been creating "Christmas Yards" or "Layouts" each Christmas season, combining
our love of toy trains with the creation of villages or towns under the
Christmas tree. I had often been told stories of the grand Christmas displays
created by past generational family members, all of whom were born and raised in
the Reading, Pennsylvania region. According to my mother, an uncle of hers would
begin work on a major Christmas in the parlor of his home sometime in September
or October; furthermore discribing the elaborateness of the layout, landscapes
and animated scenes. Regrettably, any photos that may have been taken have for
all we know been lost through the generations. Again, Cindy and I find your
website very inspiring. I would like to order a copy of the CD that you are
offering. Does this CD include all the photographs (both vintage and
contemporary) that appear on your website; the two of us just really enjoy
admiring and studing the details of the vintage scenes? A toy train and
particularly a prewar Lionel toy train enthusiast, I really love to study and
spot familiar toy trains in the vintage scenes.
Thank you,
Mike Seibert
Thanks so
much, Mike. That's the Spirit of the Thing, all right. I remember my disappointment
when we left Pennsylvania in 1948 to discover the custom not so widely practiced in
other parts of the country. It definitely originates here. As to ordering a CD,
I always advise folks to hold off on that until around February because so much new
stuff comes in over the Holidays and it takes me a while to get it all in... but
to answer your question: Yes. The photographs will all be there. Active links to
other websites will only work if you are also online at the time.
November 19, 2009:
Hello!
I can't remember how I found your website but I am delighted that I did! To
find kindred spirits who love Christmas villages is a joy! I haven't even
scratched the surface of touring your website but just knowing that I can
makes me very happy! I am one of those "children at heart" who spent hours
laying by our Christmas tree way back in the 50's looking at our humble
Christmas village -- the Japanese paper houses on one side, a sheet taped up
to the wall for a "hilly" background; a little fence all around; and my Mom's
old manger scene on the left side. We had eight kids and not a lot of money,
but I had all the dreams and joy I needed laying by our tree each year!
Over the years I have collected my own "eclectic" village and it is my prized
possession. The oldest pieces are two that belonged to my Mom, and I'm not
sure how old they are. I don't have an expensive "Dickens" village but to me
it has meaning and charm. Can people send you photos? Do I attach them to an
email?
I'll have to take some new ones as my computer crashed during the past year.
My son the engineer (bless his heart) built me a special 3 tiered table for my
village that fits in a corner. I also have my "tiny village" that goes under the tree. Christmas is complete for me if any small kids happen to visit and I see them get lost in their imagination, just as I did.
Thanks for your website!!
Happy Thanksgiving -- and then the fun part -- Christmas!
Sherry Hickey
Arlington, VA
Thanks for the swell letter and story, Sharon. I may
post it on LETTERS FROM FOLKS, if that's all right with you - and yes: that's
the way I get almost all my photos - attached to e-mails. I'll be looking
forward to them.
-Ted
PS -We were rather poor, too.....
Hi Ted,
Thanks for replying. You certainly can post my letter. I forgot to mention
that my sister is a "kindred spirit" too. Her village grows every year; we
laughingly call her village "urban sprawl". It is so much fun, the high point
of Christmas!
Sherry
November 6, 2009:
I found your site while researching vintage Christmas images and never moved
on..I'm working on our old dollhouse- getting it ready for Christmas (1930s) -
I've been on your site for over an hour- love it!!!
We also have my dad and grandpa's (pre WW2) Lionel train set that goes around
the tree according to tradition (water tower, station, tunnel and all). I'm not
a big collector; more of an accumulator recreating our "magic window" of
Christmas and loving it. Like your daughter, I was born in the early 60s, and we
had all the old stuff from Japan (& sometimes Germany), even the silly mini pine
cone chenille elves that are oddly important to me. The small buildings on your
site are fabulous. If my parents had any they were gone by 1960. Darn. Thanks for
putting the site there for us all to discover.
Merry Christmas!
Carol Tangeman
Thank you,
Ms. Tangeman! I feel as if I've just been sung -
- a Christmas Carol :>).
October 30, 2009:
Dear Papa Ted,
Your web site is wonderful. The clear black and white pictures are
great. Thank you so much for sharing them.
I am a vintage Christmas collector, so I really enjoyed the Christmas scenes
from the past.
Thank you again.
Dennis Michael
Missouri Valley, IA
Thanks, Dennis!
Those old photos - just can't get enough of 'em!
October 02,'09:
Dear "Papa Ted,"
What a very, very special man you are! I have spent a good bit of quality time
on your extraordinary site this afternoon, savoring the photographs and
information on Japanese dimestore houses, and am writing to thank you for
being generous enough to share your information, passion and eloquence with
those of us fortunate enough to discover you.
God bless you, sir.
Sincerely,
Susan C., an admirer from New Jersey
Oh, Susan!
I'm blushing! What can I say? May I post your message? Such sentiments are
treasured.
Dear "Papa Ted,"
The compliment was heartfelt and well-deserved. I'm delighted you want to post
my message; please do.
And incidentally, you are a treasure.
With best regards,
Susan
March 15,'09:
Hi
Visited your site this morning and enjoyed it thoroughly. I am a train collector and have
had some of the Japanese houses from time to time when they came with a box of trains. I
have sold them off as not part of the Gilbert, Lionel, Marx lexicon. It is a pleasant
surprise to find someone interested enough to sort out the categories and document the
development. What I have been interested in is the cardboard put-together sets for use
with the trains primarily Skyline and Built-rite, but a couple of others as well. While
they weren't particularly Christmas oriented, my guess would be that they wound up in a
Christmas garden or two along the way.
Thanks for a magic moment and the work that has gone into it.
Bill Drake
Hi, Bill,
Well, I'm a train collector, too:
TCA #76-10168 - HR - and had the same experience, but I got interested in that old
Christmas stuff. I would find things that I hadn't seen since I was a kid and got into
collecting old Christmas lights as well ... and everything else, because it all went
together. Though I have representative items from all train periods , I'm mostly prewar -
all makes and gauges - and wanted my layouts to be as they would have been in their day.
That meant lots of the old "dimestore" stuff. Thanks to the narrow view of so many train
collectors, i have picked up my most SPECTACULAR bargains on old Christmas stuff at
train meets over the years.
Even by the time I started collecting nearly 40 years ago there had already been a lot of
books come out about the trains, the ornaments and the lights - but nobody had done
much of anything about the little village houses. I had been thinking about them for
years, and so i decided to take on the job when the internet became available. I soon
found out why. These things had no model numbers, no catalogs about them. It was really
tough to track them down and date them , but as I did so over the years I found they
paralleled much of American History in the first half of the 20th Century - and the
history of the trains, and my own personal history as well. You can't separate this
stuff. It's all part of one big story, which i am trying to tell.
Glad you enjoyed it! That's what it's for.
-Ted
February 16,'09:
Hi Ted,
The CD is great!!! Zipped around on it for a couple of hours. Updated my printed
workbooks that I keep in the workshop for reference.
I have one whole three-ring binder with HOM. At the end of 2009, they're will be TEN
years of pure enjoyment!!!
Keep up the good work!!!!
Linda
Yes, the CD is very fast and a great thing to have in a
situation like yours where you can't get high-speed internet service. Ten years!
Well, i guess that's so, isn't it?
February 16,'09:
Hi,
I've just come across your website while looking for info on cleaning and
repairing old cardboard and paper Christmas houses. After doing lots of reading,
drooling over the pictures and making my wishlist, I have a couple of questions.
What features do you look for when buying houses and buildings for your own
collection? How do you qualify a piece to be worthy of purchase?
I also noted several references to Pittsburgh, PA and now am curious as to where
you're located? I live less than two hours away from there in NW Pennsylvania.
Keep up the good work & thanks for your time,
Debbie Reed
Titusville, PA
Hi Debbie!
Welcome to the website. In looking for houses, the main things are style, size and
complexity. We all tend to favor the period from 1928 to about 1935 when the best
ones were made. Those covered in shredded cellophane or "coconut" as we call it, get
the best prices on eBay. Some amazing prices are realized for those.
As I'm sure you read - the website is not just my collection, but a collection of
collectors who send in pictures and information as it turns up. None of us alone could
have assembled all of that knowledge on our own. But over the years, a pretty solid history has
been established. Many many unique examples have been recorded.
Yes, i live about 21 miles up the Allegheny River from Downtown Pittsburgh -in
Tarentum - but i don't have a store or museum or anything.
I haven't been collecting for some some years, either. I just ran out of room.
The website is my "collection," now.
Could you tell me what search words you used to find the website? I'm always
interested in that.
I hope you can find all the info you need on the site, and will become a
"regular."
-Ted
February 02,'09:
racep@donet.com wrote:
Ted, I hope you saved the text of that article off into an archive or
something - it was published in an "independent" newspaper, and that site or at
least the article, could be removed at a moment' notice.
Oh, yes i did save it, Paul: Immediately - and i can't thank you enough! I
figured that could probably happen. It now has a
permanent place on the website as the "Dolly Toy Obit." and you can access it
from the Table of Contents under "The History" and also from the Feb. 2009
"House of the Month." The article mentioned pictures of left-over products
would be appearing on eBay, but i could only find the one - and could not the
find the author's by-line. (name.) I couldn't see evidence of a second page,
but the article seemed to have come to a conclusion.
The whole thing is almost spooky. None of us had any idea the company was still
in business that long. Here I decide to feature an exceptional set in January,
and then the "Last of the Dollies" in February - and then, just as i think the
whole thing is complete, this article turns up! - about the death of Dolly Toy
just weeks before - just about the time I started working on the Dolly Final
Tribute series. It's like one of those stories you hear about in which a
relative appears in a vivid dream - even a waking dream - and then shortly
thereafter you discover that the person had died at the moment of the apparition.
It's like Dolly Toy was crying out to me to sing their song - wanting me do it.
I had absolutely not the faintest notion that it would turn out like this at
the outset. Bu this is sure the place to sing it.
Dolly hadn't made the Christmas houses for 50 years, but i think it's those for
which they'll be most remembered. Collectors tend to turn their noses up at them on eBay and
elsewhere because they are rather simple and still easily found, but say what
you will - they were a huge part of the American Christmas through World War II
and well up into the '50s. I had them under my own childhood tree, as did so
many that i hear from. Perhaps now they'll get some long-deserved respect and
dignity.
February 02,'09:
Looking at your February house, Ted, prompts me to write to all of you. With all my
houses in boxes these days, I take one out each month, light it up and give it a place
of honor on my dining room buffet and call it my house of the month. if I have one
like Papa Ted's HOM, it will be that one, or maybe a new acquisition or maybe just one
I need to look at some more. In that little way, I keep the Christmas houses out and
active all year long and enjoy them even more.
robby
*****
like robby, i have a house or two out all the time...either in the shop or on the
buffet...
also made a "desktop" size images of favorite houses for my computer...
a picture file of houses is set as my "screen saver", too...
i'm sure others are doing the same...
my very best regards...
Howard Leroy Lamey
Really nice custom, Guys.
January19, '09
Hi,
I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed finding your website. I started
collecting Putz houses after my I got my mother's original 9 after she passed away.
I didn't even know what they were called at the time. We just remembered them as the
little cardboard houses that everyone pushed in the doors and windows as kids. My mother
used to tell us every Christmas that if we were good enough, we would see the people in
the houses and Churches. I remember straining my eyes to see if I could spot them.
Those houses hold very special memories along with the celluloid plastic Santa's.
I even started to expand my collection through Ebay. Thanks for all the helpful tips
on the houses. I also enjoyed seeing those vintage pictures on your web site. It's nice
that someone is keeping a wonderful memory alive.
Thank You,
Sue Reingle (circa 1956)
Yes, we didn't really have names for them before, did we? Thanks,
Sue! "Papa" Ted (circa 1941)
January 10, '09:
Dear Ted,
Your web site is an absolute joy! It inspired me to do something that I had put off
doing for too many Christmases. I was raised in western Pennsylvania during the 1940's.
At Christmas my mother would place a white sheet under the tree and then arrange the
dimestore houses in a village scene. A nativity scene and an electric train were also
included. Unfortunately, those Christmas items are long gone.
I have wanted to recreate this under the tree scene for many years, but other things
always came first; however, after finding your web site, I decided that this was the
year. I started building my own putz houses in February and continued into March and
April. I enjoyed every minute spent designing, cutting, gluing, painting, adding fences
, wreaths, trees, and snowmen, and finally putting it all together as a village. The
scene does not fit under the tree, but fits nicely in the bottom of the TV cabinet.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Sincerely,
Nancy Cooper
Atlanta, GA
Me,too, Nancy. Johnstown, PA 1941-'48. White sheets, train,
little village and everything. Lots of putzing and train setups, there, and you always
had a White Christmas.
January 02, '09:
Hello, what a wonderful web site. I am wondering if there is a way to restore faded
bottle brush trees. My Mother put her houses in the picture window and even though
they are in great condition, the sun faded the trees. Hope you can help. Thank you and
Happy New Year. I am also going to be ordering your GSK 1 kit. I have some other houses
that need new windows and doors. Barbara
Hello Barbara! Thanks for the kind words!
Ah, that old sun! Have your mother be careful with the houses, too, because they will
fade as well.
I've got a whole forest of faded trees I need to get to, but here's my plan -
First - if they are dusty, rub dry cornstarch into them and vaccum them out. Then you
simply dye them green as you would a cotton fabric. I thought about rolling them
in green fountain pen ink. They used to have it in many colors, but I doubt they do
anymore. Who uses fountain pens these days? But a strong, dark green fabric dye will do.
Then immediately blow them thoroughly dry with a hair dryer. Be sure to get them dry
clear down to the twisted wire core, because rust will start if you don't. It might not
be a bad idea to bake them in the oven for couple of hours at about 200 degrees just
to make sure you've got them truly dry.
Do NOT use a microwave!
Then, if you want snowy tips - lay out a little plain old white latex wall paint in a
roller tray and roll the trees sideways in it so just the tips pick it up. Just keep
doing this until it looks right. Then - while the paint is still wet or pretty tacky,
sprinkle on or roll the trees sideways in clear diamond dust glitter or some
old-fashioned "artificial snow" mica flakes if you've got any. They sell them at the
Vermont Country Store online. And viola! That should do it.
Let me know how you make out.
Happy New Year,
-Ted
December 21, '08:
Ted,
Just wanted to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas!
Your site looks better than ever and I keep being amazed at the stuff people send in.
It looks great and some of the Putz's are just terrific. I get alot of referral "hits"
on my site (toytrains. 4t.com) from yours so I know you're busy. Keep up the good work.
Happy Holidays,
Jim Hartney
Thanks, Jim! The site would not be half of what it is without all those good folks'
contributions!
December 20, '08:
I have looked up several sites on my houses from Magazines but yours is excellent.
Thank you for the time and effort. I have not fully explored your site, but finding
it puts a smile on my face this christmas.
Bonnie Pacuta - Tecumseh, Canada
I'm glad, Bonnie! And especially over the years to discover this
charming practice has always been a part of Canada's Christmases, too.
November 20,'08:
Dear Papa Ted,
"Thanks very much" doesn't cover my gratitude for your Magic Window...
At about the same time as you (I could give you a couple of years!) on the other side
of the world (the UK) I too grew up with the most special Christmases ever in my
childhood. It was wartime, and the few years after the war, Mum and Dad had very little
and presents and decorations were a little hard to come by. But that didn't matter one bit.
Those Christmases WERE Christmas for me, and they still are, in my memory and in my
heart. Times change, I've now grown up children and this year my first grandaughter and
I just hope I can go on creating for them the magical memories I had. The other day I
was talking with my husband about preparations for the holiday season - he has rather a
Bah, Humbug! attitude to it, I'm afraid...(he must have missed his window!) and I was
trying to convey what the specialness, the magic of it is without much success - and
for a while he actually made me doubt it myself. Thank goodness he didn't, it would be
like denying childhood. I've not long left teaching - I had the little ones - and for
them the magic is very strong indeed. By a stroke of internet luck I came across your
site; I'm making a putz village for around my goose feather tree for my grandaughter,
and I plan to do it year by year until it's ENORMOUS and she can help me build it too.
Well, your Magic Window was just what I needed to read to tell me that I might have
grown old but my belief in Christmas is as young as ever.
May your God bless you and continue to sprinkle your putz villages with magic dust.
Love and very best wishes,
Hazel Kernoghan
Oh, Hazel - what more is there to say? Thank you so much, and
may your Holidays be evermore blessed ones. - Ted
September 08,'08:
Dear everyone -
It was LOL over the comment about
Republicans and Kansas!
Just a note to say how much fun
it was
to scroll down and see all of the
2008 HOMs again. The photos are
so good, showing clear detail, and
what a variety of little houses! Every
time I'm on the site, between the
music and the photos, I get transported
away to somewhere else for a
short time! I just want to express my
thanks for all of the sharing that goes
on. Such positivity is a beautiful thing,
and what a relief from the continuing
serious national and regional problems...
One of the Michael's craft stores here
in Las Vegas has pre-made card-stock structures --
a little house, and a little church, $2.00
each. I bought the house, took it partially apart
to put in tissue windows, made a hole
in back for a light bulb, then painted it.
Then I brought it to life with three types of glitter, all of
which I've had for at least 20 years and
which were old when I acquired the jars. One glitter
looks like flaked sparkly snow and is very
white. Another consists of teeny-tiny
clear "balls". The other is I think a clear
"diamond dust". It all turned out nicely
and I'm quite pleased to be using some of these
old glitters. Recently I sent away for several
different kinds of glitter from Blumchen's,
and I'll see if any of it is like the ones I
have.
This note is just to keep in touch and to
let you know I appreciate the website
and the e-mails and the dear
enthusiasm that continues to shine -- a
sun of its own. Oh yes, I loved the
August and September HOMs, but then
I love each month's presentation.
Thanks to you, Ted, and to everyone.
-Thelma
Thanks so much for those very kind words, Thelma - to me and all of
us. Those "teeny-tiny clear balls" you mentioned are what is known as "Venetian Dew." It's
getting rather hard to find, these days, and is rather expensive - but it's one of the
most beautiful glitters of all. It's one of the things that made the exquisite little
Czechoslovakian house ornaments so unresistable. The tiny balls are made of glass and
do things with reflected light that no other glitter can do. It's also what gave the old
movie-days the term "The Silver Screen," because movie theater screens were coated with an
even layer of it, making them so bright and clear.
February 13,'08:
Ted,
Thanks for the quick reply! [Both by email and mail.] I have some heavy gauge acetate
myself...maybe I'll try my hand at flocking my own windows/doors one day for that church.
I am enjoying your website tremendously! I wish I could say that I have a story similar
to the others but I don't. I am a 38 year old mother of two living in rural WV and I
NEVER heard of the cardboard houses until this past Dec. I noticed an article in the
'Country Sampler' featuring these little houses but never gave it much thought...until
Christmas Eve. We were traveling to visit my husband's family when we past a 'junk' shop
along the way. On a whim we stopped in and while browsing...my 14 year old son [of all
people] called to me and said, 'Mom, look at these...can I have one?' When I got there
he had found a whole shelf of the little cardboard houses that were 'virtually devoid of
charm and detail' as you put it. I was amazed that my 14 year old was so interested in
them....he had no prior knowledge of them whatsoever, but they just caught his eye. I
told him that I thought I had seen an article recently on them...but couldn't recall
much about it. We couldn't find a price so my husband ask the owner what it was...he
couldn't find a price either but said that he'd sell them for 15 cents a piece. We were
tickled and bought all 17 of them for a grand total of $2.55. We couldn't wait to get
back home that night to set them up. [We later found out what a deal we had.] My 11 year
old daughter and her brother had a blast setting them up. My husband and I mused at how
a handful of old cheap cardboard houses brought us so much joy. We *love* Christmas, and
we are very much into traditions. We could see how setting these little cardboard houses
up could be a fun one to have each year. After Christmas...I dug out that article and
gave it more attention. I found your web address there and was instantly introduced to a
world that I felt I had been a part of all my life even though I had no prior knowledge
of it's existance. Growing up we used to have those diaroma ornaments with the tiny scene
s in them and I used to spend hours imagining a whole range of activities in those little
worlds. I could instantly see how a whole village could raise the bar on that childhood
dream world. And the best part is that all 4 of us as a family..fell in love with them.
We've decided to leave them out all year long. And I [since I studied architecture in
college] am especially fond of them because of their fun and unusal architectural details
. I have to say that I enjoy them all but the 'Haciendas' seem to be my favorite, but
any of them with fun details and colors are welcome. We are really enjoying the hunt for
them now. We'll see a junk/antique shop and we'll all jump out and spread out in search
of them. My son seems to have the best eye for them. We have aquired 4 others since
Christmas and I am hoping to fix up their windows, so you'll be getting an order from me
shortly. I appreciate your help and the information that you share on your website. It's
been a wonderful learning experience and a pile of fun for us... and a blessing to boot!
I'm trying my hand at making some of my own as well. [I'll attach a couple photos of
those.]
Thanks again for your courtesy!
Blessings, - Diane Myers, WV
Thanks so much for very kind words, Diane. I am so glad your family
has found this very important element of Christmas. What you say about hours of imaginings
is what it's all about. I was under the tree every minute I could be as a kid, and I think
it's so valuable in developing a child's thoughts and early leanings toward a sense of
community - and has great meditative value for as adults as well.
January 06,'08:
Hello Ted,
I really enjoy your site! It inspired me to dig out my grandmother’s collection, since
she isn’t using it at the moment. I took some photos, just in case there was anything
interesting for your site. I have a feeling not, but I’ll enjoy them just the same.
There’s a mix of Japanese and American Houses. My grandmother says she started collecting
as a teenager, so she probably started collecting in the 1940s. She lived in Chicago at
the time.
http://snoopy.cpilgrim.com/wp/putz/?page=450
Thanks!
Caren Pilgrim
January 04.'08:
Dear Papa Ted:
Every year I look at your site because it is so enjoyable, and this year I knew I had to
write to tell you how much pleasure it gives me to look at the photos. I was born in
1952 and everything I see on your site gives me a bittersweet thrill.
I bought a small collection of Putz houses on ebay and I keep thinking I need to fix
them up. I, too, remember Christmas as it used to be. I want to thank you for keeping
the memory alive.
Sincerely,
Renee Yancy
Paducah, KY
December 29,'07:
Hello:
I was searching the internet for information on cardboard houses by the Dolly Toy
Company. I helped a friend clean out his Mother's home in Erie Pennsylvania this summer.
He has a plain square box with "One #35 S6290 #200 Xmas Village Set - To: Spiegel
Company, Chicago - From: Dolly Toy Co., Tipp City, O". Inside there are eight slots with
the dividers having picket fences imprinted on them, so you can pull them out and use as
fences. The houses look like Swiss houses. Also in addition to these houses, he has
three other houses which I found on your web site. These houses are smaller. Your web
site was the most helpful.
Do you have any information on the set I mentioned above or know where I could find
additional information? Bless you for having the information you do on the internet.
Sincerely, Nancy Watson, Indianapolis, Indiana
Gee, Nancy - Dolly Toy Co. made so many variations from year to
year and specials for big promoters like Sears and Wards that it's hard to say. But I
suggest you peruse the POSTWAR section of the website. There ares some catalog pages
that show the village sets with stand-up figures and fences. Perhaps it's one of those?
I'll post this e-mail on LETTERS FROM FOLKS because it's an interesting enquiry.
Thanks, - Ted
December 29, '07
Dear PaPa Ted,
Several years ago my daughter introduced me to your website and we have been thrilled
ever since at the enjoyment it gives to us! I emailed Antoinette Stockenberg this week
to compliment her on creating such memorable putz scenes. I also have been pondering
for MONTHS on how to light my putz/village as she did with little Lionel/K-Line street
lamps. She was kind enough to reply with a wonderful letter and to let me know that she
would forward my questions on to you, as YOU were a real model train lover! I do not
have a train, but have been doing putz displays at holiday time all of my life(I will
boldly tell you that I am almost 70 years old) and learned all the wonders of Christmas
from my mom and my wonderful great aunt. Not knowing anything about trains and
transformers I have been frightened beyond belief about wiring such things. I even visit
ed a model railroader's show today, but alas, none of the displays had "older" trains,
or any sort of street lamps other than the modern stuff. When I inquired about my desire
to learn how to wire together my nine (9) street lamps and hook them to a transformer
and use them to light my village of cardboard houses from the 30' & 40's, the young men
just looked at me. I don't know if it was the idea, .... the idea coming from an older
lady...or probably a bit of both, but it was really something that made me chuckle to
myself. Anyway, they really didn't respond with any real ideas or advice...they were
polite and they had wonderful train displays..but! So I was really excited when I return
ed home and found Antoinette's email and the information that yes, her husband had wired
them together in line and used a transformer. I began to believe in myself a bit more.
Then she told me that you have such great knowledge of the model train world and perhaps I could obtain a little advice from you. I realize what a busy time of year this is, and certainly am in no hurry about this. I know how very much time you must spend with your most wonderful website. It is so marvelous and gives so much pleasure and enjoyment and peace to all who view it! Any advice you might be able to provide or even encouragement on the subject of the street lamps would be so appreciated, whenever!!!
Please keep up your wonderful work, you provide us with the contentment that only comes
from memories of those wonderful times that are tucked away in our minds and hearts, but
remain as fresh as the days they first happened!
May your coming year be wonderful and happy!
Thank you so much,
Gail Charcholla
Thank you so much for the kind words, Gail! Messages like this are
what keeps me going at this. What you need to do is get hold of one of the little starter set
Lionel train transformers that came with sets, such as the #1029. These reduce your wall
socket voltage of 120 to the 15 volts or less that the old train bulbs ran on. They were
meant to control the speed of a train, but work very nicely to control the brighteness of
the bulbs found in street lamps and other accessories. They vary voltage between 8 and
15 volts and if you run your bulbs at lower voltage they will last a long long time and
not be so piercing to the eye. There are untold thousands of these transformers still around
and the train guys don't want them because they are not powerful enough to run trains really
well, but they light up to 10 of the old street lights adequately and I have picked them up for $1
on eBay. The little Marx and American Flyer transformers are just as good for this purpose, too.
All the old trains ran on these voltages. You have two wires coming from your streets lamps and
two "track" connecting posts on the transfomers. One wire to each. Easy as pie! Just remember
to plug your transformer in and be sure your bulbs are good.
December 13,'07:
This year was the very first time I did a putz under the tree in the grand
old tradition of the cotton man-made hills and dales found in the old photos
on Ted's site. I have had putzes elsewhere in the house but for me this
little place, with its pond and tiny train, its vintage, new and home-made
creations, is the kind of place I have always wanted to live in.
Because....
There's always snow at Christmas...
And little girls are always warm and well fed.
Where the train always runs on time, and the local churches welcome
everyone.
Where it is still okay to say Merry Christmas without fear of offending
someone....somewhere.....
Merry Christmas everyone! - Maria
December 12,'07:
For the sake of history . . . my grandfather bought the coconuts in Chicago. My dad's
older brother and his family in Chicago had a village of coconuts under their tree.
When I was a girl in the mid-50s, living in a suburb of Chicago, my dad would carefully
set up our village under the tree and it included six or seven coconuts, one hacienda and
Barclay figures skiing, sledding and skating. I would spend hours and hours day
dreaming about what life would be like in the village, and this is where my love for this
collection started. I was thrilled when the village was passed down to me, and I've
treasured it, added to it, and now display it year round.
Merry Christmas everyone,
Dianne
Omigosh, Dianne! That's exactly IT. That says it for everyone!
December 04,'07:
Ted,
I admire your enthusiasm for old fashioned villages. You have a beautiful
collection. You are correct that "putz" comes from the German verb "putzen".
However, "putzen" is the verb meaning "to polish, scrub, or clean well". It does
not translate into English as to "put or place". The Putz (or as my German
grandmother referred to as the "Garden") was meant to clean or polish up the
base of the tree to hide the stand or an unsightly trunk.
Frohe Weihnachten, - Keith
The "collection" is hardly all mine, Keith. Don't I wish!
Most of it comes from fellow collector's contributions.
I wanted to post
your letter because it's rather a shock. I got my information from Phillip Snyder's
"The Christmas Tree Book," which is generally thought to be the "gospel" on the
subject. How, then, has the word "Putz" come to signify the under-the-tree scene?
It's been used that way for a long long time. According Snyder, the Moravian German
immigrants brought the custom to the USA in the early 19th Century. Could it be a
variation in their particular dialect of 180 years ago? Is it not that far a stretch to conceive of
concealing the ugly tree trunk with a scenic display as a form of polish? Sort of the "finishing touch?"
I know we always put the village scene up last. Then we had Christmas!
I find
this very interesting, indeed. Still, it seems a shallow assessment of such a
delightful and imaginative endeavor... I think there's more to it than that.
The term "Garden (Garten)" is a close second to "Putz," and I've always thought
it more accurately descriptive. What would be the German? "Weihnachtsgarten?"
"Christbaumgarten?"
December 01,'07:
Put me down in the column for not wanting "glitterhouse" to
become a generic term. Cheesy, shmeezy, it's just not
accurate enough. There is ZERO glitter on the houses we
most value, the ones from the "Golden Age" of the late '20's
to '30's. I think that Paul's acquaintance with Christmas houses
is perhaps with those of more recent vintage, which have glitter
aplenty. But that won't tell the whole story! When I see
the word "glitterhouse" (a very new term for me) I instantly
picture those simple little structures from the '60's that sparkle a bit in
the sunshine.
What do ALL houses from the late 1920's to the 1960's have
in common? Cardboard. They're made of cardboard. Call
'em Christmas cardboard houses and be done with it.- Antoinette
Ditto! I’m not sure what we called them in my family
other than “The Village.” I am 100% positive we did not refer to them as
“Glitter Houses!” - Janet Watt
Well being from the great plains I have no trouble with
the word putz as I only think of it as the under-the-Christmas-tree villages.
HOWEVER I am not overly fond of the term "glitterhouse" as to me it implies
something cheap and somewhat tawdry and from the fifties when we used glitter on
everything. I guess the P.C. speech policepersons job is never done! - Tom Hull
Yeah - I have kind of a cheesey feeling about it myself
Not my favorite by any means, and I'd hate to see it become the generic norm.
"Glitter" does equate with "cheap and gaudy" in our language anymore. But it is
tough to come up with a domain name that the majority would harken to in a
single word. Nothing was ever standardized over all those years. But we just
called them the "village houses" in my childhood, too.
-PT
December 01,07:
Ted, I am using the term "glitterhouse" only because "putz house" means nothing
to most people, but "putz" by itself has obscene and derogatory meanings in
Yiddish and German. So when I use the word putz, in my "family-friendly" sites,
I'm VERY careful to define it. :-)
In the meantime, I'm using the word "glitterhouse" in my article titles so folks
who know German or Yiddish and don't know what a "putz house" is won't take off
ense. I actually thought it up on my own, although I'm not surprised that other
people have independently called them the same thing. It's easier than saying
"vintage pasteboard houses imported from Japan with colored celophane in the
windows and a hole in the light for a C6 light bulb."
I just sent the link to my glitterhouse articles in my e-mail newsletters to a
mailing list of several hundred people, so hopefully, you'll be seeing an
increase in traffic and interest.
Thanks again for your help, -Paul
"Putz" is negative in the American Yiddish, yes - but
not in German. It's a German word from the perfectly correct German verb
"putzen" - to put or set in place. Likewise, "schmuck" is derogatory in Yiddish,
but in German means "ornamentation." "Christbaumschmuck" means "Christmas tree
trimmings." "Christmas tree ornaments."
My guess they're American slang-bastardizations that probably sprang up around
the latter part
of the 19th Century on the Lower East Side of New York and the Jewish quarters
of Chicago and other large eastern cities. American Yiddish only, and now part of
the common American language. If you ever
get a chance to visit the fabulous "Kristkindle Marts" (open-air Christmas fairs)
of Germany and Austria at this time year, you'll see those words everywhere and
they're not derogatory in the least. Not very musical to our ears, but certainly
do set little German kiddies' eyes a-aparkling!
I've been seeing "glitterhouse" all over eBay and hearing it for years, so it's
in wide use to be sure. I was just wondering if it's peculiar to some portion of
the Country. I hadn't heard the word "putz," either, until I got into this thing.
Most often it was "The Christmas village houses,"( that's what we always called
them) or "snow village houses," or "village scene." I actually never heard the
term "glitterhouse" till I was in my mid-fifties.
November 29,'07:
I am in awe. I just visited your site at the suggestion of someone else and
it is amazing.
My Mom introduced me to villages...I believe she got hers from a store many
years ago (she's 82) and she gave it to me a few years ago. We put it up for
the holidays...brings back a lot of memories.
Your site is indeed a museum.
I wrote to you via eBay because I have the 122 houses for sale...I collected
them over the years, and simply cannot put them up because we have 3 dogs
and 2 cats that would terrorize the villages!
If you get a moment, if you could comment on my collection I'd appreciate
it. The lady who referred me to you, Barb, said most of my houses seem to
have been made in the 50's. I didn't really see too many churches at your
site, at least the kind that I have. And, does having the two in original
packaging mean anything, or is that more of a "that's nice Rob, but, um, who
cares"?
I know I have over $800 in the whole collection because I bought pieces
individually off eBay over the years. I was hoping to get $500 for the whole
lot. Reasonable? Or do you think I'm going to need to break it up into
individual pieces...ugh!
Any advice/suggestions/comments/quips or other thoughts are certainly
appreciated.
Regards, Rob Teeple
Thanks for the very kind words, Rob. Actually, it's been
a lifetime in the making.
Gee, I sympathize with you. I am in the same boat
myself - have way too much stuff and dealing on eBay has just gotten to be
more trouble than it's worth (in my opinion.) Without seeing your houses there is
no way I could tell you much, but Barb knows her stuff. I have thought of dribbling
my excess out through local antique dealers, but so far haven't moved on that idea.
Sorry I can't be of more help. I will post your letter and perhaps someone out there
might be interested in the lot.
November 26,'07:
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You have reminded me of much that seemed forgotten.
Tom Hirsch
That's the amazing thing about it, Tom. You find
these things you haven't seen for 50 years and it all comes back, doesn't it? I
think that's why people collect.
November 20, '07
Dear Papa Ted,
I just love your site and have wrote in the past telling you how informative it
is.
We finally brought my husband's childhood Christmas items from his Mom's house. She is 92.
Among the items were mica snow houses marked Made in USA which I haven't
identified yet. They seem very basic. Manilla colored cardboard and muted color
s on just the house and roof. (one is a mustard gold house with a reddish roof
and chimney. The corner piece of fence is goldish on the side and white on the
front. There are splashes of mica white snow on the roof, the front fence piece
and the chimney. A loofa brush tree has some mica snow on it next to the chimney
and the windowns are green and silver. Based on my husband's age and old
pictures they may be from the early 1940's unless they were in his Mom's family
and are older.
But what I really was happy to find are these unusual garden
pieces. First is a metal arbor made of chicken wire with Christmas greens
growning over it. The second piece is a well with a moving bucket. The paper
tag reads 100% American Made. It is made of wood with what looks like dribbled
paint all over it. The Thrid piece is a bird bath with a plaster bird on it that
says Japan. Then there are 2 garden stands with those reflecting balls that
match the bird bath. They are painted to like like cement grey. Also two
matching potted trees in what looks like cement pots.
Do I have 3 different sets? The bird bath, 2 trees, and two reflecting glass
globes look like one set. The wishing well and the arbor look like two different
makers.
I can send you a picture if you would like. I think size wise they would go with
the biggest houses like the large loggies. They are just unusual.
We go to at least 1 antique auction a week and I have never seen the reflecting
balls and rarely the other items - maybe someting similar but not the same.
Keep up the good work. We are emptying a 15 room Victorian house that was owned
by a hoarder. But we yet to find a real real old house. Thank you again for
your time and wonderful site.
Happy Holidays,
Gini Steigerwalt -in the heart of the Poconos of P A.
Well Gini - it's good to hear from you!
I think I can visualize just about every item you described. I'd bet you have
Dolly Toy Co. houses.(See the WW II and POSTWAR sections of my website.) I have
one of those "chicken wire" rose arbors, too - and the dipping well and so forth.
I was pretty sure those were German, but your "100% American Made" lable has me
rethinking that. Hmmm. That almost certainly dates them to the heat of WW II,
because anything Japanese was anathema and that pronouncement was totally
characteristics of those years. I have a bird bath with crinkly flat wires
supposed to be a fountain, a lead-cast"general" on a pedestal, some lawn mirror
balls and some papaer mache "hedges" that I loosely call the "park set." I had
supposed they were sold in dimestores meant to be accessories to doll houses and
always assumed them to be Japanese, but you give me pause to rethink this. I
have used these items arrayed in front of vintage Lioenl train stations on some
of my set-ups. It would be very interesting to discover after all these years
that these were American, and if so - who made them????
Yes - if you could send pictures I could tell you more.
Oh, gee - a hoarder! I pity you. What a job! I fear my own family will be faced
with this when I pass along, but for now - I love my stuff!
-Ted
November 20,'07:
Hello, Just a short note to let you know how thrilled I am to be adding more Putz
houses to my set. By set I mean I have collected over the years and at xmas I
set up a little village. Well now I am so hooked I am looking for more to make a
whole town. LOL LOL I was bidding on the ebay and some nice gentleman advised me
to go on your web site for instructions on the fixer upper houses. I am
enthrolled I love it. I am 65yrs old and so sorry I did not get started earlier
on. At xmas for years my thing was houses ceramic with little people. But now I
have another dream hobby., Thanks very much for printing the letters people send
and advice.
Sincerely Sonja from Calif.
Well, Sonja - Thanks for writing and welcome to this delightful addiction! I am
one year older than you. These things from my childhood were missing from my
life for many years and almost forgotten, but I began to rediscover them a few
decades ago. It brought the child in me to life again. We live together in peace
and love now. He (I) has become the son I never had. I have bought him back most
of the toys he longed for and never had. His heart is no longer disappointed and
neither is mine. We are so alike, he and I - what better son could I have wished for?
-Ted
November 19,'07:
Hi Ted!
Greetings from the Green Mountains of Vermont! Yesiree! Way up North by the
Canadian Border - about as far north as one can go in this US of A! Well anyhow,
after ordering your little kit of samples for the window and door replacements,
I took the black and white illustration identifying the windows and I marked the
I.D. order number on each window, then I placed the sheet on a self sticking felt
sheet as a backing. Then I cut each window out and placed them all in a little
box. Now when I wish to measure a window for replacement - it is SO EASY to hold
one of these actual sizes up to the window and take the number of f it and
record it. Also with the added thickness of the felt backer on the windows they
are really easy for fingers to hold and to manage. As I go along and i make my
order list! So I thought I would pass this information along to you in the event
it has not been achieved by anyone yet.........but with the popularity of webb
site, I kinda doubt that. But sending it along just to make sure.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! And ditto to every soul who has
expressed their joy and gratitude to you for your wonderful webb site!....it is
priceless and so contagiously wonderful....
PeeJay/Vt.
Thanks, PJ - and you know what? In all the years of sending
out these kits, you are the first to report back the way anybody actually uses them!
I suppose everyone does it a little differently, but this is a great idea and you
will have those silhouttes to size up what you need for a thousand houses to come.
The actual-size silhouettes are for the clear CEL types, of course, but since we're
on the subject - I wanted to discuss something that has always puzzled me about the
paper doors. They are always too big for the openings, and you never
see the borders. I often wonder if the Japanese hadn't planned a series of larger
houses and then never got around to it. But that's how they were - and are. We
took all the designs from actual originals and very carefully kept the exact size.
November 18,'07:
Ted
I am so grateful that you have allowed me to participate in your site. It has
meant a lot to me. Whenever I am stressed I turn to your site and revisit this
happy place. This and singing with a local group of barbershoppers are really good outlets for me but with your site I can visit any time I wish. It is so good for me to get away from the cares of the day by "talking" about these houses.
I have learned so much from your site, you and others and what we have with your
site is a sort of a "Christmas archeology" as it is so much based on what ever
remains behind from those decades and what ever we can deduce from them.
I had hoped that perhaps a Japanese correspondent would become interested in
these very charming houses and the associated activities of their immediate
ancestors. But so far this has not been the case. We really need to hear from
them to get the Japanese perspective on these historic houses and fill in some
gaps in our knowledge of those times.
As the seasons of festivities draws near and we set out our Putzes let us
remember the joy of Christmas past as well as Christmas present and be thankful
for all that we have and can truly feel the peace that only God can provide.
"God bless us everyone" T. Tim.
Tom Hull
We are all so grateful for your extensive
contributions, Tom.
You have added SO much! I think your construction articles have
launched a whole new National hobby. And, Amen!- "God bless us,
every one."
November 11, 07:
Dear Mr. Althof,
I just wanted to take a moment to say "Thank You" for providing such a wonderful,
informative website: Papa Ted's Place. I have been utilizing many of your
restoration tips on some old Putz houses I have acquired. The "cornstarch
cleaning" is excellent. I am going to be ordering some of your windows very soon.
I also wanted to add two tips: I acquired an old "hacienda" style putz house
with the santa figure on it. I cleaned the house up beautifully by following your
"cornstarch cleaning" instructions, but I couldn't get the little Santa clean.
So, I used a TINY dab of Dawn dishwashing liquid on a slightly damp corner of a
paper towel and wiped him down GENTLY. It worked! He isn't PERFECT, but he is
MUCH cleaner than before.
Tip #2: I found some PLAIN cellophane rolls of red (and blue) cellophane at
Papermart in Pittsburgh for a couple of bucks per roll. I thought I may use this
PLAIN cellophane to replace PLAIN windows, since you don't sell those. Just a
thought.
Also, do you know how to clean the Dolly toy company foil-like finish houses?
Well, thank you again for a GREAT website, I'm recommending it to everyone
interested in Putz houses.
Sincerely,
Susan Reeb
We have Tom Hull to thank for discovering that
cornstarch method. He got the tip from an old old lady in Kansas who told him it
was the basis of home-made carpet cleaners since the 19th Century. It is, indeed
, almost magical the way it works - and nobody can really explain why.
I'm glad your dishwashing liquid worked on that Santa, but I'd never have chanced
it myself. I restore old electric trains now and then, and one of the techniques
is to soak the old tin car bodies in a detergent solution. The old, decrepit
paint just slides off like mud in water. I would be afraid to apply detergents to these
very old prewar paints. I think you were lucky! I have used liquid car wax and tissues
to clean old paints on hard surfaces at times.
Looks like you are very close to me (I'm in Tarentum.) I never heard of
"Papermart." Where are they? Do they have a website?And are you sure that's real
cellophane and not polypropelene film?
Thanks , again, for writing and continued good luck on your projects! Keep us posted!
_Ted
November 9, '07:
Ted,
I love your site and consider it a true museum. I like to make houses with
my family. We use 4 oz. milk cartons as bases and some of my relatives have
really produced some fine pieces. They are like little chalets in shape and
decorated with seeds and beads. I was inspired by your Czech house in one of the
Houses of the Month. The house has a grey backdrop with white trees. I made a
similar one using matte board. It came out pretty good. I made the houses full size rather that relief though and I think the relief is very effective.
My family and I sit around on Christmas night and the day after Christmas
and make houses. It is a very soothing atmosphere and we have great conversation
s. It pulls everyone together. I like to tour through your museum to get ideas.
Thank you for all you have done.
Jane
Wonderful, Jane! Things like this are what I hope for.
March 03,'07:
Ted -
Really enjoyed the castle and could "feel"
Tom's excitement about the nooks and
crannies coming off of the screen!
Very cool. Also enjoyed the houses that
Aimee sells and believe it adds a nice
"touch" to your ever-charming site.
Thanks for notifying us of March offerings. * Thelma Bernard- Las Vegas, NV
Entirely welcome, Thelma! No problem!
February 09,'07:
Ted,
I am having a ball restoring these little beauties. My kitchen table looks just like
your work area. I find myself looking for the houses in every antique store I enter.
So glad I found you! Can't wait to get to the post office some days.
* Lois Bennett -
Nellysford, VA
Thanks, Lois. Sure sounds familiar - and good hunting!
February 05.'07:
Mr. Althof -
Enjoy your site immensely! What childhood memories it enkindles. My old Polish Grandma
in Syracuse, N.Y. had a village of over 100 houses when I was a child. What magic it was!
Unfortuneately, after she passed away, it was stolen from her basement where it was
stored.
I have a meager 20 houses - mostly inherited from my Mom - nothing extravagent But i treasure
every one. Your site gave me the courage & information I needed to refurbish them. Thanks so
much for the information! Know you have a big fan down here in Louisiana - where the
cardboard Christmas houses are few and far between & relatively unknown.
Thanks again! * Dodie Ramsey - Pride, LA
Oh gee, Dodie - what a loss! We sure would have loved to have
seen your Grandma's collection! But this same story crops up and up again, and it is
also true of me; all the original stuff except my old train engine was gone. Then one day you come
across something in a flea market or yard sale you hadn't seen in 50 years and it all
comes flooding back again. It re-unites us with who we have been from the beginning.
February 03,'07:
Ted, I was born in 1950. My mother always put up the decorations. Dad would haul the
tree/train platform out of the basement. He would set it up below the front window,put
the tree in the center. And of coarse that was it for him [he probably didn't care that
platform was a full size sheet of 3/4" plywood and until us kids got older,well] A 4by8
area gave mom plenty of space to fill. And she did!! We had the train on a rectangular
track and the tree was a good18' higher so she would build mountains and hills out of
cardboard boxes she used the same boxes every year. She would cover the boxes with
cotton sheets and some real sheets, and set up at least a dozen. separate scenes. I'm
sure I could go on and on about them. But I'll just say this. When you would lay on the
floor and run the train you would go to all those places. Anyway we had several putz
houses of different sizes. All these things are gone now ,and it is painful to try and
remember what happened to it all. My wife comes home from an estate sale with a few of
these houses. They had pieces missing. I like to tinker so I fixed them up. You have to
look close. I was able to match the paint colors and made a chimney. We just down sized
and moved. We have a entire closet with just X-mas decorations three trees. We barely
have room for one tree. My wife sold them on e-bay and I pretty much thought that was
that. A week latter I stumbled on too your site. Read your story and some of the letters
. I have practiced the art of bonsai for over twenty years and will read anything about
Japan arts and design Well I just can't stop thinking about restoring these wonderful
little houses. I have since been able to find about 20 of the little devils most of
which need a lot of repair, if not just a good cleaning. I've got the cleaning part
down. My biggest concern is how much restoration can be done with out ruining a
authentic piece? I note that you talk about latex house paint I used artist acrylics and
acrylic craft paint. Are there any no no's I need to know about before I start? Would
apreciate any help you could give me. I will continue to watch your web site truely a
treasure in it's self. Hope to hear from you soon.
* Nick Nicholson - Webster Groves, MO
Well, Nick, that's just exactly the way putzing memories happen.
Good story! - and my story, too! - I, too, would lie beside the display and watch the
train and imagine what unknowable places it was coming from and who was coming home to
which house. I believe that kids who missed out on having a putz custom at home have
missed out terribly. As a preschooler, safe and encloistered in the known world of my
parents and my house, the putz started me on the realization that this reflected a far
greater world outside. I began to think about that world and to compare the town around
me with the putz as we went driving. I truly do believe that it was the starting point
of my whole social sense of community and world beyond.
If you are matching colors and replacing lost cardboard already you are pretty well on
your way. Just about all i know can be found in the REPAIR-RESTORATION section and its
sub-sections. I see no objection to doing extensive repairs so long as one tries to get
the original look. It's when people goof them up with doo-dads and silly add-ons and
wierd paint schemes that the value is ruined. We see those tragic cases on eBay now and
then. One big no-no I would caution against is using hot glue guns. Don't do
it! And NEVER use that awful spray-on "snow!" The secret of replacing windows is to get
the inside edges clean and free of old debris and smooth before hand. A common nail
file will usually do it.
Some really nice new houses are starting to be available, and that's fine for young
families starting a putz tradition - but no new stuff really "does it" for us older
hard-line collectors. We want mysterious "ghosts of Christmas Past" dwelling in our old
houses. We love to wonder and imagine what long-gone Christmases they saw, what stories
they might tell. So, lovingly doing authentic restorations of old beat-up originals is
fine with me. The more that can be saved the better!
February 02,'07:
Absolutely Outstanding!!!!! I not only love the house but the commentary.
(Feb. 07 House of the Month)As I have said before, this is how I learn about the houses. Each and every
thought and view is so important to the process of learning and identifying
houses. This is as valuable as the histories themselves that you put
together in your site.
Loved the intel on the Butler Bros. stuff. Where do ya'll get all this
info. I need to start researching too. I feel so inadequate, kind of like
the "Lone Southerner" with no Putz info to share. I need to "beef up" my
knowledge so share everything!!!!!!!
* Janet Watt - Columbia, SC
Well, don't feel inadequate about it!. When i started the site
I had some idea, but then with people catching stuff on ebay - stories coming in - the
contributions of enthusiasts - finding rich old catalogs, etc. - this knowledge has
come in by all kinds of surprising directions over 7 years! I can't tell you how many
times I have had to revise stuff I wrote, but I love it! Lots of people say they want
it to come out in a book, but I really think this is better. A book is a frozen thing.
Once printed, that's it. I have a shelf of collectibles books that are now known to be
full of errors and obsolete - written in haste to make a publishing deadline. I only
keep them for the pictures; the information is very
often inaccurate.
Just in the past two years, however, this may no longer be so about a book. With
the advent of such findings as "The Chicago Dates," "The Butler Bros. Catalogs," and
"The Fair Set," - I feel the knowledge is getting pretty good. I really don't forsee
radical upsets anymore - just evermore fascinating details.
February 01,'07:
I also want to thank you for your link to the Christmas light “museum”
My fella and I are crazy about bubble lights and it was wonderful to read their history
Thank you so much again -
* Maria Cudequest - Croton on Hudson, NY
I'm nuts about the bubblers - and all the old lights, too -
as well as trains and toys and ornaments - but tons of stuff had already been written
on those subjects, which is why I chose to tackle the Christmas houses. There was
almost nothing on them at the time I started this project. Just a few scattered
references. That's a really great non-commercial website, isn't it? I'm proud to be
linked. He's doing a great job!
January 31,'07:
Ted, I came across this Butler Bros. entry in an online Chicago
encyclopedia. The interesting facts are that the catalog operations
were stationed in Chicago -- and one can see why. The heartland
warehouses would have been optimal, centralized shipping to the
entire country.
The other interesting aspect of this entry is that Butler Bros.
supplied the Ben Franklin dimestore chain. Ben Franklin 5 & 10's
were the first retail franchise, each store owned individually, mostly
in small towns. So if we find any houses with Ben Franklin price
stickers on them, we can bet they were supplied by Butler Bros.
(who had a 16-story office building on -- where else? -- State St.
in Chicago).
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2583.html
- Antoinette
I knew about the Ben Franklin's. I believe there is already a
reference to that on the site, or a link to one. I know that those warehouses must
have been vast, because every now and then stuff would come into the old BF in Russell,
Kansas that was decades old, but we didn't know it. For example, when the big SCI-FI
space-toy craze hit in the early fifties, there was suddenly a lot of rather quaint
Buck Rogers stuff there one summer. We bought a whole series of these little die-cast
space ships that rolled down a string on pulleys - and I got one of the big gold
sparking Buck Rogers metal ray guns made by Daisy for $1.49. We rigged up a whole
solar-system in the cellar arranged around those little rolling rockets. What a ball!
There were 3 different kinds, as I recall. Having read toy collectors books since then,
those were made in the '30s. NOS - forgotten then found somewhere in the dark recesses
of those big warehouses. dusted off and shipped out to the stores to meet the new craze
of 20 years later. Boy, i wish i still had them! We paid 25 cts. for the space ships
and they are worth in excess of $700 each today. The gun is worth $500. But it's not
just the money - those things were simply great!
January 30,'07:
Ted, I was just on your site, looking over that huge estate sale
from a couple of years ago -- and was saddened all over again
to know that that wonderful, comprehensive collection,
gathered together with love and time and care, got broken
up. Frankly, I can't even blame the seller -- the set was
far too massive to offer as one lot and would not have
attracted enough buyers or made enough return -- but, oh,
to see it go in bits and pieces. So, so sad. I wish Junior could
have lived forever. I wish his houses could have given him
comfort as he did.
It's so good that you posted what you could fit on PapaTed's
Place. -
* Antoinette Stockenberg - Newport, RI
Thanks. At least there is a published record of it now ...
as with The Fair Set. I wonder if we'll ever see the like of these entries again.
January 25,'07:
Ted,
I have been reading your website for several months and WOW! I thought the little
putz houses my mom had were the typical Christmas houses. Well, hers are mostly the
post-war, white card-stock kind. I have them now and after aquiring a grocery bag full
of houses at our local antique mall (they were mostly fixer-uppers) when I found your
site, I gained the confidence to start the restoration process! Now I'm HOOKED! I even
made 10 houses of my own this past Christmas - I gave most of them as gifts. My real
challenge was to make a house resembling my sister's rather modern house with many
windows and decks! I think i succceded in giving it that 'putz' style.
Thanks for rekindling so many Christmas memories for so many people. I remember my
brother's train set-up in the early 50's (I was born in 1951) Sadly, it was in a repair
shop one year and it was the victim of a fire. Lots of little boys probably lost their
favorite train sets that year! I'm now on a quest to collect the little pine-cone elves
I remember hanging on our tree. I'm happy to say that just a little bit of Christmas
Vintage is enough to satisfy me. I don't think i'll get too carried away! But I still
can't believe the absolute beauty of those Coconuts i first saw on your website. It's
not easy to explain it to others! I just refer them to Papa Ted's Place!
Thanks so much, * Sue Stewart
Well, I hate to break it to you, Sue, but too late! You are
carried away! Really nice job on those houses (see "PUTZES 2006") you made. If you can
make those, pinecone elves should be a snap!
January 24,'07:
Hello Ted,
I hope your holidays were happy and healthy! I had the most wonderful time setting up
my mantel putz this year (no great pix sorry to say) and the hardest time taking it down
.
Would you look at the house/hotel building I won on ebay today? It is in need of
some repair, the fence is partially missing which I can model from the other side. Also
appears to be a balcony missing from above the door, see closeup. I checked your
website to see if I could find anything like it but didn't see it. Have you seen this
before? Any idea what the balcony should look like?
Is it possible that I could get it touch with your friend Tom Hull for repair advice
? I'd be happy for you to give him my email if you aren't comfortable giving me his.
Thanks so much!
I love the additions to your site, and really enjoyed peoples letters to you!
Barbara Healy
I will forward your message to Tom hull, Barbara. I have not
seen that house before. It's very interesting! And I know what you mean about taking
it all down ..I have a train-putz in my living room that's been there for 15 years! Strange
sounds come out of it .... wooo!
January20,'07:
Hello Ted,
I know that that Xmas has come and gone for this year, but I just had to write and tell
you a big thank you for your wonderful website!
I have always looked longingly at these displays in store windows and at other people's
homes when I was a child, but somehow my parents never really got into xmas decorating
much. I was innocently looking for something completely unrelated on eBay and came
across these dear little houses and bottlebrush tree scenes. Well, long story short, it
rekindled my childhood dreams (I'm 52) and thus I found your website, purchased some
houses and trees ( a mix of old and new) and I can't wait for next Christmas!!! I am
going to try make some of my own as Cody Foster and others have done, as those nice
collector houses are unfortunately way out of my price range.
I have nothing but Christmas Villages on my mind now as I look for likely places in the
house to display and literally whooped with joy while dusting an old mirror when I 'saw'
that will make a great ice rink for the village! hehehe. Thanks for the inspirations,
the history lessons and sharing the joys of these totally cool new "old" things.
Warm, regards, gg
That's the spirit, Gretchen! It's never too late!
January 12, '07:
Ted,
You really outdid yourself with the January HOM pictures! Thank you for preserving the
set in photos for everyone to enjoy. I agree with you, it is a crime to break apart a
set that has been together for years. It would be great if they all find their way back
to their original box, sigh.
Joye
Thanks, Joye! The real credit belongs to Antoinette who had the
presence of mind to capture the pictures off the auction! If not for that, this key
piece of the knowledge would have been lost forever.
January 10, '07:
I cannot tell you how truly happy I was to find your site.
And of course I was so excited when I saw that there was someone making them—alas, who
no longer is.
Should that change, please let me know. Because I would buy at least one of his houses
a month all this year!
Thank you for your wonderful site.
Maria
January 9, '07:
What warm, wonderful memories the pictures bring back to me...we had 8 houses and 8
Noma lights when I was a child back in the dark ages...(I'm a '43 baby and my sister
came along in '46)...Each Christmas we would build a scene under the tree or on a table
with the little cardboard houses, American Flyer trains and houses we built from
American Plastic Bricks and Lincoln Logs...I'm sad to say that the houses, trains and
other items were sold when I was a teenager and needed money for something or other..
After finding your site, I have inspired to make some houses and start all over...(with
an electric train, too)...I will send you some pictures when I am further along...
Best regards,
Howard Lamey, Jacksonville, FL
Gee, Howard, but we're close in age and experience! I can
identify with everything you said. I can't tell you how many collectors I know who lost
all their original stuff in one way or another - only to be willing to pay a small
fortune to restore it and go way beyond. Who knew how deeply these "trivial"things had
entered into us?
December 30, '06:
Hello Ted
Hope you’ve enjoyed a merry and blessed Christmas. Many thanks for the replacement
windows and doors you sent earlier (particularly the extras which, as it happened,
were needed). I’ve been doing a bit of “house-hunting” since our earlier communication,
and am enclosing here one of two sets of putz pictures which you might wish to post on
the website. This one is a small bookshelf putz which, as you can see by the “big
picture”, is part of a larger display. The Mary and Joseph figures in the crèche scene
at the bottom are the last two surviving pieces from my grandfather’s old terra-cotta
nativity which was either brought from Italy (c. 1901, when his family emigrated here)
or ordered from there when he was an adult (which would be c. 1928-1935). My mother has
vivid memories of this set being displayed in the basement of their home in Jersey City
when she was a child; a star was rigged up at the top of the cellar stairs which led one
down to the “presepio”, which took up most of the basement. It was, apparently,
sufficiently impressive to have merited an article in the local paper. Grandpa had a
lively competition going on with a fellow Italian émigré whose display included moving
figures, which he operated from underneath the table on which the whole works was
displayed. According to my mother, both of these Nativity displays included numerous
peasant figures in addition to the shepherds and wise men, which was typical of many
European crèche displays (and can still be seen today in the unending supply of figures
produced by Fontanini).
After my grandfather died in 1983, I inherited these two surviving figures. For years,
I displayed them more or less as you see here at the bottom of this old free-standing
bookshelf with a replacement Baby Jesus. On the divided shelf directly above, I would
put the Neapolitan-style angel (a garage sale find) flanked by two composition fruit
topiaries (my own creations, along with the Star of Bethlehem which you can partially
see on the top shelf). The effect reminded me of an old altarpiece. I was always at a
loss as to what to put on the second shelf from the top, and usually settled for a row
of assorted Christmas knick-knacks in front of the books. This year, I decided to create
a small pastoral scene similar to the ones which probably featured in my grandfather’s
layout. The figures are from the Britains Ltd. John Hill Farm series (except for the
running deer, which is of French origin). I incorporated four of the putz houses,
choosing three of the more rustic-looking ones in country colors (coal black, barn red,
and yellow) and a “loggie” (ideally, I suppose, it would work best using all loggies,
but I have only this one). Preserved moss, cotton batting, bottle-brush trees, and
dried branches provided the scenery. To create the different levels on this, as well as
the next putz I’ll be showing you, I used the various books that were displaced from
the shelves for the creation of the display (which saved me having to find a place for
them until after the holidays!). The whole “village” is all of 2’ long by 11” high
(maybe we should call this “long story, short putz?”). Judging by the reaction it’s
received, I think it will become a permanent part of the “altarpiece”.
Hope you will enjoy the pictures; more to come.
Jim McLean
Thanks, Jim! I have been sorely remiss in getting things on the site
this year, but am catching up, now. I'll have your pictures on at some point as I build
"PUTZES 2006" from now till Easter! Lots of neat things to come...I promise!
December 17,'06:
Dear Ted,
I discovered your site a couple of days ago after finding a bag of these houses at a
thrift store. I paid $1.99 for the lot of sixteen. I had never seen items like these
before. I come from a part of the world where these villages were not one of the
Christmas traditions. They were a bit battered with many of the windows punctured but I
liked them anyway because of my weakness for little houses. I asked another shopper if
she knew anything about these houses and she explained that all she could tell me was
that they were very old because she was 61 and had known houses like those as a child.
In this bag there were about eight "Made in Japan" houses and about the same number of
plastic ones. The "Made in Japan" houses are lightweight and have fine wire and cord
loops so they must have been made for hanging on the tree. There are holes at the back
to insert the lights. The plastic ones are not like the solid color plastic ones that
you included on your site. These are white and the fronts slide off from the roof and
base. There are printed sticker facades stuck to the fronts and the entire house
illuminates when lit and gold glitter along the eaves. I don't know where the plastic
ones were made but they go well with the Japanese ones.
I had to satisfy my curiousity so I went on the Internet to find out if anything had
been written about them. Your amazing site answered most of my questions and I felt
that I was in the presence of someone who feels the same wonder. Now I also want to
know more about the people who made these Japanese exports and what prompted that
industry. Thank you for acknowledging their contribution.
I also loved what you said in The Magic Window. That is exactly it! Although these
houses were not part of my formative years or my culture, as I hold them, the aura that
I sense around these well loved and worn houses certainly was, one of innocence and
tranquility and homecoming. We really do go home for Christmas, if not physically then
in our hearts, a sentimental journey that for some is either joyful or sad or a mixture
of both. Thank you so much for all the work that you lovingly put into this site. I
wish you and yours health and happiness and peace.
L. Leigh
(Lumiere grew up in Trinidad and Tobago in the Carribean.) Thank
you so much, Lumiere. It sounds like what you picked up are some of the "Alpine Village"
pieces of the late 1960s... the very last of the "Made in Japan" houses. At that price
you can hardly go wrong! Nativities and putzes are the same idea - a little world beneath the celestial
majesty of the tree. The Moravian Germans who began them started mainly with Nativities
or Noah's Ark scenes. A story on display. I'm so glad you have found this new interest!
It's a warming,pleasant thing... and you are exactly right; it's all about a sense of
home.
June 30,'06
Dear Ted,
My name is George and I love your site. When I
feel down I just go to This wonderful place you have lovingly created. Bless You Ted.
Today I came to buy some of Karl's beautiful creations for my ever growing Chritmas
Town.
Sadly I see he is not currently making them.
Please let Me know by e-mail if he decides to resume and begin making them again. I
feel sad as I was putting this off for a while. I guess I should have ordered them when I first saw them on Your site.
Much continued success with this beautiful heartwarming place I can go to. Thank You
Sincerely Ted.
Blessings to You & Yours,
George Bogart L.I. N.Y.
Thank you so much for the kind words, George, and keep the faith
because Karl informs me that after they have moved and settled in it may well be that
his houses become available again. Perhaps not this year, but possibly next.They are
going through a major upheaval in their lives right now. I will certainly let you know.
-Ted
June 12,'06:
"Ted,
I have decided to suspend production of my Christmas Houses indefinitely. Between my job,
family demands, and our efforts to relocate, there is simply not enough time to devote
to the houses. When we finally get re-settled we may attempt to re-start the business,
but at this point I'm afraid it's already too late for the 2006 season. At this time last
year I had 75 houses on the shelves. This year I have none.
- Karl Fey" (06/12/06)
I'm so very sorry, Karl. Those who have aquired your pieces thus
far are very very lucky indeed. It was a very valiant effort, and I understand. Family
and health must come first. We'll re-open this any time you say. - Ted
June 07,'06:
Hello
I've enjoyed browsing your fascinating and nostalgic site. The cardboard houses we used
to decorate with when I was growing up were among my favorites, and I always regretted
that, while I have many decorations from my past, none of the houses survived.
There is one particular house that I remember, as it was one of my favorites. We called
it the "mirror house", and it was like a little stage. It had four walls- two very
narrow side walls and a large pentagonal back wall that was folded into two halves. Each
of these halves had a pentagonal mirror bordered by golden glass beads (which also border
ed the front). In the center was a small composition Santa sleigh with two reindeer, two
red-capped composition mushrooms, and a few scattered tiny bottle-brush trees. The front
was open, and little scene was reflected in the mirrors. It had a flat cardboard base;
the walls were white and the roof red, both were sprinkled with glitter (silver, as I
recall) and a tiny metallic red star was affixed to the peak of the back wall. It was
apparently not intended to be illuminated; there were no windows and no place to insert
a light bulb. I was born in 1958, and remember this house as having been a recent
acquisition, not an heirloom; my parents would probably have bought it during the early
sixties. I haven't seen any houses like it on your site, either in the pictures or the
catalogue pages, nor have I seen it mentioned. I was wondering if you or any of your
readers recall such a house from their own Christmases past and have any information
about it.
I was also reading the section on tree restoration, and have a bit of advice to offer
regarding loofahs- my local IGA supermarket sells full-sized loofahs in the aisle devoted
to soaps and cleaning supplies. I'm told that any supermarket or bodega which caters to
a large Latino population will probably have some on hand, as they are quite accustomed
to using them.
Hope I've been of some assistance, and I hope there's someone out there who had a
"mirror house" in their past.
Jim McLean
Brentwood, NY
Well, Thanks, Jim - for the kind remarks and info!
Actually, I have often seen those mirrored ones as you describe and think that down in
the depths of my collection somewhere may even have a few. I hadn't gotten into them
(yet) because they are not quite houses - actually ornaments to be hung on the tree and
reflect the lights. I have seen at least 3 variations with Santa & sleigh, a tiny white church, and (I think)
snowman figures. The figures I recall were celluloid. I personally call them the
"shrines" because they seem like shrines to something Christmassy. I think they are some
kind of a cultural confusion relating to the "Creche:" - little mixed-up manger scenes.
To me, they have an almost "pagan" quality, but that's okay; Christmas was originally
a pagan celebration. ...4,000 years ago at least.
You shouldn't have too much trouble finding those on eBay or at flea markets, antique
shops - etc. Most of us collectors are trying to find the stuff Mom threw away, and
these are of the late 50's to early 60's, I think....They even made large ones of
wood and mirrors that had built-in lights in the '60s. And you are right - they do
have a proscenium stage-like quality about them,
I will pass this e-mail along to the gang . We don't have IGA in this area,
but others might. A good source of luffah is always welcome.
Thanks again, and I hope you'll revisit the site often.
Best regards, Ted
June 03,'06
I have enjoyed your web site so much. My husband and I are making a village with some of
Martha Stewarts 2005 December article influencing us only because we don't know what we
are doing, but looking forward to many years of a fun hobby. Keep your web site up! I am
going to need a lot of pictures and advise to learn all I can.
Happy Holidays all year long, Val hanks, Blackduck, Minnesota
Feb.22,'06
Have collected for myself for 20 years and still have @ 40.I have given @30 to
my daughter and a neice who also love them.. I remembered then from my mother
using them under the tree every year from 1920's on. Do you remember how they
smelled in the early days when they got hot?? We used to have to turn the lights out before they caught on fire.
I remember they used to sell sheets of replacements for the doors and
windows . I sure wish they did again! Do you know if they still do. Please let
me know if you know anyplace I could buy some. Just love your collection. At
first used to find at garage sales and yard sales for 50 cents!
Thank you. L. Carolyn Sitler
Feb.03,'06
Papa Ted: I probably should have asked your permission now that I think about it
. Please forgive me. I love your site and go there often. What a thrill to see a
ll your research and hard work. A wealth of information. Hopefully I did not
cause you any heartburn. I truly just wanted everyone to have a source for
repairing and cherishing their houses. Blessings to you and yours. Keep up the
good work. Jon aka Christmasdude.
No no no, Jon! I don't mind a bit, in fact i appreciate it!
You have no idea how many people use my material without even crediting the
source. Site fans are always alerting me to these, and it kind of hurts because
I don't mind. I just want to spread the word. - PT
Jan.31,'06
Cathie De La Rosa wrote:
Well, I am so excited and surprised to have found "my little houses" on e-bay
and then to find a link to your site that told me so much about them.
Like many they were a part of Christmas for me. My grandmother put them out every
year with (barclay skaters!) and I loved them. Over time, my Mom got them and
then last Christmas I found them in a box in her loft (she never put them out
anymore!) and so with a little whining about how much I loved them and how sad
that they weren't out and they came home with me! I must say they were "tired"
and in need of some care so I fixed the missing windows with red cello (now I
know where to get real windows!) and carefully reglittered with original colors
and they were ready to be used again.
So, my husband thinks I've gone crazy because this is now my collection I am
working on. I was in the attic getting down the box to examine what I have (about
a dozen houses and assorted barclay skaters and Santa) I always thought these
houses were a magical gift but now I know even more! What a wonderful history.
I appreciate all your research and having pictures from different decades as
well as the magazines (I've even seen ornaments that my grandmother had and now
I have some of!) I want to be a "savvy" shopper and not spend on a house just
because it's the "thing" right now. So it has helped me tremendously while
looking on e-bay. I keep both windows open to your site and where I'm looking
and compare to see what is what. This has been so helpful!
I feel like a true super slueth! And to think that my style house were all I
thought there was! Finally, I have located a house that I believe is from the
30's. I think so because it has the preacher figurine(looks like one) in the
yard by a church with a unique steeple and a cross on top. It looks just like
the ones in the magazines and pictures you have shown. Can you tell me what
would be a reasonable price to purchase it for? It does need repair in some
areas. I would love to add it to my collection and I feel fairly certain it is
from this time period. Any input you have would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again for sharing with so many all of your work!
Cathie De La Rosa
Jan.25,'06:
Dear Papa Ted,
Many thanks for sharing your knowledge of these wonderful houses we love so dearly
(And in many cases - pay too much to aquire.)You website is a true joy and I see
something different, or see something in a different "light" everytime I visit.
Wishing you much happiness, love, joy and peace in 2006!
Janet Watt - Columbia, SC.
From a special Christmas Card,'05:
We have all been blessed with Papa Ted's Place. Such a gift of the "Magic Window"
that touches our childhood memories of Christmas all year. God Bless you in the
New Year.
Love, Cathi & Jim
Jan.09,'06:
Well, I took the plunge and decided to list some of the houses I fixed on ebay
and I have received about 10 emails a day for the past week asking where I got
the windows, so I tell them all ... proceed with caution ... once you see this
site you will love putz houses more than ever! Hope you don't mind I gave out
your web-site to all these folks, but hey, if it will keep you printing windows,
I'm all for it!!! If you like, I can just provide your mailing address and
tell them to send for your sample pack but I wouldn't want to do that without
your permission. Let me know your thoughts.
Judi
Thanks, Judi! - Heck, no! I sure don't mind you
referring people to the website, in fact I TRULY appreciate it! Word-of-mouth
is the best kind of advertising there is. There are SO MANY websites out there;
I am like one tiny little cork bobbing on an ocean of millions of other tiny
little corks. It took 3 years to reach 1,000 on the visits counter. but after
that it started to snowball. I got 20,000 this year. Don't send them my
e-mailing address; I am constantly answering questions that would have been
easliy answered if people had read the website. Just refer them to the main
site and tell them to click on "REPRODUCTION PARTS."
-Ted
Jan.07,'06:
I saw your website in Martha Stewart. I can't even begin to tell you how much
I enjoyed "wandering" around your site. I love those putz houses. Would you
know if there are any other books about them. I would love to learn how to
make them. I certainly will bookmark your site as a "favorite".....by the way,
love the music!!!! I just sent this site to my dad who is going to be 86 in
March....he'll love it.
Thanks again.....Sue
Thank you, Sue! Sorry, but no - I know of no other books
on this subject. When I started the site 6 years ago there were tons of books on
ornaments, vintage Xmas lights, toys and trains, but nothing on the little houses.
That's why I took the project on. We learn a little more each year.- "Papa" Ted
Jan.03,'06:
So Beautiful!
just wanted to tell you how wonderful Karl's houses are! My Mom had about 15 of
them - couldn't wait to have them put out at Christmas time. She has passed
and now they are mine - so many memories! I love the ones here and would like
to expand the scenes - have a birthday coming up and will let hubby and the kids
know about your site. Thanks so much for keeping this alive and doing it so
well.... amazing! Linda Gately
Dec.21,05:
Dear Papa Ted,
I am 27 and have been collecting and researching Putz houses intensely for the
last 1.5years looking for others and ways to display them. I have always grew
up with them, my grandma had them and then my dad took them over when she pasted
and he has a giant village on top of an old library table and he has two
satelites, one on top of their entertainment center and one in the window. He
has collected them for years, being an antique enthusiest and my brother and I
would always help him pick some out at the antique shows we would go to. I move
d away and now live in Oregon and have spent a couple Christmases alone and
decide to start my own village.
Your website is truly awesome!!!! I am so excited that I finaly stumbled
upon it. I had no idea what to call certain things and how many different types
of houses there are. I would like to send you pictures of my village, but I
will have to wait untill after Christmas(I have to wait for my wife to open her
digital camera). I am encouraging my Dad to send you pictures of his village
in Iowa. Our villages are similar in set up being that he was my inspiration.
It is good to know that your site is there for everyone even though I wasn't
around in the day of the dimestore I really appreciate the art of the little houses.
Thanks
Brian Bloodgood
That's wonderful, Brian! No kid who has grown up with
a putz at Christmas will ever forget it, or want his own kids to miss it.
There is a great ressurgence! I would love to see those pictures! For your own
sake, too - try to get pictures of your Dad's while you can.- "Papa" Ted
Dec, 21,'05:
Merry Christmas Ted. Today is Winter Solstice. We will only get a few hours of
sunlight today if that. I had woke early to finish writing back to the last
children who wrote Santa Letters. We don't have postmen here, so I have to get
them in their mailboxes so they can be picked up before Christmas Eve. This one
letter I must share with you. She had dropped her little pink envelope into the
Santa Mailbox early, Inside she had written in lovely printing that she would
like a new packback because her old Winnie the Pooh backpack had a hole in it
and her skates kept on poking through. I smiled to myself and thought no problem
. Till I turned the letter over and NO RETURN ADDRESS! Just thanks Yuuka. On no
I thought, What now. So I said a little prayer that the information I needed
would come to me in the right time and waited. In the meantime I asked everyone
I knew if they knew any families with a little girl named Yuuka. Nothing. Well
yesterday I looked for the last time in the Santa Box and what do I see at the
bottom of the box, the same familiar little pink envelope and lovely printing!
Thankyou God. Someone maybe her or her parents or Yuuka herself had figured out
since Santa hadn't written back yet. Maybe there was a problem and had sent me
another letter with the information Santa needed. I quickly opened the letter
and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Little Yuuka wrote Dear Santa, Forget
the backpack. I got one. Please send me a new clock. Still no return address or
even a last name. I left work that day wishing things had worked out different
but wished I could write back to Yuuka. Just as I turned the corner, I bumped
into a nurse I don't really know who works at the doctors office. As a last
resort I told her who I was and what I was doing. As soon as I told her about
the little girl with the unsual name, she said Oh I know that family, I think
they live in Lake Louise. Thankyou God. Bye for now Love Karen
Lovely story, Karen! It sounds as if you're far enough north to
hand-carry those letters to Santa himself! Where are you writing from?- "Papa" Ted
(Banff, Alberta, Canada)
Dec.17,'05:
Dear Ted, Merry Christmas. I imagine this is a very busy time of year for you.
Me too. After we last spoke I built myself a putz ! Will send pictures as soon
as I can get someone I know to take digital pictures. I took my post-war putz
down to the Canadian Legion and started to set it up when everyone oohed and
awed and talked about their memories at Christmas. The special reward that
building and creating bring. I also write back to all the children in town who
write Santa. Their letters are priceless. I know that as soon as everyone sees
my houses the phone will start ringing for them up here in the mountains but I
would really like to partner with you. Let's talk after the holiday. May this
e find you and yours healthy and happy. Love Karen
Gee, Karen! You must save the best of those and perhaps
share them with us? I'd start a whole new section for that!" - "Papa" Ted
Dec.15,'05:
I’ve been thinking that it’s about time for me to start my own collection.
Those cardboard houses were always there for Caroline and me during Christmas,
and it’s about time that I brought them into my own house now. That was one of
the best arts of the season…pulling the boxes out of the attic and setting up
the putz. Can’t let a tradition like that die. I really have to purchase a
batch from Karl once the season dies down for him. The craftsmanship he puts
into those things is astounding… what a labor of love! His creations would
still be a deal at twice the price. Seriously, he should raise his prices.
I think my two favorites are the pink hacienda and ‘The Blue House.’ Those in
particular are absolutely amazing in color palette and structure. He could get
a masters from any design school with creations like those. It is amazing what
all these ‘post-martha’ collectors are dishing out on ebay! You should put
some junkers up to reel in a quick dollar or two. Get those rembrandt lights
out! Man, I wish I had the expendable income to drop $500 on Christmas houses!
(I’d probably spend it flying to Belize instead though!… escape this bitter
Ohio cold for a minute or two!)
Well, all my love and wishes for continued success with the site! By the way,
great new piece by the b&w girl staring up at the Christmas tree.
Your diehard liberal nephew,
-Chris
Thanks, Chris! - and Happy Holidays! You of all
people would do a resounding putz, I know! And if wee-Chrislets ever occur, you
wouldn't want them to miss it! Love, Uncle "Papa" Ted
Dec 13,'05:
Dear Ted,
I saw your name mentioned in Martha Stewart magazine and had to view your site.
Gee! I loved looking at all your houses and those that others have sent pictures to share.
I would like to be on your email list and thankyou for that. Now, I have spent too much time looking at all the great stuff
when I have to wake in four hours ha ha.
I bought a complete set of some old Montgomery Ward houses in the original red striped
box at a thrift store quite a few years ago for twenty dollars. The cord has a "tax tag" on it(like the ones on the old
playing cards). Now I forget if it says Made in Occupied Japan or just Occupied Japan.
Anyway, this story is both sad and funny. The set was pristine and it had lots of those batting figures with
the foil accents on the clothes and hats. After displaying it for Christmas, I placed it back in the attic.
The next year I brought it down, opened it up, and mice had eaten ONLY the foil parts. Little hats now with
nibble marks, etc. I'm 52 and when I found that set in the thrift shop, it was all I ever wanted. The same year
I also found an original, in the box, never used, cardboard fake fireplace. Remember those? Now that I'm working FT, I don't have time
to go to the shops. That sure was fun. I didn't see on your site replacement foil...have you ever been asked for that
before?
Thanks for putting your houses on view. The prices you showed for some houses on eBay are too funny.
Sincerely,
Amanda Hutts
Gee, Amanda!
I've run into a lot of mouse-nibbles before , but they were always around the
cardboard door and widows edges. The mice were after the old animal glue used
to keep the paper or cellophane doors and windows in place. I never in my life
have heard of mice eating tinfoil! So, no! Nobody has ever asked me for foil
before. Sorry! - "Papa" Ted
Happy Holidays!
-"Papa" Ted
Dec.12,'05:
Hi, I just found your site from MS magazine. Looking through your photos and
infomation which is facinating, I found Mr. Alleger's christmas pictures of his
village when he was 3. It is so much like one my aunt had when I was little,
(I was born in 1946) that it brought tears to my eyes. How I loved that little
village around her little fake tree set on a table which was covered with the
same paper bricks Mr. Alleger shows. My aunt had no children, but I don't know
what ever happened to all the little snowy scenes she had. Thank you for such
a nice memory. B. Bade
Dec.08,'05
Dear Papa Ted. Love your site. Like going back to my childhood. Wonderful.
When you get a chance you might change "heard" of celluloid deer to "herd."
This isn't criticism! The rest of the site is perfect! Karen Kinnane
Dec.08,'05:
Ted,
Well its beginning to look a lot like Christmas ......
Don't know if you remember me but I'm the guy who had the website "Hartney
Family Putzs"! You helped me by giving me a "show" on your site and also some
valuable advice on website setup and management. I peruse your site regularly
and it has been fun watching it grow and prosper. I see where you have given up
on the guest book -- me too. You had helped me set mine up and it did OK for
about 6 months then the pornographers set in and I just eliminated it. What a
shame. My putz goes up this weekend and I'm in the midst of updating my website
at http://www.toytrains.4t.com. Pls visit if you get a chance.
Keep up the good work and have a Merry Christmas, - Jim Hartney
Dec. 07,05:
I ordered this kit of little houses from the Christmas JC Penney catalog in
either 1974 or 1975 for $9.95 (lights included).I have it intact today. I
almost threw it out til I learned it was my son and daughter's fondest memory
Christmas item. It was in pretty bad shape from years of display so last year
I refurbished the glitter and it looks "brand new"
I was reading the Martha Stewart magazine at the hospital today, wrote down
your website and was awed to see my glitter houses on your site. -M. Calvey
Dec.03,'05
You have a most wonderful site! I have been searching for information on how
to make some of these little 'fairy houses' as my daughter calls them. I
stumbled across your site and have bookmarked it for frequent visits. I was
born in 1967 and agree with your daughter that the "American Christmas" is
alive and well. We live in a small Western New York town which still has a
town caroling and tree decorating party every year at the town hall and
community center. Ours will be today starting with a day of fun for town
children, caroling, reindeer to pet, a decorated tractor and truck/car parade
on Main Street and then Santa will come for pictures. While so much of the
world marches quickly, without a backward glance, towards future technologies
and gizmos we remain true to our heritage. That includes Christmas ( and many
other items of both holiday and daily use) decorations which have a long and
colorful history from generation to generation. Many have been repaired many
times and handled by so many children that the colors are rubbed off.
Unfortunately I have no miniature homes for our elves to inhabit but I am
going to make several for a mantel display even if it takes me until next
Christmas- or beyond- to do.
While I have no information to share on these houses I wanted to tell you how much my visit to your site has encouraged me to figure out how to make a variety of these in different styles from simple to hopes of a castle and perhaps more.
Happy holidays and good wishes on the book.
Jeanne Kacprowicz
Marilla, NY
Dec.02,'05
Hi,
i just saw the Martha Stewart article. I LOVE YOUR HOUSES. My grandma and
grandpa had quite a few little tree ornaments that I always loved, then one
year, a "well meaning" relative fixed their tree up with all new ornaments and
the houses disappeared. Somehow, one larger church survived!! I got my hands
on it and keep it out year round! I don't know why, but the simplicity of
these houses warms my heart.
Anyway, long story - my grandparents are now deceased, and I was too young and naive to get the background info on many things in their lives, including the little church. Do you happen to know anything about these? You seem very knowledgeable about these houses. Here is a photo I found on ebay of a church that looks identical to mine.
Thanks for all the info that may have.
Vicki
Dec.02,05
Ted -
Just wanted to tell you once again how
much I enjoy your perspective on things.
What you wrote in one of your forwarded
e-mails about Santa Claus, how he is
more "real" than what is supposed to be
real, is a good example of what I'm
referring to in this sincere compliment.
Therefore, I am doubly appreciative of
your e-mails, since they share what you
are telling other people and your heart-
felt conclusions and analyses come
through from a different viewpoint than
one usually finds. You really are an
exceptional thinker, a person who thinks
with his heart. I hope there are moments
in your life when you sense your parents
around, looking in at you, or that they
appear in dreams for you.
Anyway, Big Kid, thanks for all the
sharing.
Take care.
-Little Kid T.
Nov.30,'05
KACEY COMINI-SHERROD wrote:.........The "SECRET ELVES!"
JOYEUX NOEL EVERYBODY!
Happy Holidays. I know Christmas is almost here when I have to go rooting
through the attic at 6am on the day after Thanksgiving (before the kids wake
up). We have a tradition in my family where I secretly put out these old 50's
knee-hugging elves to watch over Henry and Royce. These magic elves send
reports back to Santa, of course. They only look plastic, and the made in Japan
stickers on their butts are just disguises. They really do come from the
North Pole. It keeps the boys on their toes. (Henry is sworn to secrecy about
the fact that Santa is really mom - upon penalty of death) I'm hoping to keep
Royce believing in Santa for one or two more years. He's been running around
for days with the Target toy catalog and a pen in his fist.
love,
kaceybaby
Yay, Kacey!
With us it used to be the Ward's Christmas Wishbook, the Western Auto Holiday
Flyer, and the one from Firestone -which 10 1/2 months of the year was nothing but a
boring tire store , but which for Christmas sold Lionel, American Flyer, and
Erector Sets and had them all set up and running in a dazzling, roaring display.
I know I still have a noseprint on that Mainstreet Russell, Kansas window to
this day. In- delible!
.....I collect old Christmas Wishbooks when I can find them, and it's always
amazing to me to find them at all. Any that have survived must have been sent
to childless people, because ours were in worse shape than the Dead Sea Scrolls
when Christmas FINALLY rolled around! - P.T.
Copyright 2000-2012 Theodore H. Althof,Jr.Except where noted, the contents of this website and all it's pages and submissions therein contained are the intellectual property of Theodore H.Althof,Jr. All rights are reserved. (Background musical selections are,of course, excepted.)
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