To the editor,

Let's make a trip down memory lane of Christmases from years gone by on Main Street in Wareham. I have lived in Wareham for 66 years and the memories of Main Street will always be special to me.

I worked downtown for thirteen years. At Christmas time in the 40s and early 50s you could shop downtown instead of traveling to New Bedford.

We had Newman's women's store, Flora Phinney's Specialty Shop, Church and Stowell, Unwin the Jeweler, Packard Hardware, Cuddy's Shoe Store, Nolan's Drug Store, Water's Drug Store, Beryl Coyne's Card and Gift Shop, and Cobb's Card and Florist.

The most favorite for children was McLellan's dime store. So many items for so little. It was my children's favorite store to shop with grandpa.

For three weeks, Cornwell' store provided Christmas carols which were heard up and down Main Street. It was so Christmasy.

The stores stayed open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and everyone went shopping downtown. One Christmas Eve was exceptionally memorable.

It was Friday night at 9 p.m. and the stores were closing. It started snowing and the flakes were big and beautiful as they fell. With music in the background and huge snow flakes falling, everyone was joyfully wishing you a Merry Christmas, as they walked with arms loaded with Christmas presents. It was a Courier and Ives Christmas Eve on Main Street in Wareham.

Where has it all gone? I guess it is just in our memories. Oh for the good old days when we could shop Main Street and not travel or go far to a mall. Time marches on. That is progress, but memory never fades.

Bertha Bartlett

Wareham resident