![]() Some would scale Irving Cliff- carvings and dates of a hundred years back attest to that. Like every other boy in town, Dick could walk to school, to church, or wherever else boys would go. Honesdale High School was only a block up Church Street, between the Presbyterian and Methodist churches. Margaret (Kreitner) Morrison, who was a long time school nurse, said Dick showed a gift for piano from his school days. A few years ago, the writer was able to interview a couple of Dick’s classmates- who have since passed away. In the house sat an upright piano where we are sure young Dick Smith found fascination with the music and likely started making up his own little songs. ![]() Sadly, Dick was only about age 7 or 8 when his father died. We’d like to say his minister was “Parson Brown” but actually in his boyhood his minister was the Rev. One can easily imagine Eliza wrapping up her little ones in scarfs, mittens and coats, and heading down to church on Christmas Eve where luminary would be set out to greet the worshippers. He had a brother “Change” (Warren), and two sisters, Marjorie and Marion. Smith, who was partner with a local cut glass manufacturing plant, and served on the Episcopal Church Vestry. The Smiths went to Grace Episcopal Church, a half block down the street. Those same arching tree limbs would have been quite a sight laden with freshly fallen snow, outside Dick Smith’s bedroom window. Marjorie once recalled to the writer about the great trees that once lined Church Street on both sides, giving shade to the streets that also became quite muddy, she added. Nick was as expected by children of Dick’s day probably as much as today (although Rudolph had not yet joined the herd). People would go about singing carols, Christmas trees were lit with candles, and St. Dick’s sister Marjorie told the writer she loved to skate there. In addition to the snowy park, in those days children enjoyed ice skating on “Park Lake,” a wide, dammed section of the Lackawaxen River along 12th Street. One-horse open sleighs were not yet nostalgic images for calendars or Christmas cards, but were still a way people got about especially in the countryside in those winter days when snow measurements were legendary as compared to today.Įlectric lights and phones had recently become a reality. A 1906 issue reported that automobile drivers were a menace to horses and farmers’ wives coming to town. When Dick Smith was born, streets were still a few years from being paved with brick, but cars were starting to appear. Honesdale was a full member of the new day of the 20th Century. An editorial was found, however, lamenting that some local citizens would board the Erie train in Honesdale and go to New York City to shop for Christmas, rather than cater to any of the fine stores lining our bustling Main Street. Honesdale was prospering with merchants and mills, somehow surviving without any mall. There was no Christmas Star on the cliff in Dick Smith’s time, but what was Christmas like in his boyhood days?Ī look at editions of The Wayne Independent around a hundred years ago gives some idea. Indeed, growing up across from Honesdale’s main park provided any boy or girl with a lovely “front yard.” In those days building snowmen were much more common, as well making snow forts and having snowball fights. Marjorie always said her brother was inspired by the winter scenes in the park, when he wrote “Winter Wonderland.” She kept the Smith homestead until the early 90’s, and always admired the beautiful Central Park right across the street. Smith was the last surviving member of the family, who died in 1997. His inspiration was firmly rooted in the place of his nativity. This highly talented lyricist, whose expectations were as bright as the glistening snowflakes he penned in his trademark song, lived only a brief life of 34 years. When just a toddler, four years after, he and his family moved over to 922 Church Street, which remained in the family for the next 85 years. that Dick Smith was born, Septemon Court Street. Keeping the legend alive, here goes our annual tribute to Dick Smith and his song, “Winter Wonderland,” the holiday song Wayne County can claim as its very own. Parson Brown would be a fine name for your next snowman, especially if you have any connection with Honesdale or Wayne County, Pa.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |