PUTZ STYLE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

OUR FAMILY GOT ONE OF THESE PUTZ-STYLE CARDBOARD CHRISTMAS VILLAGES AROUND 1969. WE DISPLAYED IT UNDER OUR TREES THAT YEAR AND THE NEXT. FOR SOME REASON AFTER THAT IT WAS RELAGATED TO MY SISTER'S BEDROOM. WELL IN 1993 I MOVED BACK HOME FROM TENNESSEE. I ASKED MY MOTHER IF I COULD HAVE THAT VILLAGE SINCE IT JUST SAT IN A BOX FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. SHE SAID YES. I'VE DISPLAYED IT, OR PARTS OF IT EVERY YEAR SINCE. HOWEVER LONG AGO THE ORIGINAL BOX IT CAME IN, AND THE ELECTRICAL LIGHT STRING DISAPPEARED. SO I'D ALWAYS KEPT IT IN AN OLD COWBOY BOOT BOX, AND USED A MINI-LIGHT STRING TO LIGHT THE BUILDINGS WITH.

THIS PAST SUMMER I HAPPENED ACROSS AN IDENTICAL SET STILL IN THE ORIGINAL BOX, AND ONE SMALL FORTUNE LATER IT IS NOW MINE. IT IS GOING TO HAVE A PLACE IN A NICE SMALL VILLAGE ON OUR HUTCH THIS YEAR. HERE ARE THE PHOTOS OF THE SET (INCLUDING THE FIRST PHOTO OF THE LAST YEAR IN 1972 THAT IT WAS EVER PUT ON DISPLAY IN OUR HOME):

















AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE PHOTOS THE SET FROM THIS YEAR IS IDENTICAL TO THE SET WE GOT IN 1969. MY DAD COULDN'T REMEMBER WHERE IT CAME FROM, BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD PROBABLY EITHER SEARS OR WOOLWORTH'S. I'M NOT SURE WHO PRODUCED THIS SET. ALL IT SAYS ON THE BOX IS "MADE IN JAPAN", AND NO. 1041.

THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT EITHER ONE OF OUR PARENTS BEING ALIVE. SO THIS VILLAGE WILL BE LIT IN THEIR MEMORIES! I LOVE YOU BOTH MOM AND DAD!!!