By Staff on December 25, 2009

A Christmas compendium

Readers of the Livingston County News have enjoyed seeing photos of local residents celebrating the Christmas season. Here's a complete selection of those photos, including some that did not make it into the paper.

Hometown Holidays in Caledonia

Hometown Holidays in Caledonia celebrated its 20 year of old fashioned holiday fun Dec. 5 and Sally Santora was there with her camera. Traditional Celtic music at First Presbyterian Church on Friday night kicked off the weekend followed by breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning, a tree lighting in front of the fire hall, craft sale, lunch at Big Springs Museum and the highlight of the day – a parade down Main Street with Santa Claus himself in a horse-drawn sleigh!

The afternoon offered self-guided tours at the museum, rollerskating, a book fair at school and a spaghetti supper at St. Columba Church.  Girl Scouts completed the fun day with traditional caroling throughout the village streets.

Click on a thumbnail below to see a slideshow, with images by Sally Santora.

Santa arrives at Caledonia's Hometown Holidays by horse drawn sleigh, driven by David Ayers of Ayers Farm.
Village Board members Jerry O’Donoghue and Scott DiLiberto and their sons Evan and Matthew, Theresa Truman, Mayor Joe Caluorie and Aileen Ayers, organizer of Hometown Holidays, celebrating the annual lighting of the Caledonia Christmas tree.
The Girl Scouts were in the parade and later caroled throughout the streets during Caledonia's Hometown Holidays.
Kelley’s Heroes, Santa Claus’ favorite marching band, parades toward the fire hall during Caledonia's Hometown Holidays.

High school euphonium players Garret Meier and Melanie Johnson perform holiday music for the tree lighting at Caledonia's Hometown Holidays.
Macrina Platt makes friends with Santa Claus as she tells him what she would like for him to bring her this Christmas during Caledonia's Hometown Holidays.

Meanwhile, in Mount Morris, people in Victorian finery sat down to dinner at the Mills Mansion.

Ford Best’s trumpeting on the porch of Mills Mansion as guests arrived set the stage for lively chatter during a candlelight dinner at the historical society’s home. Evergreen branches, holly and Osage oranges adorned the fireplace mantles of the mansion, creating a festive holiday atmosphere.

Christmas trees, decorated in 19th century tradition, under which were toys typical of that time—for example: a bag of clay marbles, something that wouldn’t be found under today’s tree!

The Mills Mansion, located at the north end of the Mount Morris business district, is a Federalist style house built in 1838 by General William A. Mills, the first-known white (non-native) settler in Mount Morris, who arrived in 1795.

A week later, on Dec. 12, Mount Morris opened its doors downtown for a Christmas celebration.

The 20 degree temperature didn’t discourage the revelers. One could feel the merriment in the large crowd. The 4th annual Christmas in Mount Morris celebration had some of the same features as in previous years: lighting of the official Christmas tree at Patriots Park; refreshments by candlelight at the Mills Mansion; horse-drawn carriage rides; taped Christmas music by Angelo Callaro Entertainment and a manger scene; of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

New this year were carolers from SUNY Geneseo and Barbershop singers, some from Mount Morris, including Mayor Long. Other firsts featured a retail setup in two storefronts where vendors sold their wares to Christmas shoppers. And all but a few storefronts were decorated with Christmas lights! Spirit is soaring in Mount Morris.

Click on a thumbnail below to see a slideshow, with images by Tony D'Imperio.

Joan Glanville, center, keeping the 19th century in vogue, chats with Kathy Stewart, right, and daughter Ami Harris during cordials' time.
General and Mrs. William A. Mills---aka reenactors Heather and Richard Barker---with pride in the Mills Mansion Christmas tree.
The 20 degree temperature didn’t discourage the revelers. One could feel the merriment in the large crowd. The 4th annual Christmas in Mount Morris celebration last Saturday evening had some of the same features as in previous years: lighting of the official Christmas tree at Patriots Park; refreshments by candlelight at the Mills Mansion; horse-drawn carriage rides; taped Christmas music by Angelo Callaro Entertainment and a manger scene; of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus. New this year were carolers from SUNY Geneseo and Barbershop singers, some from Mount Morris, including Mayor Long. Other firsts featured a retail setup in two storefronts where vendors sold their wares to Christmas shoppers. And all but a few storefronts were decorated with Christmas lights!
One of the three kings, along with shepards and angels.

Drusilla Coggeshall and Vern Hart in their 19th Century finery at entrance to Allegiance Antiques.
Jeff and Margaret Swanson, admiring an Osage Orange Tree fruit decoration by Louise Michaud. Osage Orange Trees are plentiful as a fence line on the Swanson Farm, Begole Road, Town of Mt. Morris. The trees are rare in this area, but a common sight in the Great Plains, where they were planted as 'living fences.'
Vendor Craig Lovejoy ready for a sale of his painted Christmas drawings on wood during Christmas in Mount Morris.

Throughout the county, volunteers rang the bell at the Salvation Army Red Kettle. These two groups participated at the Tops Supermarket in Avon.

Members of the Avon Police Department helped ring the bell for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive at the Tops Supermarket.
The Vonglis family, including Andrew, Tammy, Chase and Cole helped ring the bell at the Avon Tops Supermarket as part of the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign.

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