Account of an early Watson Christmas written by Elma Underwood Easterly. She was borm in 1885, in Pine Grove, and the family moved to Watson when she was 5 years old. She was one of 11 children of John Zachary and Rebecca Hill Underwood. Her twin sister was Ethel Underwood Hancock.
"We enjoyed Christmas. It was so different from today (1962). I well remember our first Christmas tree, held in Live Oak Church. Brother Walter cut a large Holly tree filled with red berries and put it up in the church. Sister Posie helped him decorate it with strings of popcorn, little candles, and tinsel. Oh! It looked so pretty when lighted. We were kept out of hearing until dark enough to light the candles and Santa Claus came. Our eyes were amazed when we were let in to see Santa and receive our gifts he had for us.
At home, my Father had the boys build big bonfires out on the lawn. On Christmas Eve we were allowed to play around the bonfire until 9:30pm when we were called in for bed so Santa Claus could come. This group included my two brothers Willie and Clarence, my sister Ethel and myself. Santa would leave us an orange, a big red apple, nuts, candy, bunch of raisins and always a China Doll in the top of our stocking. Christmas' in those days were for the children. The adults enjoyed the delicious dinner. We always had turkey for Mother raised her own turkeys. She so often dressed one and would send it to a sick person or some poor shut-in not able to fix a dinner. It gave her joy to be able to do for others. i really believe children were happier and more contented than now. We didn't expect much and were happy with what we received."
Picture Above Front row: Frances Mayo Sistrunk, Billy Corcoran, Lynette Corcoran Quirk, Michael Underwood, Marlon Robinson. Second Row: Raymond Addison, Faye Underwood Gunter, Fulton Underwood holding Vetra Underwood Wilson, Grandmother Laura Curtis Underwood, Elousie Underwood Jones. Third row: Annice Ruth Jones Addison (behind Faye) Fourth row: Sharon Robinson Phares, Norma Rae Robinson Fugler, Shelly Jones Strobel, Martha Lee Underwood Robinson, Volida Robinson. Fifth row: Bill Mayo, Eunice Miller Underwood, Evelyn Underwood Mayo. Back row: James Addison, Elmus Addison, Malcolm Underwood holding Malvin Underwood, Hugh Page Underwood, Don Gunter, John Williams Jones.
Bits of Livingston Parish History shared by Mrs. Shelly Strobel.
Mrs. Shelly Strobel sends us more wonderful bits of history of LIvingston Parish. She writes, "This is my grandfather, Willie Underwood (also the father of Fulton and Malcolm Underwood). He is pictured here in his LSU cadet uniform. He later served as principal of Live Oak School, and as the school board member from Watson. He also worked as a farmer, a surveyor, and engineer. He was awarded the contract to build the first mile and half of Hwy 16 from "downtown" Watson to the Hunstock place. All the other roads in this area were winding and curvey. He decreed that his 1 1/2 miles would be straight. Instead of following the established cow paths, he used dynamite to remove trees and clear the way for the new road. Even today, as you drive from Hunstock Hills to Watson, you can still see how straight Hwy 16 is! He was also instrumental in bringing electricity to this area. When the REA (Rural Electrification Association) was created, he went house to house soliciting subscribers. It was during the depression in the 1930's, and the $5 subscription fee was hard to come by. The requirement was that a set number of families per mile had to subscribe before the lines would be run. It took quite a while to convince enough people for this to work! The lights finally came on in Watson on Christmas Eve, 1939. Sadly, Grandfather had died the day before, and the lights came on in time to light up the house for his wake."
Hunstock Family and Willie Underwood upon the completion of the first 1 1/2 miles of Hwy 16 from Denham Springs to Watson. Willie is second from the right, on the front row, wearing a dark hat.
Mrs. Shelly adds "Here's my grandmother, Laura Curtis Underwood, (the mother of Fulton and Malcolm Underwood) in her basketball uniform in 1910. The skirt was blue wool, and reached the top of her high top shoes. The over blouse (called a middy blouse) was of the same fabric, with the big sailor collar and elbow-length sleeves. They played on an outdoor dirt court, six girls on a team. The forwards stayed on one end, and the guards on the other. The belief was that girls were not strong enough to run up and down the entire court!
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Thursday, February 2
Lights, Camera, Relay! This year's theme for the Livingston Parish Relay For Life will be Lights, Camera, Relay! Each team is asked to choose a movie or TV show and dress up, decorate and have activities related to that theme the night of the relay. Attend captains' meetings for information, prizes, food. Relay for Life will be held March 23, 2012, at Denham Springs High School from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Show times will be held at City Hall at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 2, March 1 and April 5. Visit www.relayforlife.org/livingstonla. For more information, contact Amy Douglas at amy.douglas@cancer.org, 767-4554 or 966-4645.
Saturday, February 4
Walker Mardi Gras Parade The Walker Mardi Gras Parade will be held Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. There will be floats, antique cars, horseback riders, marching bands, dancers and more. There is no fee to enter. You can walk, pull a little red wagon, drive a golf cart or ATV, or ride in a truck or trailer or on a float. All participants must fill out an entry form at walker.la.us/MardiGras.html or call 665-4356. All participants should line up at Walker High School at 11 a.m. on the day of the parade. The parade will begin at Walker High School and travel east on Burgess Ave. to Hwy 447. It will then travel south on Hwy 447 one block to Florida Blvd. The parade will head west on Florida to Palmetto St., where it will travel north to Burgess, returning to the high school. A map of the route is available online at walker.la.us/MardiGras.html.
Free Youth Rally Gray's Creek Baptist Church, Hwy. 16 South, Denham Springs, will hold a free youth rally on Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. at the church's Family Life Center. The event will feature the Crusaders Ministry, Singing Quartet adn powerful testimony from those who were previously addicted to drugs before finding Christ. All area youth invited and a meal will be provided. For more information, call Brant Clayton at 978-3284.
Saturday, February 11
Mardi Gras Boat Parade The St. Jude Krewe of Diversion Mardi Gras Boat Parade will be held Feb. 11 at noon on the Diversion Canal under Hwy 22 and ends at Manny's. An auction will be held at Manny's after the parade. Boats and costumes will be judged for first, second, and third place. Pre-registration is required on Feb. 10 at Manny's at 6:30 p.m. $35 per boat. All proceeds will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Call David or Vivian Stevens at 698-3127.
