Wellsboro, Pa., and how it saved Christmas
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Recently, I was reading about the little town of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, population 3,458 (2021) and the fact that it was a small community which had "gaslit" lamp posts down its Main Street.
Since I have enjoyed that old black and white mystery movie, "Gaslight" (1944) more than a few times, I’ve always been mesmerized by gaslit Victorian lamps.
Ingrid Bergman, who won an Oscar for best Actress in this film, helped to make the movie a fan favorite back in the day.
My curiosity was aroused, for sure, about Wellsboro and its Main Street of pleasing gaslit lamp posts; a visit was imminent.
A friend and tour guide to show me the sites
I had a friend (Ken Leasure, the 57 Chevy Man) who spent many relaxing days in his campsite at Morris, Pa., just miles away from Wellsboro; I requested he serve as my tour guide.
And off we went to the Pennsylvania Appalachian Mountains and Tioga County. He introduced me to his friends Jim, Steve and Barb, who made some of the best chili served at the Crossroads Tavern. He took me to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, some 1,450 feet deep, with a bottom gorge that spanned some 49 miles.
The nearby Duncan Tavern was also a unique stop, with antiques hanging from the walls and most friendly folk.
The town’s hotels were sold out because of the Charles Dickens’ ‘Christmas’ celebration of Dec. 2, where some 140 vendors would dot Main Street with their handmade goods.
Dickens’ impersonators paraded the streets too.
We spent the weekend residing in Ken’s camper at the Twin Streams campground while visiting the festivities.
Ken gave me a personal tour of Wellsboro and introduced me to many of his friends. Wellsboro was initially inhabited by settlers from Delaware, Maryland and Philadelphia.
It was named after Mary Wells, the wife of Benjamin Morris, who settled here in 1806.
In reviewing a November 2018 column by Ed Byers, I became aware that Wellsboro was given the title "The Town That Saved Christmas."
How Wellsboro earned this amazing recognition
You might be wondering, like me, just how this tiny village received such recognition.
May I share a bit of history with you?
Ed Byers explained in his column that during September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland and World War II had its beginning in Europe.
In short term, Byers continued, Wellsboro, Pa., would soon become known as "The Town That Saved Christmas" and Corning glass, a nearby industry, would "become America’s leading Christmas ornament supplier."
As a result of Germany’s invasion, the British fleet would now set up a blockade "to all imported goods from Europe which included manufactured glass Christmas tree ornaments popular in the United States."
A German immigrant by the name of Max Eckardt was a representative who directed the sales and distribution of his German-made ornaments. supplying Woolworth stores and others.
The British blockade had snuffed out the imports of all Christmas ornaments from Europe.
In an effort to remedy this problem Eckardt came up with a plan for the nearby Corning factory of Wellsboro to begin full production of tree ornaments called “Shiny Brites.”
"The Corning Plant, located in the Pine Creek Valley and PA Grand Canyon would soon begin to retrofit its glass bulb operations to manufacture Eckardt’s Christmas decorations.|
"In 1940 alone, Wellsboro’s Corning employees turned out more than 40 million of these colorful glass tree ornaments." These bright and colorful round spheres became most popular, and were produced there for several decades.
Soon that title, ‘Wellsboro, the Town That Saved Christmas’ became a lasting memory for the locals and our country during World War II and even today.
Even today, the presence of 'Shiny Brites' is felt
This whole notion of "brightness" at Christmas has evolved down through the ages as people come to celebrate Christmas.
Tales too of "only one bright shining star over Bethlehem was left in the sky" is recited in many homilies.
People decorate their trees still today with similar ornaments resembling those "Shiny Brites" of the Corning Manufacturing company.
Many people only use Christmas to spend money and deliver gifts, while others search more deeply for a bright light as a sign in a dark world of despair; a wish for peace and comfort; and a time to pause and reflect.
Recently, I remembered "a Celtic blessing of light":
"May the blessing of light be upon you; light without and light within";
And may light shine out of the eyes of you like a candle set in the windows of a house;
Bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.
The Christmas story of "Shiny Brites" represents a dazzling illuminous tale while others yet still follow a bright shiny star for salvation.
Me? I enjoyed the town that saved Christmas; I also enjoy the bright stars of heaven.
Merry Christmas!
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Wellsboro, Pa., and how it saved Christmas
