In the early 1950s my great grandmother, Irene Larkins Risko, made a Christmas stocking for me. My stocking was made of green corduroy. On the stocking was a Santa, train, church, drum, toy soldier, teddy bear, and a Christmas tree, made from different colors of felt. A small section of colored plastic created the look of stained glass windows for the church. Sequins adorned the drum and Christmas tree. The wheels of the train were created with two different sizes of buttons. The teddy bear has appliqued paws, and Santa had furry material for his beard and his hat. It looks like the stocking may have been made from a store bought kit. Grandma Irene, who lived at 146 East Market Street, was within walking distance of three dime stores in downtown Sandusky. Neisner Brothers was just across the street on East Market Street, and around the corner on Columbus Avenue there was an S.S. Kresge and an F.W. Woolworth store.
Though Gram Irene made a stocking for me and my brother, by the time my baby sister came along, she had suffered a stroke, and she could not do any more sewing, crocheting, or other craft projects very easily. Mom hung the two handmade stockings up year after year at our house, and the next four children in our family had stockings from the store. "Santa" filled all the stockings, whether they were homemade or store-bought! Now my baby sister has custody of the stockings of all the six Orshoski children, and she often graciously hosts the family gatherings at the holiday time. Great Grandma Irene passed away on September 17, 1961. I think she would be pleased that the stockings she made still make an appearance every Christmas season!
*This blog post was written for the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories hosted by Geneabloggers.
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