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Moments after Woodstock Square was lit.
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Note—In some ways this is a companion to the memoir story
about making street Christmas decorations in 1953 that I posted earlier
today. The same witness at 70.
The Friday after Thanksgiving features the lighting
of Woodstock Square for the holidays—always a magical event now in its 37th year that just keeps getting better.
The same night
nearby Crystal Lake, Illinois home
of the Murfin Estate also has a
major seasonal event—the night-time Christmas
Parade with the downtown dazzling
with white lights. When our children
were young my wife, Kathy
Brady-Murfin like to take them to the parade followed by hot cocoa, a visit to Santa in a hut
set up on Williams Street, and free horse drawn carriage or hay rides.
I seldom made
either event because I usually worked Friday evenings at the old Crystal Point Mall or later as a gas station and convenience store clerk, my second
jobs. But a few years ago I cut out
the Friday nights because I was still working my regular day job and the double hours were beginning to take a
toll. Since then we have made the
Woodstock event the kick-off to our Christmas
season. I always loved the Square in
any season and between attending the old Congregational Unitarian Church just two blocks away on Dean Street and working for Bob
Jackson at Oaktree Capital on Madison Street, I felt more connected
to the McHenry County Seat. We always met friends and folks I knew in
the crowd and several were usually in some way involved in the program.
This year Kathy
was in Batavia helping to lead an Advent retreat for the Sisters of the Holy Heart of Mary, the religious congregation she works for,
and my youngest daughter Maureen Rotter had
to work tending the boy she nannies before
and after school. But I was determined
to make it to Woodstock even though I am one of the world’s oldest non-drivers. Luckily, Maureen could drop me off before
heading to McHenry for her job. I sent out a quick Facebook request to see if I could hook up with any friends for a
lift home. If not, I planned to take the
8:48 Metra train to Crystal Lake and
hoof it home from there, about a
mile and a half stroll.
Maureen
deposited me a block from the Square—all car traffic was blocked off—about 5:30. The whole area was already teaming with crowds,
many adorned in Christmas lights or other seasonal
wear, bundled against the mid-30’s temperatures. There were many families with children including many in strollers and babes in arms or in chest
carriers. Teens raced around in
small groups laughing. Elderly couples strolled arm-in-arm. I walked through the still dark Square Park
stopping at the old pump house for a
free apple cider doughnut and small
cop of hot chocolate—they were doing
a brisk business.
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I encountered the Woodstock Community Choir caroling around the Square three or four times.
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I started my circuit of the perimeter of the Square at
Main Street walking in a counter clockwise direction. No hurry.
I stopped to scope out the windows of the open and buoys shops and took note that the restaurants and bars were all packed. I
first encountered members of the Woodstock
Community Choir near the new Ethereal
Confections location on Cass Street across
from the Old McHenry County Jail
with its Eugene V. Debs Historical Marker.
This year
instead of singing from risers in the Gazeebo
before the lighting ceremony, they were caroling around the Square under the direction of Cassandra Vohs-Demann. That was good because last year sound problems from being under-miced and howling winds made their performance almost inaudible. The choir included Tree of Life members Carrie MacDonald, Tom Steffens, and Beth
Hoover, who attracted attention with her Christmas tree hat. I
encountered the group three or four times as we moved around the Square.
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Beth Hoover sings in the choir in her one-of-a-kind Christmas tree hat.
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Next up was a
stop at the Old Court House, which
has been undergoing major renovation
and preservation. They were featuring a gingerbread house walk with dozens of entries ranging from simple projects by children—one, labeled the Elf
House had collapsed as if it had been struck by an earthquake—to very elaborate creations by decorations pros.
The Old Courthouse Arts Center was open—a very
nice gallery for local fine artists and crafts people. I was very happy to see a nice portrait of Bev Ganschow
hanging in the hall just outside the gallery.
Bev, a former member of the Congregational Unitarian Church, died last
summer at age 80. She and her husband Cliff saved the Old Courthouse from
being razed for a parking lot in 1973 by outbidding the
would-be developer by an eye lash. She opened the Arts Center and brought in
other tenants like the Old Jail House Restaurant
and the Chester Gould Dick Tracy
Museum. Over the decades the
Ganschows were unable to afford all of the necessary upkeep and preservation of
the 1854 building and the City of
Woodstock took over the building and are investing in restoration in the
hopes that a private buyer will ultimately find a use for it.
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I should have snapped a photo of Be Ganschow's portrait outside the Old Courthouse Arts Center, but I take lousy pictures.
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I stopped for a
glance at the life size nativity scene on
the lawn of the Old Court House. For many
years it was displayed in the Square Park, but in the 1980’s a law suit by atheists forced
its eviction from public property. There
was a lot of bitter complaining at the time, but after it was put up on the
private property of the Old Courthouse the kerfuffle
was quickly forgotten, although the Baby
Jesus was stolen (and recovered) one year.
Now the City owns the Courthouse but
so far there have been no new complaints.
It may be the lawn area is part of the rent for the Arts Center.
When I got to
the Opera House there was a long
line outside to get into view the Christmas
Tree Walk compounded by theater goers coming for the annual production of A Christmas Carrol. I decided to wait until after the
lighting ceremony to visit the popular annual attraction. I stopped to listen
to a small brass ensemble playing
holiday tunes on the corner and then continued on dropping in for quick visits
at Between the Lynes, the cozy and friendly independent book shop and my friend Ken West’s Material Things Artisan Market, a nice consignment shop featuring hand crafted
jewelry, decorative pieces, pottery, and ornaments.
I stopped
several times to say hello or chat with friends and acquaintances—and sometime total strangers. I encountered the Choir again and
then one more time inside the Square. By
that time I had been outside for the better part of an hour so I stopped by the
Pour House on Main Street for a warming bourbon
neat with a water back.
I got back to
the Square just at 7 pm. The regular
lights on the Square had been dimmed.
Only the Gazeebo glowed. It
seemed like every square inch of the park was filled with people and I knew
many were watching from the surrounding sidewalks as well. This year the program got underway promptly
and was efficiently abbreviated. Lengthy
remarks by several folks were cut. The emcee welcomed the crowd and quickly
ran through the usual thanks, acknowledgements, and announcements before turning the microphone over to Mayor Dr.
Brian Sager, a thirteen year incumbent
and former moderate Republican who
has announced a run for a seat in the Illinois
General Assembly as fiscal
conservative Democrat. But he kept politics out of the program for which
everyone was grateful. Santa
Claus and Woodstock Willie, the
city’s groundhog mascot were
introduced. Then, as customary, Miss Woodstock Areli Ortiz, and Little Miss Woodstock Charlotte McMahon
Thomas joined to throw the giant
ceremonial switch.
Instantly the
Square came ablaze with dazzling color as the crowd cheered its
approval. This year for the first time
every single tree and bush on the square was lit with brilliant red, green, gold, and white lights. It was spectacular.
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Billy Seger and Cassandra Vohs-Demann sang the hell out of Christmas favorites.
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After the formal
program was over Cassandra Vohs-Demann and Billy
Seger backed by a tight rock trio
whose name I unfortunately missed, stepped to the microphones. Forgive me if brag and note that Cassandra also is
the Music Director at Tree of Life
Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Woodstock
and Billy is our accompanist. Folks drifted away and families with small
children lined up outside Santa’s Hut but
I stood transfixed near the Gazeebo watching them turn in a performance of
Holiday Music that would match any Christmas
special on television. I also enthusiastically sang along on most songs.
Luckily the much improved stage
sound system drowned out my caterwauling
and nobody’s evening was ruined.
After their set
was over, I headed over to the Opera House to see the Christmas Tree Walk,
which was busy, but no longer overwhelming.
The trees decorated by local schools, churches, civic and youth organizations were creative and
original. My own personal favorite was Woodstock
Pride’s colorful rainbow tree.
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The Woodstock Pride entry in the Opera House Christmas Tree walk.
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When I left the
Opera House I had half an hour before my train, so I stopped by Liquid Blues for another libation.
I had just settled in when I got a call from Cara Dillworth who had seen my Facebook message asking for a
ride. She and my Grandson Joe Gibson had taken their baby Sienna to the Holiday Parade in Crystal Lake. They offered to drive to Woodstock to pick me
up. Thanks guys! I met them at the Woodstock train station and they got me home not
long after 9 o’clock—just in time to give daughter Maureen’s dog Piper a short walk.
What a wonderful
evening.
