By Chris Murphy and the View readers
It is always fun to look back and share our memories. My own memories of downtown Modesto back in the late 60s and early 70s really left an impression on me. We used to walk and look at the windows and it just sparkled. It was also really special to go to San Francisco to see all of the window, of the flower shops, the toy stores and so many more. Even today, when I travel, visiting New York or elsewhere, I love to walk down the decorated streets and check out the window. That’s really want made us want to do Rockin’ Holidays, to bring back that retro holiday spirit, put garland across the street, bring back our classic car culture and create a wonderland that all people can enjoy for free and roam after skating or dinner. We hope you will visit Rockin’ Holiday this year in 10th St Plaza. We reach out to people in Modesto learn about some of their holiday memories were and we got so many. We have highlighted a few of them here, but you can see all the responses at www.modestoview.com Thanks to all that remember and love our community.
Lin Forest
I lived on a ranch out past Empire and I remember going into town on Thursday nights when stores were open late. Especially near Christmas when it was getting colder. It felt like Christmas then. I would save all my lunch money and spend it at Harleys Records. I worked in the walnuts for Christmas money. I have very fond memories of those days.
Susie Schrader Keckler
I remember it well and treasure those memories. Somewhere is the picture of me in my red coat, sitting on Santa’s knee in the large corner window of Sears in the 1950’s. 🎄
Pamela Piceno Vian
One of my Favorite Christmas Memories of Modesto is the Christmas lights shining on the wet streets they used to string them across the street and they would reflect in the rainwater. There was a smell of popcorn coming out of the dime stores and the stores have mechanical Christmas scenes. There was a Santa that would walk up and down the street handing out candy canes to little ones. They had Christmas music everywhere.
Kirk Melton
I remember my brother and I really little riding in the Santa Claus sleigh in McHenry Village right after it was built
JoAnn Jolman
Sears had the best Santa. Shopping from store to store, usually in the rain, but most stores had awnings so you would run from one to the other. Stopping at Kress or Woolworth’s to eat. And if you were good you got a treat at the candy counter at JCPenney, usually malt balls. While at Penney’s you got to ride in the elevator that had an attendant to take you to the right floor. At the end of a long shopping day you would find your car along the curb, hopefully, the meter still running, pile in with all your shopping bags and head home watching the Christmas decorations reflect on the car windows. It was a wonderful life growing up in Modesto.
Sara Calhoun
Holidays dodging rain showers as we walked from Sears to JC Penny’s, Kress’ & Woolworths. The back to Thrifty’s to eat dinner of an open-faced Turkey. mashed potatoes and gravy. Then on the way out we would buy roasted nuts spinning in the case. All dressed up in my dark teal velvet dress with a matching jacket my mom made me. Of course, I had to clean my patent leather shoes and turn down my lace socks. Lol. Oh, the beautiful decorations in the stores, the music playing in the streets. Memories
Nancy Martin
My dad worked for Sears and I remember employee night at the store. It was magical going into town at night and seeing all the lights and being in the store after hours for special deals and cookies.
Pamela Piceno Vian
I remember the Santa in Woolworths. 1955. The first time I actually remember sitting on Santa’s lap. I was five.
Tim White
Downtown was “the mall” of it’s time. Woolworth, Grants, Tom McCann Shoes, Whites For Boys, Buster Browns kids shoe store. All the jewelry stores; Kings Jewelers, Toppers, Wendling Jewelers, Kavanna Jewelers. McMahons Furniture and Valley Sporting Goods. Concord Bank, Bank of Italy (before it was called Bank of America) and The Kings Bench smorgasbord. Downtown lit up like an enchanted holiday wonderland.
Connie Eastburn-Lohmann
Going to see Santa Claus I believe it was always in the basement of the Sears store. Used to love it when my mom would take a shopping at JCPenney’s, the Candy Department! And those stairs that went up to the mezzanine, you couldn’t resist playing on them, of course we always get told to get off. I just loved all the decorations downtown it was like an old fashioned Christmas. I lived out in Salida so coming to Modesto to see the decorations and all the lights was always a big deal. We’d always have a night that we would drive around and look at all the Christmas lights.
Maria Apodaca
Putting on my Christmas dress to go see Santa at Montgomery Wards…then waiting in long line and this is my face🤷🏻♀️ Christmas 1975
Tim White
Downtown was “the mall” of it’s time. Woolworth, Grants, Tom McCann Shoes, Whites For Boys, Buster Browns kids shoe store. All the jewelry stores; Kings Jewelers, Toppers, Wendling Jewelers, Kavanna Jewelers. McMahons Furniture and Valley Sporting Goods. Concord Bank, Bank of Italy (before it was called Bank of America) and The Kings Bench smorgasbord. Downtown lit up like an enchanted holiday wonderland.
Melinda Jaco
For many of us, the holidays generate some of our most vivid memories. And it’s funny the weird things that stick with us. It’s often not at all the presents or the egg nog. One of my most favorite memories of Christmas is from when my sons were lil. To convince them Santa was “real” , their father and I would wait for them to fall asleep on Xmas eve and we would take the cookies they left out for Santa, dad would eat half to show Santa was hungry and we would put my late husband’s boots on, step in baby powder and stomp on the fireplace then walk around the tree to place their special North Pole wrapped gifts under the tree. When my boys woke up on Xmas morning it looked as if Santa was very much real and running around our living room while we all slept the night away. Something about those sweet, precious eyes of believing children makes the holidays truly magical! Merry Christmas Modesto, let’s keep our kids imaginations alive!!
Dana Waters
My sister & her family had not been home for Christmas in over ten years due to a military career, I had picked them up at Travis AFB , brought them to my parents house & the stayed outside, a local radio station had played for me , I’ll be home for Christmas & dedicated to my dad , mom & grandma, they all had a funny look on their face & my sister & her family walked in the house. So many tear of joy & a Christmas to remember
Beth Wayne Bridegroom
Every year growing up, it just wasn’t Christmas for my mom until we had taken a drive to downtown Modesto to “see the lights”. It was tradition.
Olivia Malekos
The town Christmas tree, on H St. was lit Thanksgiving eve. Families would take a ride after dinner, to see the “majestic tree”, that was a sign of Christmas in Modesto. You could see the lights from many directions. It was a thing of beauty. Too bad that tradition, was let go.
Jon Camp7426
I believe it was in the late 50s early 60s when my father had a boom truck and the large candy canes that we put up on the light post downtown and J Street for many years!
Ron Ehrke
Making my Christmas list from Valley Sporting Goods and Weeks Sporting Goods, Holiday Movies at the Covell Theater.
Michael J. Mangano
My best Christmas memory was in 1992, not having kids of my own I looked forward to spoiling my Nephew Ben who was 6 or 7. I remember gathering at the inlaws Christmas morning and watched Ben open his gift. I have never seen a kid so excited! Ben stood up and started to flap his arms so fast I thought he was going to fly.
Abigail Power
The holidays are always a magical time of year, but the holidays are even more special in Modesto! I have so many wonderful memories in town, but some of my favorites are memories of the Celebration of Lights Parade in the late 90s and early 2000s. With many friends, parents, and role models that were judges in the parade, my friends and I had fun running around the judging booth and seeing all the magical floats come alive as they come by. That was also where I learned about hand warmers and the magic of shaking them like crazy and feeling the tingle of the warmers as it was freezing outside! The topping on top of the cake was walking down to Centre Plaza and seeing the trees light up and continue the holiday spirit all December long and I’m so happy to see that Rockin’ Holiday with the help of Sierra Pacific & Collins Electric has brought lights, magic, snow, and fun back to December nights! See you at the kick-off of Rockin’ Holiday on December 3rd!
