Name/Title
AU Harris, James Lowell - 1954-12-XX letter to Richard Lambert HarrisEntry/Object ID
1989.1.26Context
173 Beverly Road
Syracuse, 4, New York
December 1954
A MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE!
This year when we say "our house," it is in a different location. On August 16 we moved into the second manse purchased by our church, and now we are comfortably located at 173 Beverly Road. It is a more spacious home with five bedrooms, two complete bathrooms upstairs, and large rooms downstairs and several porches. It is located on the edge of beautiful Onondaga Park with its picturesque Hiawatha Lake.
On Sunday afternoon, November 21, we held "open house" to the congregation. It was a very happy affair for us all. Over three hundred guests attended and looked through "the new manse." Since moving into our new home, we have added another member to our family -- Eleanor Hall who has come to live as a foster-child in our home. With Diane and this new teen-ager in our house, we have plenty of excitement.
We all hope that 1954 was a happy year for you and your dear ones. This letter is a reminder that we have been thinking of you and yours throughout the year. As you gather your loved ones about your Christmas tree or fireside, may you know that many of your friends are thinking of you.
The past year has been a traveling year for us. Dad took his usual trip to Chicago to direct the National Assembly of Presbyterian Men (5th year); Mother went to Purdue to the National Assembly of Presbyterian Women, and Diane was a delegate to the National Assembly of Westminster Fellowship. We spent another glorious July in "the little manse" at North Barnstead, New Hampshire, where Dad has been resident minister for the past three summers. The children enjoy the swimming at Hollywood Beach nearby.
This has been a busy year in First Church as we have moved forward in our Expansion and Improvement Campaign. This project will provide new Church School facilities as well as the housing of a Protestant Center on our Church grounds. A new pipe organ and chancel will also be undertaken soon. It is an inspiration to work with this Church family we have come to love so much.
Our Jimmy is now five years old, a tall medium-blonde fellow and enjoying his kindergarten classes at Bellevue School, as well as being a member of our 45 voice Cherub Choir (children 3 to 7). This choir was a new addition to our list of choirs and was enthusiastically welcomed by all. Mary Suzanne, now nine, is in the fourth grade of the same school. She loves her choir and church school, piano lessons, Brownies, ballet class and is a very busy little lady. Diane will be seventeen in January. She is vice president of the Student Council of Central High School and also vice-moderator of Westminster Fellowship of New York Synod. Church activities, sorority doings and boy friends keep her out of mischief. She is looking forward to college next fall.
Now may the spirit of the Christ-child be in your home this Christmas. Please remember that the "latch-string" is always out to you, our friends. We'll see that "Bessie," our cocker spaniel, does not bark at you!! May Love and Peace --- the spiritual gifts of Christmas be yours!
Caroline Harris
James Lovell Harris
CarolDiane
Mary Suzanne
James Lowell II
Eleanor Hall
and Bessle.
We are looking for you!
