Christmas In Hammond Past and Present

This past week I had some business in Downtown Hammond and had parked my car near St. Margaret Hospital and walked to where I was supposed to go. On the way I had a chance to observe Hammond as it is today, compared to the Downtown Hammond of yesteryear.

Today Downtown Hammond is a mere shadow of what it once was at Christmas Time. Way back when, I used to go into the downtown area and actually get all my Christmas shopping done.I would take my younger sister on the bus and and stop near Walgreens and we would go into Goldblats and do most of our shopping. We would check out the store windows of Goldblats, just like Ralphie Parker in ‘A Christmas Story,’ I swear that the showcase in that movie was once used in Goldblats, sometime in the 1950’s or 1960’s.

If we couldn’t find anything in Goldblats, we always had Penny’s or Woolworth’s to fall back on. If you wanted to there was Minas on State Street to hustle over to.

Lunch was eaten at Walgreens, since the store than had a cafe. If you wanted you could go to Quickie Snack on Hohman and Clinton (I think) They bad the most greasy hamburgers that I could remember. A real heart stopper, but oh so good!

After a few hours and all the shopping done, there was the bus ride back home. All of this done within a few miles from home.

These days Downtown Hammond is mostly business like lawyers, banks, and hospitals. There has been some efforts underfoot to try and revive downtown, but in this economy, it will be slow going. I doubt that it will ever be the same again, unfortunately. We need to think lo locally and find ways to bring commerce and visiters back to our downtown areas. It can only happen with each of us supporting those businesses that try to make it in those abandoned areas of our past.

Hammond and The Christmas Story

The Christmas Season is upon us. With snow on the ground, Hammond looks a lot like the movie “A Christmas Story,” which our city is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the movie this year.

The movie, based on the stories of Jean Sheppard, a well know personality of the ’60’s and ’70’s, had Hammond as the town where he grew up in. Although the movie portrayed the late ’30’s and early ’40’s, I always identified with the movie. It has a special place in my heart and mind.

I remember the first time I saw the movie. I was on a date in 1983 and I knew about the local legend of Jean Sheppard. I didn’t realize how much the movie reminded me of Hammond that I grew up in. I really got into the movie and I’m sure my date was both amused and maybe a little shocked at my behavior during a movie. But to me it is a part of history.

This year, Hammond is celebrating the movie with showings at the Towle Theater in Downtown Hammond as well as an exhibit at the Tourist Center on Kennedy Ave,, near I94.

I hope I”ll be able to see the exhibit at least. With my Mom still in the nursing home and so many things I have to do, I may not get the chance. But don’t let it stop you if you have the opportunity. Go and enjoy something Hammond can be proud of. Have a chance to remember the past and enjoy the exhibit. Let me know how you like it!