Christmas 1941...a Sobering time for a Alabama Family and a Nation now at War....
"On Christmas Day
1941, I
stood that morning on the Capitol steps in Washington, D.C. on a short liberty from the Navy Training Station in Norfolk, Virginia.
Then a civilian drove by, stopped and invited me to his home to partake
of Christmas dinner with his family. I
was glad to accept his invitation. It
became customary at the start of the war to do all you could for the 'boys in
the service'. So here was a nice
civilian doing what he could to bring a little happiness to a lonely, homesick
sailor on Christmas Day.
I can remember anything about the dinner, the house or
family. I do recall that before going to
his house, he picked up a soldier then drove us all around the city. I had been to Washington only once, the year
before on an extended excursion. But
this time, I was privileged to see many parts of the city that were new to me,
and I was elated that I had fallen upon such good fortune as to taste the first
fruits of civilian hospitality that would become a routine action as the war
went on.
So what was happening back
in Irondale, upon the hill on 3rd Avenue? I wondered throughout the day. I was never able to get in touch with the
family until I was back at the base, after Christmas had passed, and the dread
of a lonesome Christmas was behind me." H. Bishop Holliman, 1991 MemoirsBelow the Holliman house at 2300 3rd Avenue North, Irondale, Alabama, built in 1921. This photograph was taken in 1955.
That same Christmas night
after the annual Holliman dinner at the home of Ulyss and Pearl Caine Holliman,
Bishop's brother-in-law, the humorous Robert Daly, Sr. wrote 'tongue in cheek' from Irondale, Alabama, but he did note the bad news from the Pacific.
"Everyone seemed to be cheerful although the
war news from the Philippines kept being pretty bad. The usual gang was present for Christmas
dinner at your Mother's - Charles, Loudelle, Hal, Carolyn, Euhal, Edna,
Terrible Terry and Jerry, Melton, Ida, Vena, Mary, Robert, Ralph, Virginia,
Walter Cornelius, Mom and Pop and Stewart Button. W We missed you at your usual spot,
although the food went further."
Terry and Jerry were the twin one year olds of Euhal and
Edna Westbrook Holliman pictured below
in 1941, who probably behaved at the table like, well, normal one year old
boys! Euhal and Edna had married in 1935 and were to have six children - Terry,
Jerry, Anne, Jean, Tommie and Bill.
Terry and Jerry were the 4th and 5th grandchildren of Ulyss and Pearl
Caine Holliman. In 1941, Euhal was a
grocer in Gadsden, Alabama. Jerry passed away in 2003 and Terry makes his home in Arizona.
"The Duke from Knoxville (The Rev. Stewart Butten, a family friend) offered a nice blessing and prayer; he mentioned you in his prayer in a way not to draw too much attention to your absence because he did not want to spoil the evening. Your Mom (Pearl) was okay, so was Dad Holliman (Ulyss) although they missed you.
Loudelle (Bishop's sister) answered all phone calls thinking you might call. All calls turned out to be some one else. We did not expect a call due to the Telephone Company asking the public to keep the line open for the War Department."
Melton bought a new Chevrolet
yesterday. He took Euhal and family home
(Gadsden, Alabama) tonight. I think
he got the last car for sale in Birmingham.
The Ford dealers won't sell the few they have on board. You can't buy new tires now."
Below, Melton Holliman (1908-1958), a successful pharmaceutical salesman who had South Alabama
and Southern Mississippi as his territory.
Hence the need for a reliable car such as this black 1942 Chevrolet, right. The public was being admonished with advertising warning about consumption of gasoline and tires.
"Virginia got a diamond engagement ring from Walter (Cornelius, her high school flame). They must mean business. I don't know how this will go over."
Have questions about Holliman family history? You are invited to join the Hollyman Email List at Hollyman-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com and the Hollyman Family Facebook Page located on Facebook at "Hollyman Family". Post your questions and perhaps one of the dozens Holyman cousins on the list will have an answer. For more information contact Tina Peddie at desabla1@yahoo.com, the list and Facebook manager for Hollyman (and all our various spellings!).
Since early 2010, I have been publishing research and stories on the broad spectrum of Holliman (Holyman) family history at http://hollimanfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/ . For stories on my more immediate family since the early 20th Century, I have been posting articles since early 2011 at http://ulyssholliman.blogspot.com/ . GNH
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