VAME BEf HLEHEIVr POPULAR
(Continued from page 6)
6ench and a fine view of the Ohio
ftiver.
Less than 25 miles north of
Louisville, Ky., it has two stores,
a non-denominational church, and
Suge maple trees lining its five
ihort streets.
At Christmas, it is overshadow
ed by a more commercially-mind
ed Indiana town named Santa
Claus. Rut one of the storekeepers,
who doubles as postmaster, post
marks about 2,000 pieces of Christ
mas mail a day with a special
*Star of Bethlehem, Ind.” cachet.
BETHLEHEM, Ga.—First there
was only the church, Bethlehem
Metodist Church, which was found
ed in 1790 by oxcart pioneers.
Then, 74 years ago, the railroad
zame.
As Postmaster Lamar Ridgeway
recalls the story, they had just
pushed the rails and crossties
through this area.
‘The railroad president was
4epe, and he picked out a spot
for the depot,” says Ridgeway.
‘A bunch pf men were standing
around, and he turned to, theifr
and said, “Well here’s where it
will be — now one of you boys
name it.’
“And the church chorister Mr.
Moore (the late Judson L. Moore)
said, ’Call her Bethlehem’.’’
Bethlehem is a North Georgia
farming and poultry community
of about 300.
Since 1951 townspeople have
erected a 60-foot star to light the
countryside during the Christmas
season. A carol service is held be
neath the star on Christmas night.
Postmaster Ridgeway handles
a deluge of mail each December,
applying the Bethlehem postmark
with a hand stamp.
BETHLEHEM. Ky. — Jamison
Hall was named postmaster and
when it came time to open his of
fice, he just didn’t care for the
name Mobley Stand. He changed
it to Bethlehem.
That was in 1862 and the name
endured.
Today, Postmistress Lee Teyton
carries on in the Hall tradition.
For the last 24 years, she has
stamped thousands of Christmas
greeting cards with the special
Best Wis
This Holiday S
To our friends and acquaintances,
and io those whom we'll meet someday.
go our wishes for a happy holiday
Rachael, Virginia,
Shiela & Lee
BEACHCOMBERS
‘poStfnzfr’k' bfeafiiig a' 'drawing :of
the three wise men. She estimates
she and her family cancel about
25,000 greeting cards each year.
Bethlehem is 40 miles northeast
of Louisville amid rich fields of
corn and tobacco. The homes of
65 families surround three grocery
stores, three service stations, two
churches—Methodist and Baptist
—and a barber shop.
The Christmas observance is
typical of that in any small town.
The churches take turns present
ing the Christmas festival.
BETHLEHEM, Conn.—The first
worship service in this tiny com
munity in the scenic Berkshires,
held on Nov. 2, 1738, couldn’t have
been more appropriate. It was
held in a stable.
Some of the village historians
say Bethlehem was named for the
community in Judea where Christ
was bom in a stable. Others say
it was named for the Bethlehem
in upper Palestine, near Christ’s
Nazareth.
But they agree on the meaning
—“House of Bread.” It’s an apt
name, for Bethlehem, Conn., is in
the center of a fertile dairying
r
We offer our very
be$t wishes for a
merry Christmas
and a very happy
New Year, rich in
contentment and
pleasure . . .
LOG CABIN
LIQUOR STORE
andf agricultural section.
More than 20 years ago, Post
master Earl Johnson set tip* a spe
cial postmark cachet at. his own
expense for use on Christmas
cards. Now, in 1958. Johnson’s
idea has become a well-establish
ed custom.
Last year 300,000 pieces of
Christmas mail poured into his
tiny postoffice for mailing so they
would bear the special marking:
“Bethlehem — The Christmas
Town.”
BETHLEHEM, N.H.—This com
munity in the heart of the White
Mountains once was known as
Lloyd’s Hill. But in 1799. the re
ligious settlers renamed the town
Bethlehem in the belief that the
terrain was similar to that of
Bethlehem in Judea.
Bethlehem is primarily a sum
mer resort with fewer than 900
year-round residents. It3 pollen
free air makes it a haven for hay
fever sufferers and it is the home
of the National Hay Fever Relief
Assn.
Bethlehem has no special cele
bration at Christmas. A Nativity
scene is erected in the village
square and house decorations
carry out a Star of Bethlehem
theme.
"The Herald
Angels Sing
•—And again, the Christmas
holiday is here. With sin*
cere good wishes for your
happiness, we extend to you
our heartfelt greetings!
KODIAK CREAMERY
be or inspiration to uou tbroiwbout the uedr
KODIAK ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION