Christmas Goodies from Congdon's, 1950

In Dusty D's experience reading the old papers, it's only after WWII that the Christmas shopping frenzy with which we are regrettably familiar kicks in.

People had lived through a decade of the Depression, then the rationing and tragic losses of a world war. Once the economy reverted to peacetime, with no more need for bombers or tanks or other wartime needs, it began producing such consumer goods as these at left.

The wonderful downtown hardware store Congdon's has been in town a very long time as you can see; since at least the '30s if I remember correctly. Still a cool place to get practical Xmas items and neato, unusual yet useful li'l stocking stuffers.