The Brampton Santa Claus Parade jingled past us weeks ago, and many stores are decked out in preparation for the December retail flurry. This week, let’s look at how some people in Brampton prepared for what is for many, a busy time of year, as seen through a general store in the 1890s, a woman caring for her family in the 1890s, and a 1960s minister speaking to his congregation.

For decades, the Lougheed family ran one of the two general stores in Tullamore, serving people in rural Chinguacousy Township, now the corner of Mayfield and Airport roads. Their ledger from 125 years ago, December 1893, records a lot of routine purchases like butter, but also items that we can at least imagine were related to Christmas gift-giving.

Farmer William Morrison purchased five cents worth of oranges, an exotic imported rarity, which would become a staple of gift-giving during the Great Depression. We don’t know whether he was feeling frisky or merely practical, but Stephen Garbutt purchased a “pair of corsets” — the name then for one corset — for 50 cents. With winter weather upon them, there were also purchases of a pair of overshoes — used to waterproof shoes in the winter — for $1.35, and a pair of women’s felt boots, $1.50.

Five years later, in 1898, Snelgrove’s Mary McCulloch celebrated Christmas on Dec. 26. (Snelgrove is at Hurontario Street and Mayfield Road, now Brampton’s northern border.) There’s two likely reasons for the change. On Dec. 22, Mary wrote in her diary that “I have the bronchitis, and it is not very pleasant,” and a day later she wrote that the family was “expecting some of the friends down from Grand Valley,” a community northwest of Brampton.

Despite the illness, she was busy baking in the lead-up. “I baked bread and buns and pies and cakes for Xmas, there is so many things to do this week.”

The Archives also has a collection of sermons delivered by Reverend John McDermid, who served as St. Paul’s United Church’s Minister, and whose son would later serve as Brampton-Georgetown MP. On December 6, 1965, he spoke about how he, like so many other people preparing for this holiday, put too much pressure on themselves, saying: “I must confess that there are times when I feel like old Scrooge”. But ultimately the times he felt like removing December from the calendar, were “only fleeting. Up through the pressures, the piles of cards, the wrappings, the lights, there manages to emerge an occasion, a warm hearted sincere compassion for our fellow creatures.”

People around the world observe and celebrate so many different holidays. What do you celebrate? The Archives is always looking to build its collection with content that tells the story of the many peoples and cultures in Peel.

Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) is located at 9 Wellington St. E., Brampton, and parking is available at any of the nearby parking garages. For more information, visit pama.peelregion.ca.

Throwback Thursday is provided by Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives. PAMA is a place to explore, learn and make connections about Peel Region’s culture and heritage.