LINDA WILLIAMS
Bedford Co. Correspondent
BEDFORD (Bedford Co.)
There are no artificial trees at the
home of Gwen and Joan Perce on
South Richard Street.
Instead the house is filled with
the pungent scent of a nine-foot
Christmas tree, freshly cut at the
Charles Seller’s tree farm. The
tree is so large, Gwen seeks the
help of his neighbor Jim David
son to complete the task.
Once the tree is in place, Gwen
and Joan spend two days deco
rating and the tree graces the
family dining room for the next
month.
Decorations on the Perce ever
green date back to the late 1800 s.
Little paper dolls once belonged
to Gwen’s mother. The tree was a
tradition started by Gwen's par
ents who cherished the holidays
just as she still does.
“We lived in Washington,
D.C.,” Gwen, a semi-retired at
torney, explains. “Every year my
parents would buy a few more
decorations, mostly glass balls.
But, at times there were other or
najpients such as a Santa on a
hoop or a glass Santa.”
“Santa Claus always did the
decorating and I don’t really
know how my parents did it. I
was always up at 5 a.m. and they
didn’t start decorating until I
went to bed.”
There was the year that the
, A k 9!PgP.,HB Pf IfotaPHMH.PM 9! a . s . s . adorn
ing the Perce tree.
Gwen and Joan at work decorating their nine-foot
Christmas tree.
tree feil down which Gwen re
members most clearly although it
was not a good Christmas. Un
fortunately, many of the decora
tions were broken and the collec
tion began again.
Dates of the majority of oma-
ments range from 1925 to 1936.
A few of the glass ball lost their
luster when they were stored in
the kitchen of the Washington
Perce apartment and there was a
natural gas stove. It caused the
shiny glass to dull.
Santa on a hoop, which
is at least 70 plus years,
and a glass Santa of about
the same vintage have a
spot on the tree.
The miniature farm set was Gwen’s as a small child in
the late 19205.
The new nativity set is a heirloom for tomorrow com
plete with barns, tents, and palm trees.
Under the tree is a farm set, a “1 love the reproduction glass
childhood present to Gwen, now ornaments." Gwen says. “But
in his 70’s. A nativity set was re- ,
. .... . . ... , manv of those are so expensive,
cently added by his wife, Joan.
Joan has also added a miniature t * ie > are out P r ' ce range,
winter village to the collection. The tree is enjoyed by Joan's
Avid travelers, both Gwen and grandchildren, family and friends
Joan are always on the lookout . . ~ . , , >r> .
, J , . . . throughout the holidays. But
tor more unusual decorations and
this year added some hanging na
tivity pieces.
The Christmas village was added by Joan.
mostly," Gwen says, “We enjoy it
ourselves.”