Column by Norma Higgs — Christmas is over and today is Boxing Day. I decided to see what it is all about before we continue on Pine Avenue in 1956.

According to Wikipedia, “Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on Dec. 26, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as St. Stephen's Day ... In South Africa, Boxing Day was renamed Day of Goodwill in 1994. It is also celebrated as The Second Day of Christmas in most European countries. In Canada, Boxing Day is listed in the Canada Labour Code as an optional holiday. Only the province of Ontario has made it a statutory holiday where all workers receive time off with pay.

The history of the word or term "boxing" is unclear and (Wikipedia again) “there are several competing theories, none of which is definitive. The tradition has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions. The European tradition has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown and there are some claims that it goes back to the late Roman/early Christian era; metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen.

In the UK, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. ... This custom is linked to an older English tradition: In exchange for ensuring that wealthy landowners' Christmases ran smoothly, their servants were allowed to take the 26th off to visit their families. The employers gave each servant a box containing gifts and bonuses (and sometimes leftover food).”

Today, shopping has taken the frontline in Britain, Canada, New Zealand and parts of Australia. It has become the equivalent of our Black Friday when sales and price reductions prevail. Like our retail statistics, it has become the best revenue day of the year and the stores open early offering specials and doorbusters to bring customers in. There is even a Cyber Boxing Day in the UK. Nice to know we are not the only crazies.

Let’s go back “shopping” on the 1500 block of Pine Avenue beginning with Muscarello’s Cleaners and Tailors. “Better Dry Cleaning for Those Who Care” was their motto at 1518 Pine and at 1622 18th Street which I think was the first location. Angelo Muscarello offered pick-up and delivery, a convenience for the customer and a guarantee of additional business. I admit I turn to Dominick Iannuzzi for some first-hand comments on some of these business owners and he tells me that Angelo was a great bowler as well as an innovative businessman.

I also receive emails or telephone calls from others who offer some great personal stories and when I returned home from a visit to my sister in California last week, I received a call from Rodney Rhodes who gave me some insight on the 1600 block of Pine which we will visit next. He mentioned Russo’s Barber Shop at 1520 Pine and that Joseph and Mary were the parents of Sam Russo who later went on to own Russo Chevrolet. The Englander Studio of Photography began at 1522 Pine, and Morey and Florence Englander were very involved with the annual high school yearbook photos. The studio later moved to the 800 block of Main Street and I became friends of Morey and his second wife Helen as I lived around the corner on Cedar Avenue where the Key Bank parking lot now sits. I clipped the Gazette engagement announcements and called the prospective bride to sell the “wedding photo” services of the Englander Studio. Guess I was one of the original telemarketers. I also did some photo touch-up work at their studio.  

Gasbarre Electric was at 1528 and Frank Mancuso sold photography supplies at 1530.  Pine Novelty Shop operated by Joseph Mazzariello was at 1532. Across the street at 1521, Frank Bilotta repaired shoes and next door at 1523, Jean Caseita sold women’s apparel. Joseph George owned George’s Optical at 1525 Pine and Louis Fernandez worked after school; then went on to work full time after graduation and eventually bought the business. His son Jim is there now and carries on the tradition of good work and a good reputation. Anyone know who “George” was?

Princeville Real Estate at 1527, was owned and operated by Anthony & Mary. When Anthony Rendina married their daughter Eleanor, he also married into the business and spent many years on Pine Avenue. Anthony was instrumental in the formation of the Pine Avenue Business Association and I met him through my activities at the Niagara Beautification Commission in the 1980s. PABA as it became known was a vibrant organization and was the first of the so called “business associations” which now include Niagara Street, Main Street and Hyde Park Boulevard. Sandra Hayes was a key addition to the staff and really kept the Association on the map. She is now an events planner in the Lewiston-Youngstown area.  

I wandered off the beat a bit and will catch up next week.

Norma Higgs serves with the Niagara Beautification Commission and Niagara Falls Block Club Council. Her columns appear Mondays in the Gazette.