Last Sunday we sang the hymn “Abide with Me”. That took me back to the church I went to in my youth. At Grace Lutheran Church in Dunkirk, we ended all Wednesday night Lenten services with that hymn. I knew the first verse by heart. The lights were dimmed so we had to memorize it. After singing we left the church quietly.

It is funny how little things trigger memories. I had not thought about that for years but the hymn brought back my memories clearly.

I remember our Good Friday service. Different churches took turns hosting it. It went from noon to three o’clock. We had off work to attend the service. The store where I worked was closed. Six different ministers took part in the service each preaching a short sermon during their time. Other ministers said the prayers and introduced the songs. One minister led the benediction. I was unable to stay to the end because I had to get back to work.

What a nice service that was. Life was so different back then. It was wonderful to have all of the worshipers under one roof. Now no one would think of giving employees three hours off to attend church. Of course, in those days the stores were also closed on Sundays. Somehow everyone got everything done on the weekdays. I do not believe the stores lost money because everyone closed.

In those days we all had new Easter clothes. Of course, there was a hat involved. Now I seldom wear a hat and never to church. I think the last time I wore a hat to church was when my children were small. We did indulge in new clothes. Children grow so fast that with each change of season new clothes were needed anyway.

I recall having a hat to wear with my going away outfit after my wedding. My husband always teased me about that hat. He hated it. That could be part of the reason that I quit wearing hats as well. Dick did not like hats!

I got Mrs. Rapp’s candy for Easter. She had a small store on the corner of Park Avenue and Fourth Streets in Dunkirk. I remember a marble counter that she used in her candy making. There was also a very large cash register that was very heavy. She had a big scale nearby so she could weigh your purchase. Everything was sold by the pound.

Even as a child I preferred dark chocolate. I got a big chocolate bunny or hen and another big egg filled with cream. She also made solid chocolate flat pieces and small filled eggs. She made French cremes that were very good. They were done in Easter shapes. I liked the cinnamon flavor.

Once I had children my mother brought my old Easter basket over. Jill got mine and Todd got his father’s basket. My mother bought new baskets that she filled for the children.

Dick really liked jelly beans. He especially liked the green flavor – spearmint. My stepdad cut open a bag of jelly beans and removed all of the green ones. He gave that to my husband. It took Dick a while to discover there was none of his favorite flavor. They were in a small bag that he got later.

I recall my mother-in-law talking about being with her sister Edna to fill Easter baskets. They dropped the bag of jelly beans and they rolled quite noisily down the stairs! The children remembered hearing something but were not sure what it was.

My mother-in-law made big candy eggs. When she was treating my friends the box of eggs shifted and some of them fell onto the floor. The girls felt so bad for her and her hard work.

Since I was an only child, I never had Easter egg hunts but I did have to find my basket.

Mrs. Rapp quit making candy during the 1960s and that really made me sad. There was nothing like her candies. Up until the time she quit her business my mother visited her store and brought us that candy.

Now that I am thinking about it, she might have quit because of urban renewal. Dunkirk did a lot of that. Old stores and buildings were torn down. Her store was one of those.

In later years I remember hearing that my grandfather got lost when he went out in his car. Once I went over there, I understood how he could get confused. All of the places that he used to go to were gone. Valone’s Meat Market was also part of that process. They did find another building to open their store in so the meat we were used to, continued to be available.

I want to wish my readers a Happy and Blessed Easter. Be sure to go to church – after all it is the day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell. Contact her at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.