TABLE of CONTENTS

Letters from Folks
I used to have guestbooks, but things always went wrong. Suddenly the host would just evaporate or, as in the last case, the relentless vandal-pornographers found it and there was nothing I could do to stop the flood. The whole spirit of this "place" is as an island of refuge from that vast, dead sea of corruption, so I just had to take it out.
My heart is heavy with the loss of literally hundreds of lovely messages and stories. So-
I will here again attempt to save your letters.... and. especially, your STORIES!
They make it all worthwhile.



If you had written me in the past and your letter was lost, please write again! --"Papa" Ted
thedo64@nb.net


Feruary 13,'08:
Ted,
Thanks for the quick reply! [Both by email and mail.] I have some heavy gauge acetate myself...maybe I'll try my hand at flocking my own windows/doors one day for that church.

I am enjoying your website tremendously! I wish I could say that I have a story similar to the others but I don't. I am a 38 year old mother of two living in rural WV and I NEVER heard of the cardboard houses until this past Dec. I noticed an article in the 'Country Sampler' featuring these little houses but never gave it much thought...until Christmas Eve. We were traveling to visit my husband's family when we past a 'junk' shop along the way. On a whim we stopped in and while browsing...my 14 year old son [of all people] called to me and said, 'Mom, look at these...can I have one?' When I got there he had found a whole shelf of the little cardboard houses that were 'virtually devoid of charm and detail' as you put it. I was amazed that my 14 year old was so interested in them....he had no prior knowledge of them whatsoever, but they just caught his eye. I told him that I thought I had seen an article recently on them...but couldn't recall much about it. We couldn't find a price so my husband ask the owner what it was...he couldn't find a price either but said that he'd sell them for 15 cents a piece. We were tickled and bought all 17 of them for a grand total of $2.55. We couldn't wait to get back home that night to set them up. [We later found out what a deal we had.] My 11 year old daughter and her brother had a blast setting them up. My husband and I mused at how a handful of old cheap cardboard houses brought us so much joy. We *love* Christmas, and we are very much into traditions. We could see how setting these little cardboard houses up could be a fun one to have each year. After Christmas...I dug out that article and gave it more attention. I found your web address there and was instantly introduced to a world that I felt I had been a part of all my life even though I had no prior knowledge of it's existance. Growing up we used to have those diaroma ornaments with the tiny scene s in them and I used to spend hours imagining a whole range of activities in those little worlds. I could instantly see how a whole village could raise the bar on that childhood dream world. And the best part is that all 4 of us as a family..fell in love with them. We've decided to leave them out all year long. And I [since I studied architecture in college] am especially fond of them because of their fun and unusal architectural details . I have to say that I enjoy them all but the 'Haciendas' seem to be my favorite, but any of them with fun details and colors are welcome. We are really enjoying the hunt for them now. We'll see a junk/antique shop and we'll all jump out and spread out in search of them. My son seems to have the best eye for them. We have aquired 4 others since Christmas and I am hoping to fix up their windows, so you'll be getting an order from me shortly. I appreciate your help and the information that you share on your website. It's been a wonderful learning experience and a pile of fun for us... and a blessing to boot! I'm trying my hand at making some of my own as well. [I'll attach a couple photos of those.]

Thanks again for your courtesy!

Blessings, - Diane Myers, WV

Thanks so much for very kind words, Diane. I am so glad your family has found this very important element of Christmas. What you say about hours of imaginings is what it's all about. I was under the tree every minute I could be as a kid, and I think it's so valuable in developing a child's thoughts and early leanings toward a sense of community - and has great meditative value for as adults as well.


January 06,'08:
Hello Ted,
I really enjoy your site! It inspired me to dig out my grandmother’s collection, since she isn’t using it at the moment. I took some photos, just in case there was anything interesting for your site. I have a feeling not, but I’ll enjoy them just the same.
There’s a mix of Japanese and American Houses. My grandmother says she started collecting as a teenager, so she probably started collecting in the 1940s. She lived in Chicago at the time.

http://snoopy.cpilgrim.com/wp/putz/?page=450

Thanks!
Caren Pilgrim


January 04.'08:
Dear Papa Ted:
Every year I look at your site because it is so enjoyable, and this year I knew I had to write to tell you how much pleasure it gives me to look at the photos. I was born in 1952 and everything I see on your site gives me a bittersweet thrill.
I bought a small collection of Putz houses on ebay and I keep thinking I need to fix them up. I, too, remember Christmas as it used to be. I want to thank you for keeping the memory alive.
Sincerely,
Renee Yancy
Paducah, KY


December 29,'07:
Hello:
I was searching the internet for information on cardboard houses by the Dolly Toy Company. I helped a friend clean out his Mother's home in Erie Pennsylvania this summer. He has a plain square box with "One #35 S6290 #200 Xmas Village Set - To: Spiegel Company, Chicago - From: Dolly Toy Co., Tipp City, O". Inside there are eight slots with the dividers having picket fences imprinted on them, so you can pull them out and use as fences. The houses look like Swiss houses. Also in addition to these houses, he has three other houses which I found on your web site. These houses are smaller. Your web site was the most helpful.
Do you have any information on the set I mentioned above or know where I could find additional information? Bless you for having the information you do on the internet.
Sincerely, Nancy Watson, Indianapolis, Indiana
Gee, Nancy - Dolly Toy Co. made so many variations from year to year and specials for big promoters like Sears and Wards that it's hard to say. But I suggest you peruse the POSTWAR section of the website. There ares some catalog pages that show the village sets with stand-up figures and fences. Perhaps it's one of those?
I'll post this e-mail on LETTERS FROM FOLKS because it's an interesting enquiry.
Thanks, - Ted


December 29, '07
Dear PaPa Ted,
Several years ago my daughter introduced me to your website and we have been thrilled ever since at the enjoyment it gives to us! I emailed Antoinette Stockenberg this week to compliment her on creating such memorable putz scenes. I also have been pondering for MONTHS on how to light my putz/village as she did with little Lionel/K-Line street lamps. She was kind enough to reply with a wonderful letter and to let me know that she would forward my questions on to you, as YOU were a real model train lover! I do not have a train, but have been doing putz displays at holiday time all of my life(I will boldly tell you that I am almost 70 years old) and learned all the wonders of Christmas from my mom and my wonderful great aunt. Not knowing anything about trains and transformers I have been frightened beyond belief about wiring such things. I even visit ed a model railroader's show today, but alas, none of the displays had "older" trains, or any sort of street lamps other than the modern stuff. When I inquired about my desire to learn how to wire together my nine (9) street lamps and hook them to a transformer and use them to light my village of cardboard houses from the 30' & 40's, the young men just looked at me. I don't know if it was the idea, .... the idea coming from an older lady...or probably a bit of both, but it was really something that made me chuckle to myself. Anyway, they really didn't respond with any real ideas or advice...they were polite and they had wonderful train displays..but! So I was really excited when I return ed home and found Antoinette's email and the information that yes, her husband had wired them together in line and used a transformer. I began to believe in myself a bit more. Then she told me that you have such great knowledge of the model train world and perhaps I could obtain a little advice from you. I realize what a busy time of year this is, and certainly am in no hurry about this. I know how very much time you must spend with your most wonderful website. It is so marvelous and gives so much pleasure and enjoyment and peace to all who view it! Any advice you might be able to provide or even encouragement on the subject of the street lamps would be so appreciated, whenever!!! Please keep up your wonderful work, you provide us with the contentment that only comes from memories of those wonderful times that are tucked away in our minds and hearts, but remain as fresh as the days they first happened!
May your coming year be wonderful and happy!
Thank you so much,
Gail Charcholla
Thank you so much for the kind words, Gail! Messages like this are what keeps me going at this. What you need to do is get hold of one of the little starter set Lionel train transformers that came with sets, such as the #1029. These reduce your wall socket voltage of 120 to the 15 volts or less that the old train bulbs ran on. They were meant to control the speed of a train, but work very nicely to control the brighteness of the bulbs found in street lamps and other accessories. They vary voltage between 8 and 15 volts and if you run your bulbs at lower voltage they will last a long long time and not be so piercing to the eye. There are untold thousands of these transformers still around and the train guys don't want them because they are not powerful enough to run trains really well, but they light up to 10 of the old street lights adequately and I have picked them up for $1 on eBay. The little Marx and American Flyer transformers are just as good for this purpose, too. All the old trains ran on these voltages. You have two wires coming from your streets lamps and two "track" connecting posts on the transfomers. One wire to each. Easy as pie! Just remember to plug your transformer in and be sure your bulbs are good.


December 13,'07:
This year was the very first time I did a putz under the tree in the grand old tradition of the cotton man-made hills and dales found in the old photos on Ted's site. I have had putzes elsewhere in the house but for me this little place, with its pond and tiny train, its vintage, new and home-made creations, is the kind of place I have always wanted to live in.

Because....

There's always snow at Christmas... And little girls are always warm and well fed. Where the train always runs on time, and the local churches welcome everyone. Where it is still okay to say Merry Christmas without fear of offending someone....somewhere.....

Merry Christmas everyone! - Maria


December 12,'07:
For the sake of history . . . my grandfather bought the coconuts in Chicago. My dad's older brother and his family in Chicago had a village of coconuts under their tree.
When I was a girl in the mid-50s, living in a suburb of Chicago, my dad would carefully set up our village under the tree and it included six or seven coconuts, one hacienda and Barclay figures skiing, sledding and skating. I would spend hours and hours day dreaming about what life would be like in the village, and this is where my love for this collection started. I was thrilled when the village was passed down to me, and I've treasured it, added to it, and now display it year round.
Merry Christmas everyone,
Dianne
Omigosh, Dianne! That's exactly IT. That says it for everyone!


December 04,'07:
Ted,
I admire your enthusiasm for old fashioned villages. You have a beautiful collection. You are correct that "putz" comes from the German verb "putzen".
However, "putzen" is the verb meaning "to polish, scrub, or clean well". It does not translate into English as to "put or place". The Putz (or as my German grandmother referred to as the "Garden") was meant to clean or polish up the base of the tree to hide the stand or an unsightly trunk.
Frohe Weihnachten, - Keith
The "collection" is hardly all mine, Keith. Don't I wish! Most of it comes from fellow collector's contributions.
I wanted to post your letter because it's rather a shock. I got my information from Phillip Snyder's "The Christmas Tree Book," which is generally thought to be the "gospel" on the subject. How, then, has the word "Putz" come to signify the under-the-tree scene? It's been used that way for a long long time. According Snyder, the Moravian German immigrants brought the custom to the USA in the early 19th Century. Could it be a variation in their particular dialect of 180 years ago? Is it not that far a stretch to conceive of concealing the ugly tree trunk with a scenic display as a form of polish? Sort of the "finishing touch?" I know we always put the village scene up last. Then we had Christmas!
I find this very interesting, indeed. Still, it seems a shallow assessment of such a delightful and imaginative endeavor... I think there's more to it than that.
The term "Garden (Garten)" is a close second to "Putz," and I've always thought it more accurately descriptive. What would be the German? "Weihnachtsgarten?" "Christbaumgarten?"


December 01,'07:
Put me down in the column for not wanting "glitterhouse" to become a generic term. Cheesy, shmeezy, it's just not accurate enough. There is ZERO glitter on the houses we most value, the ones from the "Golden Age" of the late '20's to '30's. I think that Paul's acquaintance with Christmas houses is perhaps with those of more recent vintage, which have glitter aplenty. But that won't tell the whole story! When I see the word "glitterhouse" (a very new term for me) I instantly picture those simple little structures from the '60's that sparkle a bit in the sunshine.

What do ALL houses from the late 1920's to the 1960's have in common? Cardboard. They're made of cardboard. Call 'em Christmas cardboard houses and be done with it.- Antoinette
Ditto! I’m not sure what we called them in my family other than “The Village.” I am 100% positive we did not refer to them as “Glitter Houses!” - Janet Watt
Well being from the great plains I have no trouble with the word putz as I only think of it as the under-the-Christmas-tree villages. HOWEVER I am not overly fond of the term "glitterhouse" as to me it implies something cheap and somewhat tawdry and from the fifties when we used glitter on everything. I guess the P.C. speech policepersons job is never done! - Tom Hull
Yeah - I have kind of a cheesey feeling about it myself Not my favorite by any means, and I'd hate to see it become the generic norm. "Glitter" does equate with "cheap and gaudy" in our language anymore. But it is tough to come up with a domain name that the majority would harken to in a single word. Nothing was ever standardized over all those years. But we just called them the "village houses" in my childhood, too. -PT


December 01,07:
Ted, I am using the term "glitterhouse" only because "putz house" means nothing to most people, but "putz" by itself has obscene and derogatory meanings in Yiddish and German. So when I use the word putz, in my "family-friendly" sites, I'm VERY careful to define it. :-)
In the meantime, I'm using the word "glitterhouse" in my article titles so folks who know German or Yiddish and don't know what a "putz house" is won't take off ense. I actually thought it up on my own, although I'm not surprised that other people have independently called them the same thing. It's easier than saying "vintage pasteboard houses imported from Japan with colored celophane in the windows and a hole in the light for a C6 light bulb."
I just sent the link to my glitterhouse articles in my e-mail newsletters to a mailing list of several hundred people, so hopefully, you'll be seeing an increase in traffic and interest.
Thanks again for your help, -Paul
"Putz" is negative in the American Yiddish, yes - but not in German. It's a German word from the perfectly correct German verb "putzen" - to put or set in place. Likewise, "schmuck" is derogatory in Yiddish, but in German means "ornamentation." "Christbaumschmuck" means "Christmas tree trimmings." "Christmas tree ornaments."

My guess they're American slang-bastardizations that probably sprang up around the latter part of the 19th Century on the Lower East Side of New York and the Jewish quarters of Chicago and other large eastern cities. American Yiddish only, and now part of the common American language. If you ever get a chance to visit the fabulous "Kristkindle Marts" (open-air Christmas fairs) of Germany and Austria at this time year, you'll see those words everywhere and they're not derogatory in the least. Not very musical to our ears, but certainly do set little German kiddies' eyes a-aparkling!

I've been seeing "glitterhouse" all over eBay and hearing it for years, so it's in wide use to be sure. I was just wondering if it's peculiar to some portion of the Country. I hadn't heard the word "putz," either, until I got into this thing. Most often it was "The Christmas village houses,"( that's what we always called them) or "snow village houses," or "village scene." I actually never heard the term "glitterhouse" till I was in my mid-fifties.



November 29,'07:
I am in awe. I just visited your site at the suggestion of someone else and it is amazing.
My Mom introduced me to villages...I believe she got hers from a store many years ago (she's 82) and she gave it to me a few years ago. We put it up for the holidays...brings back a lot of memories.
Your site is indeed a museum.
I wrote to you via eBay because I have the 122 houses for sale...I collected them over the years, and simply cannot put them up because we have 3 dogs and 2 cats that would terrorize the villages!
If you get a moment, if you could comment on my collection I'd appreciate it. The lady who referred me to you, Barb, said most of my houses seem to have been made in the 50's. I didn't really see too many churches at your site, at least the kind that I have. And, does having the two in original packaging mean anything, or is that more of a "that's nice Rob, but, um, who cares"?
I know I have over $800 in the whole collection because I bought pieces individually off eBay over the years. I was hoping to get $500 for the whole lot. Reasonable? Or do you think I'm going to need to break it up into individual pieces...ugh!
Any advice/suggestions/comments/quips or other thoughts are certainly appreciated.
Regards, Rob Teeple
Thanks for the very kind words, Rob. Actually, it's been a lifetime in the making.
Gee, I sympathize with you. I am in the same boat myself - have way too much stuff and dealing on eBay has just gotten to be more trouble than it's worth (in my opinion.) Without seeing your houses there is no way I could tell you much, but Barb knows her stuff. I have thought of dribbling my excess out through local antique dealers, but so far haven't moved on that idea. Sorry I can't be of more help. I will post your letter and perhaps someone out there might be interested in the lot.


November 26,'07:
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You have reminded me of much that seemed forgotten.
Tom Hirsch
That's the amazing thing about it, Tom. You find these things you haven't seen for 50 years and it all comes back, doesn't it? I think that's why people collect.


November 20, '07
Dear Papa Ted,
I just love your site and have wrote in the past telling you how informative it is. We finally brought my husband's childhood Christmas items from his Mom's house. She is 92. Among the items were mica snow houses marked Made in USA which I haven't identified yet. They seem very basic. Manilla colored cardboard and muted color s on just the house and roof. (one is a mustard gold house with a reddish roof and chimney. The corner piece of fence is goldish on the side and white on the front. There are splashes of mica white snow on the roof, the front fence piece and the chimney. A loofa brush tree has some mica snow on it next to the chimney and the windowns are green and silver. Based on my husband's age and old pictures they may be from the early 1940's unless they were in his Mom's family and are older.
But what I really was happy to find are these unusual garden pieces. First is a metal arbor made of chicken wire with Christmas greens growning over it. The second piece is a well with a moving bucket. The paper tag reads 100% American Made. It is made of wood with what looks like dribbled paint all over it. The Thrid piece is a bird bath with a plaster bird on it that says Japan. Then there are 2 garden stands with those reflecting balls that match the bird bath. They are painted to like like cement grey. Also two matching potted trees in what looks like cement pots.
Do I have 3 different sets? The bird bath, 2 trees, and two reflecting glass globes look like one set. The wishing well and the arbor look like two different makers.
I can send you a picture if you would like. I think size wise they would go with the biggest houses like the large loggies. They are just unusual. We go to at least 1 antique auction a week and I have never seen the reflecting balls and rarely the other items - maybe someting similar but not the same. Keep up the good work. We are emptying a 15 room Victorian house that was owned by a hoarder. But we yet to find a real real old house. Thank you again for your time and wonderful site.
Happy Holidays,
Gini Steigerwalt -in the heart of the Poconos of P A.
Well Gini - it's good to hear from you!
I think I can visualize just about every item you described. I'd bet you have Dolly Toy Co. houses.(See the WW II and POSTWAR sections of my website.) I have one of those "chicken wire" rose arbors, too - and the dipping well and so forth. I was pretty sure those were German, but your "100% American Made" lable has me rethinking that. Hmmm. That almost certainly dates them to the heat of WW II, because anything Japanese was anathema and that pronouncement was totally characteristics of those years. I have a bird bath with crinkly flat wires supposed to be a fountain, a lead-cast"general" on a pedestal, some lawn mirror balls and some papaer mache "hedges" that I loosely call the "park set." I had supposed they were sold in dimestores meant to be accessories to doll houses and always assumed them to be Japanese, but you give me pause to rethink this. I have used these items arrayed in front of vintage Lioenl train stations on some of my set-ups. It would be very interesting to discover after all these years that these were American, and if so - who made them????
Yes - if you could send pictures I could tell you more.
Oh, gee - a hoarder! I pity you. What a job! I fear my own family will be faced with this when I pass along, but for now - I love my stuff!
-Ted


November 20,'07:
Hello, Just a short note to let you know how thrilled I am to be adding more Putz houses to my set. By set I mean I have collected over the years and at xmas I set up a little village. Well now I am so hooked I am looking for more to make a whole town. LOL LOL I was bidding on the ebay and some nice gentleman advised me to go on your web site for instructions on the fixer upper houses. I am enthrolled I love it. I am 65yrs old and so sorry I did not get started earlier on. At xmas for years my thing was houses ceramic with little people. But now I have another dream hobby., Thanks very much for printing the letters people send and advice.
Sincerely Sonja from Calif.
Well, Sonja - Thanks for writing and welcome to this delightful addiction! I am one year older than you. These things from my childhood were missing from my life for many years and almost forgotten, but I began to rediscover them a few decades ago. It brought the child in me to life again. We live together in peace and love now. He (I) has become the son I never had. I have bought him back most of the toys he longed for and never had. His heart is no longer disappointed and neither is mine. We are so alike, he and I - what better son could I have wished for?
-Ted


November 19,'07:
Hi Ted! Greetings from the Green Mountains of Vermont! Yesiree! Way up North by the Canadian Border - about as far north as one can go in this US of A! Well anyhow, after ordering your little kit of samples for the window and door replacements, I took the black and white illustration identifying the windows and I marked the I.D. order number on each window, then I placed the sheet on a self sticking felt sheet as a backing. Then I cut each window out and placed them all in a little box. Now when I wish to measure a window for replacement - it is SO EASY to hold one of these actual sizes up to the window and take the number of f it and record it. Also with the added thickness of the felt backer on the windows they are really easy for fingers to hold and to manage. As I go along and i make my order list! So I thought I would pass this information along to you in the event it has not been achieved by anyone yet.........but with the popularity of webb site, I kinda doubt that. But sending it along just to make sure.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! And ditto to every soul who has expressed their joy and gratitude to you for your wonderful webb site!....it is priceless and so contagiously wonderful....
PeeJay/Vt.
Thanks, PJ - and you know what? In all the years of sending out these kits, you are the first to report back the way anybody actually uses them! I suppose everyone does it a little differently, but this is a great idea and you will have those silhouttes to size up what you need for a thousand houses to come.
The actual-size silhouettes are for the clear CEL types, of course, but since we're on the subject - I wanted to discuss something that has always puzzled me about the paper doors. They are always too big for the openings, and you never see the borders. I often wonder if the Japanese hadn't planned a series of larger houses and then never got around to it. But that's how they were - and are. We took all the designs from actual originals and very carefully kept the exact size.


November 18,'07:
Ted
I am so grateful that you have allowed me to participate in your site. It has meant a lot to me. Whenever I am stressed I turn to your site and revisit this happy place. This and singing with a local group of barbershoppers are really good outlets for me but with your site I can visit any time I wish. It is so good for me to get away from the cares of the day by "talking" about these houses. I have learned so much from your site, you and others and what we have with your site is a sort of a "Christmas archeology" as it is so much based on what ever remains behind from those decades and what ever we can deduce from them.
I had hoped that perhaps a Japanese correspondent would become interested in these very charming houses and the associated activities of their immediate ancestors. But so far this has not been the case. We really need to hear from them to get the Japanese perspective on these historic houses and fill in some gaps in our knowledge of those times.
As the seasons of festivities draws near and we set out our Putzes let us remember the joy of Christmas past as well as Christmas present and be thankful for all that we have and can truly feel the peace that only God can provide.
"God bless us everyone" T. Tim.
Tom Hull
We are all so grateful for your extensive contributions, Tom. You have added SO much! I think your construction articles have launched a whole new National hobby. And, Amen!- "God bless us, every one."


November 11, 07:
Dear Mr. Althof,
I just wanted to take a moment to say "Thank You" for providing such a wonderful, informative website: Papa Ted's Place. I have been utilizing many of your restoration tips on some old Putz houses I have acquired. The "cornstarch cleaning" is excellent. I am going to be ordering some of your windows very soon.
I also wanted to add two tips: I acquired an old "hacienda" style putz house with the santa figure on it. I cleaned the house up beautifully by following your "cornstarch cleaning" instructions, but I couldn't get the little Santa clean. So, I used a TINY dab of Dawn dishwashing liquid on a slightly damp corner of a paper towel and wiped him down GENTLY. It worked! He isn't PERFECT, but he is MUCH cleaner than before.
Tip #2: I found some PLAIN cellophane rolls of red (and blue) cellophane at Papermart in Pittsburgh for a couple of bucks per roll. I thought I may use this PLAIN cellophane to replace PLAIN windows, since you don't sell those. Just a thought.
Also, do you know how to clean the Dolly toy company foil-like finish houses? Well, thank you again for a GREAT website, I'm recommending it to everyone interested in Putz houses.
Sincerely, Susan Reeb
We have Tom Hull to thank for discovering that cornstarch method. He got the tip from an old old lady in Kansas who told him it was the basis of home-made carpet cleaners since the 19th Century. It is, indeed , almost magical the way it works - and nobody can really explain why.
I'm glad your dishwashing liquid worked on that Santa, but I'd never have chanced it myself. I restore old electric trains now and then, and one of the techniques is to soak the old tin car bodies in a detergent solution. The old, decrepit paint just slides off like mud in water. I would be afraid to apply detergents to these very old prewar paints. I think you were lucky! I have used liquid car wax and tissues to clean old paints on hard surfaces at times.

Looks like you are very close to me (I'm in Tarentum.) I never heard of "Papermart." Where are they? Do they have a website?And are you sure that's real cellophane and not polypropelene film?
Thanks , again, for writing and continued good luck on your projects! Keep us posted! _Ted


November 9, '07:
Ted, I love your site and consider it a true museum. I like to make houses with my family. We use 4 oz. milk cartons as bases and some of my relatives have really produced some fine pieces. They are like little chalets in shape and decorated with seeds and beads. I was inspired by your Czech house in one of the Houses of the Month. The house has a grey backdrop with white trees. I made a similar one using matte board. It came out pretty good. I made the houses full size rather that relief though and I think the relief is very effective. My family and I sit around on Christmas night and the day after Christmas and make houses. It is a very soothing atmosphere and we have great conversation s. It pulls everyone together. I like to tour through your museum to get ideas.
Thank you for all you have done.
Jane
Wonderful, Jane! Things like this are what I hope for.


March 03,'07:
Ted -
Really enjoyed the castle and could "feel" Tom's excitement about the nooks and crannies coming off of the screen! Very cool. Also enjoyed the houses that Aimee sells and believe it adds a nice "touch" to your ever-charming site. Thanks for notifying us of March offerings. * Thelma Bernard- Las Vegas, NV
Entirely welcome, Thelma! No problem!


February 09,'07:
Ted,
I am having a ball restoring these little beauties. My kitchen table looks just like your work area. I find myself looking for the houses in every antique store I enter. So glad I found you! Can't wait to get to the post office some days.
* Lois Bennett - Nellysford, VA
Thanks, Lois. Sure sounds familiar - and good hunting!


February 05.'07:
Mr. Althof -
Enjoy your site immensely! What childhood memories it enkindles. My old Polish Grandma in Syracuse, N.Y. had a village of over 100 houses when I was a child. What magic it was! Unfortuneately, after she passed away, it was stolen from her basement where it was stored.
I have a meager 20 houses - mostly inherited from my Mom - nothing extravagent But i treasure every one. Your site gave me the courage & information I needed to refurbish them. Thanks so much for the information! Know you have a big fan down here in Louisiana - where the cardboard Christmas houses are few and far between & relatively unknown.
Thanks again! * Dodie Ramsey - Pride, LA
Oh gee, Dodie - what a loss! We sure would have loved to have seen your Grandma's collection! But this same story crops up and up again, and it is also true of me; all the original stuff except my old train engine was gone. Then one day you come across something in a flea market or yard sale you hadn't seen in 50 years and it all comes flooding back again. It re-unites us with who we have been from the beginning.


February 03,'07:
Ted, I was born in 1950. My mother always put up the decorations. Dad would haul the tree/train platform out of the basement. He would set it up below the front window,put the tree in the center. And of coarse that was it for him [he probably didn't care that platform was a full size sheet of 3/4" plywood and until us kids got older,well] A 4by8 area gave mom plenty of space to fill. And she did!! We had the train on a rectangular track and the tree was a good18' higher so she would build mountains and hills out of cardboard boxes she used the same boxes every year. She would cover the boxes with cotton sheets and some real sheets, and set up at least a dozen. separate scenes. I'm sure I could go on and on about them. But I'll just say this. When you would lay on the floor and run the train you would go to all those places. Anyway we had several putz houses of different sizes. All these things are gone now ,and it is painful to try and remember what happened to it all. My wife comes home from an estate sale with a few of these houses. They had pieces missing. I like to tinker so I fixed them up. You have to look close. I was able to match the paint colors and made a chimney. We just down sized and moved. We have a entire closet with just X-mas decorations three trees. We barely have room for one tree. My wife sold them on e-bay and I pretty much thought that was that. A week latter I stumbled on too your site. Read your story and some of the letters . I have practiced the art of bonsai for over twenty years and will read anything about Japan arts and design Well I just can't stop thinking about restoring these wonderful little houses. I have since been able to find about 20 of the little devils most of which need a lot of repair, if not just a good cleaning. I've got the cleaning part down. My biggest concern is how much restoration can be done with out ruining a authentic piece? I note that you talk about latex house paint I used artist acrylics and acrylic craft paint. Are there any no no's I need to know about before I start? Would apreciate any help you could give me. I will continue to watch your web site truely a treasure in it's self. Hope to hear from you soon.
* Nick Nicholson - Webster Groves, MO
Well, Nick, that's just exactly the way putzing memories happen. Good story! - and my story, too! - I, too, would lie beside the display and watch the train and imagine what unknowable places it was coming from and who was coming home to which house. I believe that kids who missed out on having a putz custom at home have missed out terribly. As a preschooler, safe and encloistered in the known world of my parents and my house, the putz started me on the realization that this reflected a far greater world outside. I began to think about that world and to compare the town around me with the putz as we went driving. I truly do believe that it was the starting point of my whole social sense of community and world beyond.

If you are matching colors and replacing lost cardboard already you are pretty well on your way. Just about all i know can be found in the REPAIR-RESTORATION section and its sub-sections. I see no objection to doing extensive repairs so long as one tries to get the original look. It's when people goof them up with doo-dads and silly add-ons and wierd paint schemes that the value is ruined. We see those tragic cases on eBay now and then. One big no-no I would caution against is using hot glue guns. Don't do it! And NEVER use that awful spray-on "snow!" The secret of replacing windows is to get the inside edges clean and free of old debris and smooth before hand. A common nail file will usually do it.

Some really nice new houses are starting to be available, and that's fine for young families starting a putz tradition - but no new stuff really "does it" for us older hard-line collectors. We want mysterious "ghosts of Christmas Past" dwelling in our old houses. We love to wonder and imagine what long-gone Christmases they saw, what stories they might tell. So, lovingly doing authentic restorations of old beat-up originals is fine with me. The more that can be saved the better!


February 02,'07:
Absolutely Outstanding!!!!! I not only love the house but the commentary. (Feb. 07 House of the Month)As I have said before, this is how I learn about the houses. Each and every thought and view is so important to the process of learning and identifying houses. This is as valuable as the histories themselves that you put together in your site.
Loved the intel on the Butler Bros. stuff. Where do ya'll get all this info. I need to start researching too. I feel so inadequate, kind of like the "Lone Southerner" with no Putz info to share. I need to "beef up" my knowledge so share everything!!!!!!!
* Janet Watt - Columbia, SC
Well, don't feel inadequate about it!. When i started the site I had some idea, but then with people catching stuff on ebay - stories coming in - the contributions of enthusiasts - finding rich old catalogs, etc. - this knowledge has come in by all kinds of surprising directions over 7 years! I can't tell you how many times I have had to revise stuff I wrote, but I love it! Lots of people say they want it to come out in a book, but I really think this is better. A book is a frozen thing. Once printed, that's it. I have a shelf of collectibles books that are now known to be full of errors and obsolete - written in haste to make a publishing deadline. I only keep them for the pictures; the information is very often inaccurate.
Just in the past two years, however, this may no longer be so about a book. With the advent of such findings as "The Chicago Dates," "The Butler Bros. Catalogs," and "The Fair Set," - I feel the knowledge is getting pretty good. I really don't forsee radical upsets anymore - just evermore fascinating details.


February 01,'07:
I also want to thank you for your link to the Christmas light “museum”
My fella and I are crazy about bubble lights and it was wonderful to read their history
Thank you so much again -
* Maria Cudequest - Croton on Hudson, NY
I'm nuts about the bubblers - and all the old lights, too - as well as trains and toys and ornaments - but tons of stuff had already been written on those subjects, which is why I chose to tackle the Christmas houses. There was almost nothing on them at the time I started this project. Just a few scattered references. That's a really great non-commercial website, isn't it? I'm proud to be linked. He's doing a great job!


January 31,'07:
Ted, I came across this Butler Bros. entry in an online Chicago encyclopedia. The interesting facts are that the catalog operations were stationed in Chicago -- and one can see why. The heartland warehouses would have been optimal, centralized shipping to the entire country.
The other interesting aspect of this entry is that Butler Bros. supplied the Ben Franklin dimestore chain. Ben Franklin 5 & 10's were the first retail franchise, each store owned individually, mostly in small towns. So if we find any houses with Ben Franklin price stickers on them, we can bet they were supplied by Butler Bros. (who had a 16-story office building on -- where else? -- State St. in Chicago).
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2583.html

- Antoinette
I knew about the Ben Franklin's. I believe there is already a reference to that on the site, or a link to one. I know that those warehouses must have been vast, because every now and then stuff would come into the old BF in Russell, Kansas that was decades old, but we didn't know it. For example, when the big SCI-FI space-toy craze hit in the early fifties, there was suddenly a lot of rather quaint Buck Rogers stuff there one summer. We bought a whole series of these little die-cast space ships that rolled down a string on pulleys - and I got one of the big gold sparking Buck Rogers metal ray guns made by Daisy for $1.49. We rigged up a whole solar-system in the cellar arranged around those little rolling rockets. What a ball! There were 3 different kinds, as I recall. Having read toy collectors books since then, those were made in the '30s. NOS - forgotten then found somewhere in the dark recesses of those big warehouses. dusted off and shipped out to the stores to meet the new craze of 20 years later. Boy, i wish i still had them! We paid 25 cts. for the space ships and they are worth in excess of $700 each today. The gun is worth $500. But it's not just the money - those things were simply great!


January 30,'07:
Ted, I was just on your site, looking over that huge estate sale from a couple of years ago -- and was saddened all over again to know that that wonderful, comprehensive collection, gathered together with love and time and care, got broken up. Frankly, I can't even blame the seller -- the set was far too massive to offer as one lot and would not have attracted enough buyers or made enough return -- but, oh, to see it go in bits and pieces. So, so sad. I wish Junior could have lived forever. I wish his houses could have given him comfort as he did.
It's so good that you posted what you could fit on PapaTed's Place. -
* Antoinette Stockenberg - Newport, RI
Thanks. At least there is a published record of it now ... as with The Fair Set. I wonder if we'll ever see the like of these entries again.


January 25,'07:
Ted, I have been reading your website for several months and WOW! I thought the little putz houses my mom had were the typical Christmas houses. Well, hers are mostly the post-war, white card-stock kind. I have them now and after aquiring a grocery bag full of houses at our local antique mall (they were mostly fixer-uppers) when I found your site, I gained the confidence to start the restoration process! Now I'm HOOKED! I even made 10 houses of my own this past Christmas - I gave most of them as gifts. My real challenge was to make a house resembling my sister's rather modern house with many windows and decks! I think i succceded in giving it that 'putz' style.
Thanks for rekindling so many Christmas memories for so many people. I remember my brother's train set-up in the early 50's (I was born in 1951) Sadly, it was in a repair shop one year and it was the victim of a fire. Lots of little boys probably lost their favorite train sets that year! I'm now on a quest to collect the little pine-cone elves I remember hanging on our tree. I'm happy to say that just a little bit of Christmas Vintage is enough to satisfy me. I don't think i'll get too carried away! But I still can't believe the absolute beauty of those Coconuts i first saw on your website. It's not easy to explain it to others! I just refer them to Papa Ted's Place!
Thanks so much, * Sue Stewart
Well, I hate to break it to you, Sue, but too late! You are carried away! Really nice job on those houses (see "PUTZES 2006") you made. If you can make those, pinecone elves should be a snap!


January 24,'07:
Hello Ted, I hope your holidays were happy and healthy! I had the most wonderful time setting up my mantel putz this year (no great pix sorry to say) and the hardest time taking it down .
Would you look at the house/hotel building I won on ebay today? It is in need of some repair, the fence is partially missing which I can model from the other side. Also appears to be a balcony missing from above the door, see closeup. I checked your website to see if I could find anything like it but didn't see it. Have you seen this before? Any idea what the balcony should look like?
Is it possible that I could get it touch with your friend Tom Hull for repair advice ? I'd be happy for you to give him my email if you aren't comfortable giving me his. Thanks so much!
I love the additions to your site, and really enjoyed peoples letters to you!
Barbara Healy
I will forward your message to Tom hull, Barbara. I have not seen that house before. It's very interesting! And I know what you mean about taking it all down ..I have a train-putz in my living room that's been there for 15 years! Strange sounds come out of it .... wooo!


January20,'07:
Hello Ted, I know that that Xmas has come and gone for this year, but I just had to write and tell you a big thank you for your wonderful website!
I have always looked longingly at these displays in store windows and at other people's homes when I was a child, but somehow my parents never really got into xmas decorating much. I was innocently looking for something completely unrelated on eBay and came across these dear little houses and bottlebrush tree scenes. Well, long story short, it rekindled my childhood dreams (I'm 52) and thus I found your website, purchased some houses and trees ( a mix of old and new) and I can't wait for next Christmas!!! I am going to try make some of my own as Cody Foster and others have done, as those nice collector houses are unfortunately way out of my price range.
I have nothing but Christmas Villages on my mind now as I look for likely places in the house to display and literally whooped with joy while dusting an old mirror when I 'saw' that will make a great ice rink for the village! hehehe. Thanks for the inspirations, the history lessons and sharing the joys of these totally cool new "old" things.
Warm, regards, gg
That's the spirit, Gretchen! It's never too late!


January 12, '07:
Ted,
You really outdid yourself with the January HOM pictures! Thank you for preserving the set in photos for everyone to enjoy. I agree with you, it is a crime to break apart a set that has been together for years. It would be great if they all find their way back to their original box, sigh.
Joye
Thanks, Joye! The real credit belongs to Antoinette who had the presence of mind to capture the pictures off the auction! If not for that, this key piece of the knowledge would have been lost forever.


January 10, '07:
I cannot tell you how truly happy I was to find your site. And of course I was so excited when I saw that there was someone making them—alas, who no longer is.
Should that change, please let me know. Because I would buy at least one of his houses a month all this year!
Thank you for your wonderful site.
Maria


January 9, '07:
What warm, wonderful memories the pictures bring back to me...we had 8 houses and 8 Noma lights when I was a child back in the dark ages...(I'm a '43 baby and my sister came along in '46)...Each Christmas we would build a scene under the tree or on a table with the little cardboard houses, American Flyer trains and houses we built from American Plastic Bricks and Lincoln Logs...I'm sad to say that the houses, trains and other items were sold when I was a teenager and needed money for something or other.. After finding your site, I have inspired to make some houses and start all over...(with an electric train, too)...I will send you some pictures when I am further along...
Best regards,
Howard Lamey, Jacksonville, FL
Gee, Howard, but we're close in age and experience! I can identify with everything you said. I can't tell you how many collectors I know who lost all their original stuff in one way or another - only to be willing to pay a small fortune to restore it and go way beyond. Who knew how deeply these "trivial"things had entered into us?


December 30, '06:
Hello Ted
Hope you’ve enjoyed a merry and blessed Christmas. Many thanks for the replacement windows and doors you sent earlier (particularly the extras which, as it happened, were needed). I’ve been doing a bit of “house-hunting” since our earlier communication, and am enclosing here one of two sets of putz pictures which you might wish to post on the website. This one is a small bookshelf putz which, as you can see by the “big picture”, is part of a larger display. The Mary and Joseph figures in the crèche scene at the bottom are the last two surviving pieces from my grandfather’s old terra-cotta nativity which was either brought from Italy (c. 1901, when his family emigrated here) or ordered from there when he was an adult (which would be c. 1928-1935). My mother has vivid memories of this set being displayed in the basement of their home in Jersey City when she was a child; a star was rigged up at the top of the cellar stairs which led one down to the “presepio”, which took up most of the basement. It was, apparently, sufficiently impressive to have merited an article in the local paper. Grandpa had a lively competition going on with a fellow Italian émigré whose display included moving figures, which he operated from underneath the table on which the whole works was displayed. According to my mother, both of these Nativity displays included numerous peasant figures in addition to the shepherds and wise men, which was typical of many European crèche displays (and can still be seen today in the unending supply of figures produced by Fontanini).
After my grandfather died in 1983, I inherited these two surviving figures. For years, I displayed them more or less as you see here at the bottom of this old free-standing bookshelf with a replacement Baby Jesus. On the divided shelf directly above, I would put the Neapolitan-style angel (a garage sale find) flanked by two composition fruit topiaries (my own creations, along with the Star of Bethlehem which you can partially see on the top shelf). The effect reminded me of an old altarpiece. I was always at a loss as to what to put on the second shelf from the top, and usually settled for a row of assorted Christmas knick-knacks in front of the books. This year, I decided to create a small pastoral scene similar to the ones which probably featured in my grandfather’s layout. The figures are from the Britains Ltd. John Hill Farm series (except for the running deer, which is of French origin). I incorporated four of the putz houses, choosing three of the more rustic-looking ones in country colors (coal black, barn red, and yellow) and a “loggie” (ideally, I suppose, it would work best using all loggies, but I have only this one). Preserved moss, cotton batting, bottle-brush trees, and dried branches provided the scenery. To create the different levels on this, as well as the next putz I’ll be showing you, I used the various books that were displaced from the shelves for the creation of the display (which saved me having to find a place for them until after the holidays!). The whole “village” is all of 2’ long by 11” high (maybe we should call this “long story, short putz?”). Judging by the reaction it’s received, I think it will become a permanent part of the “altarpiece”.
Hope you will enjoy the pictures; more to come.
Jim McLean
Thanks, Jim! I have been sorely remiss in getting things on the site this year, but am catching up, now. I'll have your pictures on at some point as I build "PUTZES 2006" from now till Easter! Lots of neat things to come...I promise!


December 17,'06:
Dear Ted, I discovered your site a couple of days ago after finding a bag of these houses at a thrift store. I paid $1.99 for the lot of sixteen. I had never seen items like these before. I come from a part of the world where these villages were not one of the Christmas traditions. They were a bit battered with many of the windows punctured but I liked them anyway because of my weakness for little houses. I asked another shopper if she knew anything about these houses and she explained that all she could tell me was that they were very old because she was 61 and had known houses like those as a child.
In this bag there were about eight "Made in Japan" houses and about the same number of plastic ones. The "Made in Japan" houses are lightweight and have fine wire and cord loops so they must have been made for hanging on the tree. There are holes at the back to insert the lights. The plastic ones are not like the solid color plastic ones that you included on your site. These are white and the fronts slide off from the roof and base. There are printed sticker facades stuck to the fronts and the entire house illuminates when lit and gold glitter along the eaves. I don't know where the plastic ones were made but they go well with the Japanese ones.
I had to satisfy my curiousity so I went on the Internet to find out if anything had been written about them. Your amazing site answered most of my questions and I felt that I was in the presence of someone who feels the same wonder. Now I also want to know more about the people who made these Japanese exports and what prompted that industry. Thank you for acknowledging their contribution.
I also loved what you said in The Magic Window. That is exactly it! Although these houses were not part of my formative years or my culture, as I hold them, the aura that I sense around these well loved and worn houses certainly was, one of innocence and tranquility and homecoming. We really do go home for Christmas, if not physically then in our hearts, a sentimental journey that for some is either joyful or sad or a mixture of both. Thank you so much for all the work that you lovingly put into this site. I wish you and yours health and happiness and peace.
L. Leigh
(Lumiere grew up in Trinidad and Tobago in the Carribean.) Thank you so much, Lumiere. It sounds like what you picked up are some of the "Alpine Village" pieces of the late 1960s... the very last of the "Made in Japan" houses. At that price you can hardly go wrong! Nativities and putzes are the same idea - a little world beneath the celestial majesty of the tree. The Moravian Germans who began them started mainly with Nativities or Noah's Ark scenes. A story on display. I'm so glad you have found this new interest! It's a warming,pleasant thing... and you are exactly right; it's all about a sense of home.


June 30,'06
Dear Ted,
My name is George and I love your site. When I feel down I just go to This wonderful place you have lovingly created. Bless You Ted. Today I came to buy some of Karl's beautiful creations for my ever growing Chritmas Town. Sadly I see he is not currently making them. Please let Me know by e-mail if he decides to resume and begin making them again. I feel sad as I was putting this off for a while. I guess I should have ordered them when I first saw them on Your site. Much continued success with this beautiful heartwarming place I can go to. Thank You Sincerely Ted.
Blessings to You & Yours, George Bogart L.I. N.Y.

Thank you so much for the kind words, George, and keep the faith because Karl informs me that after they have moved and settled in it may well be that his houses become available again. Perhaps not this year, but possibly next.They are going through a major upheaval in their lives right now. I will certainly let you know.
-Ted


June 12,'06:
"Ted,
I have decided to suspend production of my Christmas Houses indefinitely. Between my job, family demands, and our efforts to relocate, there is simply not enough time to devote to the houses. When we finally get re-settled we may attempt to re-start the business, but at this point I'm afraid it's already too late for the 2006 season. At this time last year I had 75 houses on the shelves. This year I have none. - Karl Fey" (06/12/06)

I'm so very sorry, Karl. Those who have aquired your pieces thus far are very very lucky indeed. It was a very valiant effort, and I understand. Family and health must come first. We'll re-open this any time you say. - Ted


June 07,'06:
Hello
I've enjoyed browsing your fascinating and nostalgic site. The cardboard houses we used to decorate with when I was growing up were among my favorites, and I always regretted that, while I have many decorations from my past, none of the houses survived. There is one particular house that I remember, as it was one of my favorites. We called it the "mirror house", and it was like a little stage. It had four walls- two very narrow side walls and a large pentagonal back wall that was folded into two halves. Each of these halves had a pentagonal mirror bordered by golden glass beads (which also border ed the front). In the center was a small composition Santa sleigh with two reindeer, two red-capped composition mushrooms, and a few scattered tiny bottle-brush trees. The front was open, and little scene was reflected in the mirrors. It had a flat cardboard base; the walls were white and the roof red, both were sprinkled with glitter (silver, as I recall) and a tiny metallic red star was affixed to the peak of the back wall. It was apparently not intended to be illuminated; there were no windows and no place to insert a light bulb. I was born in 1958, and remember this house as having been a recent acquisition, not an heirloom; my parents would probably have bought it during the early sixties. I haven't seen any houses like it on your site, either in the pictures or the catalogue pages, nor have I seen it mentioned. I was wondering if you or any of your readers recall such a house from their own Christmases past and have any information about it. I was also reading the section on tree restoration, and have a bit of advice to offer regarding loofahs- my local IGA supermarket sells full-sized loofahs in the aisle devoted to soaps and cleaning supplies. I'm told that any supermarket or bodega which caters to a large Latino population will probably have some on hand, as they are quite accustomed to using them.

Hope I've been of some assistance, and I hope there's someone out there who had a "mirror house" in their past.
Jim McLean Brentwood, NY

Well, Thanks, Jim - for the kind remarks and info!
Actually, I have often seen those mirrored ones as you describe and think that down in the depths of my collection somewhere may even have a few. I hadn't gotten into them (yet) because they are not quite houses - actually ornaments to be hung on the tree and reflect the lights. I have seen at least 3 variations with Santa& sleigh, a tiny white church, and (I think) snowman figures. The figures I recall were celluloid. I personally call them the "shrines" because they seem like shrines to something Christmassy. I think they are some kind of a cultural confusion relating to the "Creche:" - little mixed-up manger scenes. To me, they have an almost "pagan" quality, but that's okay; Christmas was originally a pagan celebration. ...4,000 years ago at least.
You shouldn't have too much trouble finding those on eBay or at flea markets, antique shops - etc. Most of us collectors are trying to find the stuff Mom threw away, and these are of the late 50's to early 60's, I think....They even made large ones of wood and mirrors that had built-in lights in the '60s. And you are right - they do have a proscenium stage-like quality about them,
I will pass this e-mail along to the gang . We don't have IGA in this area, but others might. A good source of luffah is always welcome.
Thanks again, and I hope you'll revisit the site often.
Best regards, Ted


June 03,'06
I have enjoyed your web site so much. My husband and I are making a village with some of Martha Stewarts 2005 December article influencing us only because we don't know what we are doing, but looking forward to many years of a fun hobby. Keep your web site up! I am going to need a lot of pictures and advise to learn all I can. Happy Holidays all year long, Val hanks, Blackduck, Minnesota


Feb.22,'06
Have collected for myself for 20 years and still have @ 40.I have given @30 to my daughter and a neice who also love them.. I remembered then from my mother using them under the tree every year from 1920's on. Do you remember how they smelled in the early days when they got hot?? We used to have to turn the lights out before they caught on fire. I remember they used to sell sheets of replacements for the doors and windows . I sure wish they did again! Do you know if they still do. Please let me know if you know anyplace I could buy some. Just love your collection. At first used to find at garage sales and yard sales for 50 cents!
Thank you. L. Carolyn Sitler


Feb.03,'06
Papa Ted: I probably should have asked your permission now that I think about it . Please forgive me. I love your site and go there often. What a thrill to see a ll your research and hard work. A wealth of information. Hopefully I did not cause you any heartburn. I truly just wanted everyone to have a source for repairing and cherishing their houses. Blessings to you and yours. Keep up the good work. Jon aka Christmasdude.
No no no, Jon! I don't mind a bit, in fact i appreciate it! You have no idea how many people use my material without even crediting the source. Site fans are always alerting me to these, and it kind of hurts because I don't mind. I just want to spread the word. - PT


Jan.31,'06
Cathie De La Rosa wrote: > Well, I am so excited and surprised to have found "my little houses" on e-bay and then to find a link to your site that told me so much about them. Like many they were a part of Christmas for me. My grandmother put them out every year with (barclay skaters!) and I loved them. Over time, my Mom got them and then last Christmas I found them in a box in her loft (she never put them out anymore!) and so with a little whining about how much I loved them and how sad that they weren't out and they came home with me! I must say they were "tired" and in need of some care so I fixed the missing windows with red cello (now I know where to get real windows!) and carefully reglittered with original colors and they were ready to be used again.

So, my husband thinks I've gone crazy because this is now my collection I am working on. I was in the attic getting down the box to examine what I have (about a dozen houses and assorted barclay skaters and Santa) I always thought these houses were a magical gift but now I know even more! What a wonderful history.

I appreciate all your research and having pictures from different decades as well as the magazines (I've even seen ornaments that my grandmother had and now I have some of!) I want to be a "savvy" shopper and not spend on a house just because it's the "thing" right now. So it has helped me tremendously while looking on e-bay. I keep both windows open to your site and where I'm looking and compare to see what is what. This has been so helpful!

I feel like a true super slueth! And to think that my style house were all I thought there was! Finally, I have located a house that I believe is from the 30's. I think so because it has the preacher figurine(looks like one) in the yard by a church with a unique steeple and a cross on top. It looks just like the ones in the magazines and pictures you have shown. Can you tell me what would be a reasonable price to purchase it for? It does need repair in some areas. I would love to add it to my collection and I feel fairly certain it is from this time period. Any input you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for sharing with so many all of your work!
Cathie De La Rosa


Jan.25,'06:
Dear Papa Ted,
Many thanks for sharing your knowledge of these wonderful houses we love so dearly (And in many cases - pay too much to aquire.)You website is a true joy and I see something different, or see something in a different "light" everytime I visit.
Wishing you much happiness, love, joy and peace in 2006!
Janet Watt - Columbia, SC.


From a special Christmas Card,'05:
We have all been blessed with Papa Ted's Place. Such a gift of the "Magic Window" that touches our childhood memories of Christmas all year. God Bless you in the New Year.
Love, Cathi & Jim


Jan.09,'06:
Well, I took the plunge and decided to list some of the houses I fixed on ebay and I have received about 10 emails a day for the past week asking where I got the windows, so I tell them all ... proceed with caution ... once you see this site you will love putz houses more than ever! Hope you don't mind I gave out your web-site to all these folks, but hey, if it will keep you printing windows, I'm all for it!!! If you like, I can just provide your mailing address and tell them to send for your sample pack but I wouldn't want to do that without your permission. Let me know your thoughts.
Judi

Thanks, Judi! - Heck, no! I sure don't mind you referring people to the website, in fact I TRULY appreciate it! Word-of-mouth is the best kind of advertising there is. There are SO MANY websites out there; I am like one tiny little cork bobbing on an ocean of millions of other tiny little corks. It took 3 years to reach 1,000 on the visits counter. but after that it started to snowball. I got 20,000 this year. Don't send them my e-mailing address; I am constantly answering questions that would have been easliy answered if people had read the website. Just refer them to the main site and tell them to click on "REPRODUCTION PARTS." -Ted


Jan.07,'06:
I saw your website in Martha Stewart. I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed "wandering" around your site. I love those putz houses. Would you know if there are any other books about them. I would love to learn how to make them. I certainly will bookmark your site as a "favorite".....by the way, love the music!!!! I just sent this site to my dad who is going to be 86 in March....he'll love it.
Thanks again.....Sue
Thank you, Sue! Sorry, but no - I know of no other books on this subject. When I started the site 6 years ago there were tons of books on ornaments, vintage Xmas lights, toys and trains, but nothing on the little houses. That's why I took the project on. We learn a little more each year.- "Papa" Ted


Jan.03,'06:
So Beautiful!
just wanted to tell you how wonderful Karl's houses are! My Mom had about 15 of them - couldn't wait to have them put out at Christmas time. She has passed and now they are mine - so many memories! I love the ones here and would like to expand the scenes - have a birthday coming up and will let hubby and the kids know about your site. Thanks so much for keeping this alive and doing it so well.... amazing! Linda Gately


Dec.21,05:
Dear Papa Ted, I am 27 and have been collecting and researching Putz houses intensely for the last 1.5years looking for others and ways to display them. I have always grew up with them, my grandma had them and then my dad took them over when she pasted and he has a giant village on top of an old library table and he has two satelites, one on top of their entertainment center and one in the window. He has collected them for years, being an antique enthusiest and my brother and I would always help him pick some out at the antique shows we would go to. I move d away and now live in Oregon and have spent a couple Christmases alone and decide to start my own village.

Your website is truly awesome!!!! I am so excited that I finaly stumbled upon it. I had no idea what to call certain things and how many different types of houses there are. I would like to send you pictures of my village, but I will have to wait untill after Christmas(I have to wait for my wife to open her digital camera). I am encouraging my Dad to send you pictures of his village in Iowa. Our villages are similar in set up being that he was my inspiration. It is good to know that your site is there for everyone even though I wasn't around in the day of the dimestore I really appreciate the art of the little houses.
Thanks
Brian Bloodgood

That's wonderful, Brian! No kid who has grown up with a putz at Christmas will ever forget it, or want his own kids to miss it. There is a great ressurgence! I would love to see those pictures! For your own sake, too - try to get pictures of your Dad's while you can.- "Papa" Ted


Dec, 21,'05:
Merry Christmas Ted. Today is Winter Solstice. We will only get a few hours of sunlight today if that. I had woke early to finish writing back to the last children who wrote Santa Letters. We don't have postmen here, so I have to get them in their mailboxes so they can be picked up before Christmas Eve. This one letter I must share with you. She had dropped her little pink envelope into the Santa Mailbox early, Inside she had written in lovely printing that she would like a new packback because her old Winnie the Pooh backpack had a hole in it and her skates kept on poking through. I smiled to myself and thought no problem . Till I turned the letter over and NO RETURN ADDRESS! Just thanks Yuuka. On no I thought, What now. So I said a little prayer that the information I needed would come to me in the right time and waited. In the meantime I asked everyone I knew if they knew any families with a little girl named Yuuka. Nothing. Well yesterday I looked for the last time in the Santa Box and what do I see at the bottom of the box, the same familiar little pink envelope and lovely printing! Thankyou God. Someone maybe her or her parents or Yuuka herself had figured out since Santa hadn't written back yet. Maybe there was a problem and had sent me another letter with the information Santa needed. I quickly opened the letter and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Little Yuuka wrote Dear Santa, Forget the backpack. I got one. Please send me a new clock. Still no return address or even a last name. I left work that day wishing things had worked out different but wished I could write back to Yuuka. Just as I turned the corner, I bumped into a nurse I don't really know who works at the doctors office. As a last resort I told her who I was and what I was doing. As soon as I told her about the little girl with the unsual name, she said Oh I know that family, I think they live in Lake Louise. Thankyou God. Bye for now Love Karen

Lovely story, Karen! It sounds as if you're far enough north to hand-carry those letters to Santa himself! Where are you writing from?- "Papa" Ted
(Banff, Alberta, Canada)


Dec.17,'05:
Dear Ted, Merry Christmas. I imagine this is a very busy time of year for you. Me too. After we last spoke I built myself a putz ! Will send pictures as soon as I can get someone I know to take digital pictures. I took my post-war putz down to the Canadian Legion and started to set it up when everyone oohed and awed and talked about their memories at Christmas. The special reward that building and creating bring. I also write back to all the children in town who write Santa. Their letters are priceless. I know that as soon as everyone sees my houses the phone will start ringing for them up here in the mountains but I would really like to partner with you. Let's talk after the holiday. May this e find you and yours healthy and happy. Love Karen

Gee, Karen! You must save the best of those and perhaps share them with us? I'd start a whole new section for that!" - "Papa" Ted


Dec.15,'05:
I’ve been thinking that it’s about time for me to start my own collection. Those cardboard houses were always there for Caroline and me during Christmas, and it’s about time that I brought them into my own house now. That was one of the best arts of the season…pulling the boxes out of the attic and setting up the putz. Can’t let a tradition like that die. I really have to purchase a batch from Karl once the season dies down for him. The craftsmanship he puts into those things is astounding… what a labor of love! His creations would still be a deal at twice the price. Seriously, he should raise his prices. I think my two favorites are the pink hacienda and ‘The Blue House.’ Those in particular are absolutely amazing in color palette and structure. He could get a masters from any design school with creations like those. It is amazing what all these ‘post-martha’ collectors are dishing out on ebay! You should put some junkers up to reel in a quick dollar or two. Get those rembrandt lights out! Man, I wish I had the expendable income to drop $500 on Christmas houses! (I’d probably spend it flying to Belize instead though!… escape this bitter Ohio cold for a minute or two!)
Well, all my love and wishes for continued success with the site! By the way, great new piece by the b&w girl staring up at the Christmas tree.
Your diehard liberal nephew,
-Chris

Thanks, Chris! - and Happy Holidays! You of all people would do a resounding putz, I know! And if wee-Chrislets ever occur, you wouldn't want them to miss it! Love, Uncle "Papa" Ted


Dec 13,'05:
> Dear Ted, > I saw your name mentioned in Martha Stewart magazine and had to view your site. > Gee! I loved looking at all your houses and those that others have sent pictures to share. > I would like to be on your email list and thankyou for that. Now, I have spent too much time looking at all the great stuff > when I have to wake in four hours ha ha. > I bought a complete set of some old Montgomery Ward houses in the original red striped > box at a thrift store quite a few years ago for twenty dollars. The cord has a "tax tag" on it(like the ones on the old > playing cards). Now I forget if it says Made in Occupied Japan or just Occupied Japan. > Anyway, this story is both sad and funny. The set was pristine and it had lots of those batting figures with > the foil accents on the clothes and hats. After displaying it for Christmas, I placed it back in the attic. > The next year I brought it down, opened it up, and mice had eaten ONLY the foil parts. Little hats now with > nibble marks, etc. I'm 52 and when I found that set in the thrift shop, it was all I ever wanted. The same year > I also found an original, in the box, never used, cardboard fake fireplace. Remember those? Now that I'm working FT, I don't have time > to go to the shops. That sure was fun. I didn't see on your site replacement foil...have you ever been asked for that > before? > Thanks for putting your houses on view. The prices you showed for some houses on eBay are too funny. > Sincerely, > Amanda Hutts
Gee, Amanda! I've run into a lot of mouse-nibbles before , but they were always around the cardboard door and widows edges. The mice were after the old animal glue used to keep the paper or cellophane doors and windows in place. I never in my life have heard of mice eating tinfoil! So, no! Nobody has ever asked me for foil before. Sorry! - "Papa" Ted
Happy Holidays! -"Papa" Ted


Dec.12,'05:
Hi, I just found your site from MS magazine. Looking through your photos and infomation which is facinating, I found Mr. Alleger's christmas pictures of his village when he was 3. It is so much like one my aunt had when I was little, (I was born in 1946) that it brought tears to my eyes. How I loved that little village around her little fake tree set on a table which was covered with the same paper bricks Mr. Alleger shows. My aunt had no children, but I don't know what ever happened to all the little snowy scenes she had. Thank you for such a nice memory. B. Bade


Dec.08,'05
Dear Papa Ted. Love your site. Like going back to my childhood. Wonderful. When you get a chance you might change "heard" of celluloid deer to "herd." This isn't criticism! The rest of the site is perfect! Karen Kinnane


Dec.08,'05:
Ted, Well its beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...... Don't know if you remember me but I'm the guy who had the website "Hartney Family Putzs"! You helped me by giving me a "show" on your site and also some valuable advice on website setup and management. I peruse your site regularly and it has been fun watching it grow and prosper. I see where you have given up on the guest book -- me too. You had helped me set mine up and it did OK for about 6 months then the pornographers set in and I just eliminated it. What a shame. My putz goes up this weekend and I'm in the midst of updating my website at http://www.toytrains.4t.com. Pls visit if you get a chance. Keep up the good work and have a Merry Christmas, - Jim Hartney


Dec. 07,05:
I ordered this kit of little houses from the Christmas JC Penney catalog in either 1974 or 1975 for $9.95 (lights included).I have it intact today. I almost threw it out til I learned it was my son and daughter's fondest memory Christmas item. It was in pretty bad shape from years of display so last year I refurbished the glitter and it looks "brand new"
I was reading the Martha Stewart magazine at the hospital today, wrote down your website and was awed to see my glitter houses on your site. -M. Calvey


Dec.03,'05
You have a most wonderful site! I have been searching for information on how to make some of these little 'fairy houses' as my daughter calls them. I stumbled across your site and have bookmarked it for frequent visits. I was born in 1967 and agree with your daughter that the "American Christmas" is alive and well. We live in a small Western New York town which still has a town caroling and tree decorating party every year at the town hall and community center. Ours will be today starting with a day of fun for town children, caroling, reindeer to pet, a decorated tractor and truck/car parade on Main Street and then Santa will come for pictures. While so much of the world marches quickly, without a backward glance, towards future technologies and gizmos we remain true to our heritage. That includes Christmas ( and many other items of both holiday and daily use) decorations which have a long and colorful history from generation to generation. Many have been repaired many times and handled by so many children that the colors are rubbed off. Unfortunately I have no miniature homes for our elves to inhabit but I am going to make several for a mantel display even if it takes me until next Christmas- or beyond- to do. While I have no information to share on these houses I wanted to tell you how much my visit to your site has encouraged me to figure out how to make a variety of these in different styles from simple to hopes of a castle and perhaps more. Happy holidays and good wishes on the book. Jeanne Kacprowicz Marilla, NY


Dec.02,'05
Hi, i just saw the Martha Stewart article. I LOVE YOUR HOUSES. My grandma and grandpa had quite a few little tree ornaments that I always loved, then one year, a "well meaning" relative fixed their tree up with all new ornaments and the houses disappeared. Somehow, one larger church survived!! I got my hands on it and keep it out year round! I don't know why, but the simplicity of these houses warms my heart. Anyway, long story - my grandparents are now deceased, and I was too young and naive to get the background info on many things in their lives, including the little church. Do you happen to know anything about these? You seem very knowledgeable about these houses. Here is a photo I found on ebay of a church that looks identical to mine. Thanks for all the info that may have. Vicki


Dec.02,05
Ted - Just wanted to tell you once again how much I enjoy your perspective on things. What you wrote in one of your forwarded e-mails about Santa Claus, how he is more "real" than what is supposed to be real, is a good example of what I'm referring to in this sincere compliment. Therefore, I am doubly appreciative of your e-mails, since they share what you are telling other people and your heart- felt conclusions and analyses come through from a different viewpoint than one usually finds. You really are an exceptional thinker, a person who thinks with his heart. I hope there are moments in your life when you sense your parents around, looking in at you, or that they appear in dreams for you. Anyway, Big Kid, thanks for all the sharing. Take care. -Little Kid T.


Nov.30,'05
KACEY COMINI-SHERROD wrote:.........The "SECRET ELVES!"

> JOYEUX NOEL EVERYBODY!
> Happy Holidays. I know Christmas is almost here when I have to go rooting through the attic at 6am on the day after Thanksgiving (before the kids wake up). We have a tradition in my family where I secretly put out these old 50's knee-hugging elves to watch over Henry and Royce. These magic elves send reports back to Santa, of course. They only look plastic, and the made in Japan stickers on their butts are just disguises. They really do come from the North Pole. It keeps the boys on their toes. (Henry is sworn to secrecy about the fact that Santa is really mom - upon penalty of death) I'm hoping to keep Royce believing in Santa for one or two more years. He's been running around for days with the Target toy catalog and a pen in his fist.
love,
kaceybaby

Yay, Kacey!
With us it used to be the Ward's Christmas Wishbook, the Western Auto Holiday Flyer, and the one from Firestone -which 10 1/2 months of the year was nothing but a boring tire store , but which for Christmas sold Lionel, American Flyer, and Erector Sets and had them all set up and running in a dazzling, roaring display. I know I still have a noseprint on that Mainstreet Russell, Kansas window to this day. In- delible!
.....I collect old Christmas Wishbooks when I can find them, and it's always amazing to me to find them at all. Any that have survived must have been sent to childless people, because ours were in worse shape than the Dead Sea Scrolls when Christmas FINALLY rolled around! - P.T.