Lorene Trexler Sebastian provided this 1946 clipping she had saved from the Salisbury Post. It shows several thousand people who the night before had jammed Salisbury streets to welcome Santa Claus, officially open the Christmas shopping season and be on hand for the turning on of the downtown lights. Sebastian wrote this note to go with the clipping: ‘Circled on the left side of the picture is my brother, Council Trexler, holding his son on his shoulders, John I. Trexler, age 3. Circled on the right side of the picture is my husband, Walt Sebastian Sr., holding his son, Walt Sebastian Jr., age 5. My sister-in-law and I worked the second shift so the dads took the boys to enjoy the Christmas lights. This is on the Square of Salisbury. Note Belk’s, Phil’s Shoes, Purcells, Tom’s Drug and Newsome Jewelers. Belk’s burned later. The dads have passed away now, but the two boys are still living. This was a year after Walt Sebastian Sr. returned home from the service. I have many memories of shopping these stores.’