WAYNESBORO – A crowd of about 25 stepped back to a 1940s wartime Christmas on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Renfrew, where World War II historian Sarah Lee and museum guide Kirsten Lamb brought the era’s resilient holiday spirit to life.
The event, titled “Christmas with the Nicodemuses,” spotlighted the lives of Waynesboro residents Emma and Edgar Nicodemus amid the nation’s WWII fervor. Attendees explored how families sustained cherished traditions despite global turmoil, from crafting ideal gifts for troops to mailing packages overseas and exchanging letters that bridged distant hearts.
In the Wagon Shed Room and Main Gallery of the Visitors Center, participants nibbled refreshments prepared from authentic wartime recipes — simple, resourceful dishes that echoed rationing-era ingenuity. The afternoon peaked with a hands-on activity: writing personal messages on Christmas cards destined for today’s service members, a nod to the era’s heartfelt outreach.
Sarah Lee is on the Left and Kirsten Lamb is on the right.
Lee, positioned left in event photos, and Lamb, to her right, led the warm gathering with tales of festive defiance. They detailed the clever ways Americans kindled holiday joy — stringing lights on short supplies, singing carols in blackout shadows and sharing stories that fortified resolve.
The session wrapped families and history buffs in a cozy embrace of the season, proving the holidays’ power to endure even in shadow. Organizers hailed the turnout as a timely spark for Waynesboro’s yuletide celebrations.
