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Christmas Memories: Antique Nativity Scene Back On Display In Century
December 4, 2014
A Nativity scene that was first displayed at a Century home over 50 years ago is once again shining bright this Christmas season.
“‘When my sisters and I were children, the Christmas season started for us when Mr. & Mrs. Straughn put their nativity up,” Leslie Gonzalez, now town clerk, said.
Bill and Sarah Straughn first displayed the Nativity scene in 1963 on their screened-in porch on State Line Road, just around the curve from Highway 29 behind what was then Straughn’s Hardware, now a laundromat and self-storage facility.
Now, decades later, their granddaughter Joan Carnley and her husband Hal have moved in and fixed up the family home — and returned the manger scene to display with the help of her parents, Cal and Carol Turner.
“Mom and Dad came and spent Thanksgiving with us so we set it up together,” said Joan Carnley. “Mom said grandmother went out and bought it for my sister Judy and me in 1963. We were living here at the time while my dad was in Vietnam. When we came home at Christmas through later years we always ran to see Baby Jesus. Just a simple manger scene but it evokes memories and feelings of love, family, peace and homecomings.”
Have a Christmas story to share? Email news@NorthEscambia.com.
Pictured: An antique Nativity scene out once again at a home on State Line Road in Century, over 50 years since it was first displayed. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
7 Responses to “Christmas Memories: Antique Nativity Scene Back On Display In Century”
THIS IS MY FAMILY!!!!!
just saw this- Joan is my cousin and I am the 3rd grandchild of Bill and Sara Straughn. My name was Tonya Straughn until I married and changed my last name (bc that happens!). My dad, their son-William Rexford Straughn, just died from COVID. I am all the way in calif and haven’t been to Flomaton/Century in years. This made me smile AND sob bc I miss my dad so much. I would visit Grandmother (Sara) and Granddaddy (‘Bill’/PA) at Christmas with my family bc my dad was in the military and for years visited as an adult. I remember when I would arrive in FLA/AL for Xmas, and I was coming over the overpass or around the ‘bend’, even if it was daytime (and not lit up), I was eagerly looking for the manger scene on their porch. it was ALWAYS there. I remember one year, my husband I and drove there from our home in from Virginia with our 2 dogs and about 20 min before we rolled into Century (formerly known as South Flomaton), I got so excited that our dogs picked up on my emotions and stared barking and panting. That silly little child in me was still there. I remember that at each visit, I would take time to visit the manger alone, gently pick baby Jesus up in my arms (he had small rocks inside his little plastic, lit-up ‘body’ to weigh him down in his hay-covered bed) I would carefully cradle him, staring longingly at him. it was so comforting and familiar, and at THAT moment…I KNEW I was truly home. be well, good people…we are all here but for a moment, yet those connections and that love endures and stands the test of time…(BTW, Joan-the current proprietor- and I would swing on that porch for hrs. One time, we flipped over backwards, and I got a ‘fat’ lip. when my aunt, her mom, told me that I had a ‘fat lip’ —-something , as little gal had never heard of, I was FURIOUS…good times)
I remember the Straughn’s Nativity scene as well, growing up and turning their ‘curve’ in the road. Thanks for placing up again for others to enjoy.
This is a blessing to us and thank you for the warm welcomes we have received. We are so glad to be here in Century. We still have to do a small repair to the nativity and plan to light it up this weekend. We send out our prayers and warm wishes to the community.
I so remember this scene for years that Mrs. and Mr. Straughn displayed. Welcome back to the community Joan and Hal. I am so happy to see life in that home again. Just saying.
What a blessing to be able to put the nativity scene back on display, so many memories for all.
I love stories like this to start my day! Sweet Memories, how they linger.
Jesus, is what Christmas is about, I could care less for the gifts people buy & kids would be better hearing about him instead of seeing how many gifts they get then bragging about them.