First Yule • First Christmas of Todd Alan Ruoff, 6-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ruoff, Chesterton, includes unique tree at home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ruoff. Tree is decorated with 100 lights and 2,000 ornaments, each of which has some significance in the lives of the Ruoff family. Stuffed Santa Claus doll with Todd was bought by the Ruoffs when their sons, John and William, were children. This image appeared on page 1 of The Vidette-Messenger on December 24, 1971.
This story was originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 24, 1971.
CHESTERTON ー The Christmas tree at the Edward Ruoff home on Wilson Avenue is more than a traditionally decorated tree. From it come whispers of memories of days gone by, especially from the childhoods of their two sons, John and William.
It takes days ー four, to be more or less precise ー for the Ruoffs to decorate their tree.
It is adorned with more than 100 lights and at least 2,000 ornaments of a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, and each stirring memories in the lives of the Ruoffs.
The Ruoffs with their uniquely decorated tree are carrying on a tradition that Mrs. Ruoff’s parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. William T. Johnson, began. Mrs. Ruoff’s father was the owner of Porter Beach.
The Ruoffs had thought not to put up their tree this year, but since this is their newest grandchild’s first Christmas they decided once more to display all of their ornaments, as they have done through the years, adding and saving decorations, some of which date even earlier than their sons’ childhoods.
Some of the ornaments were those of Mrs. Ruoff’s mother and are estimated to be about 80 years old.
Other decorations have been given to them by friends, some of whom purchased ornaments in Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, Venezuela and Russia to give to the Ruoffs.
Among the many ornaments are 100 small reindeer which are about 45 years old. The manger scene beneath the the tree is 30 years old.
The task of strengthening the branches with wire to support all the ornaments falls to Mrs. Ruoff’s husband, who said he used 100 feet of wire this year. Mrs. Ruoff is The Vidette-Messenger’s Chesterton correspondent.
A church scene and ice skating scene are also beneath the tree and sitting near the tree is a large stuffed Santa Claus doll bought when John and William were children.
Among the branches of the tree may also be found decorations the two sons made in school and now that Ruoffs are grandparents, decorations their grandchildren have made are being added to the collection.
They have four grandchildren, Kurt, 12, Scott, 10, Kristin, 7, and Todd Alan, 6 months, the children of John and his wife, Marilyn. William is an Indiana University student.
Their youngest grandchild, Todd, may be too young to understand what Christmas is all about and may not be able to grasp the meaning of his grandparents’ tree, but to the rest of the Ruoff family it has become a family tradition, symbolizing much of what makes up Christmas.
To those who view it, the tree, sparkling and twinkling, offers a gay message ー Merry Christmas.