I worked at the eight storey department store called, "Hutzler's." I worked there part-time during my last two years in high school and later while attending college.  I have a thousand memories of Hutzler's and Howard Street during the Christmas season.  Before becoming a salesman in Men's Clothing and Furnishings, and also in the Men's Boutique, I had to attend several Saturday morning training classes, taught by a Miss Handy.  These classes were essential before anyone was allowed "to serve" the Hutzler clientele.  There was also a strict dress code.  "Sales Gentlemen" were required to wear suits or sport coats, white shirts and ties.  "Sales Ladies" wore suits or dresses and many wore shoes with heels;  slacks or pants were not permitted.  In 1961, Baltimore was still a "Southern city", and ladies "got dressed to the nines" (English origin - "dressed to thy'n eyes") when they went downtown or did their Christmas shopping on Howard Street.  Hats and gloves and matching accessories were the norm.

Each year the Christmas decorations, inside the store, were new, extravagant and beautiful.  They were never displayed prior to Thanksgiving week.  The Hutzler windows on Howard Street often had movable puppets and scenery, along with traditional Christmas music which could be heard on the street.  The windows were especially appealing to children.  During this time Hutzler's also sponsored a puppet show on television called "Paul's Puppets."  The show began around 4:00pm.  When we were younger my sisters and I would always gather around the television set after school - and enjoy the magical stories as performed by the puppets.  Every time I hear the theme from the Nutcracker Ballet I think of Paul's Puppets and Hutzler's.

While working as a salesman in Hutzler's, if a customer requested a specific size that was not available, an "accomodation" would be attempted or made.  We were expected to telephone the other Hutzler branch store in Towson and even the other downtown department stores like Stewart's, Hochshild Kohn and the May Company to find what the customer wanted.  After a selection was made the customer would often say, please "charge and send" while handing the salesman their small metal charge plate.  In those days it was acceptable and necessary to say, Merry Christmas to everyone! 

Hutzler's provided a "quiet" break room for its employees.  The room was darkened and filled with comfortable lounge chairs where employees could relax and rest their weary legs and feet after standing for hours.  The idea, the room, especially during the shopping rush at Christmas, was refreshing and innovative... and very much appreciated by the sales staff.                

Hutzler's had a wonderful bakery, 3 restaurants and an employee cafeteria, all within the store.  The baked goods and food were always exceptional.  I still remember the first time I used a finger bowl after eating terrapin stew and sweet potatoe biscuits in the Colonial Room on the fourth floor.  The tables there were always covered with white linen, matching napkins and a centerpiece of fresh flowers.  My Great Aunt Margaret,  after going to daily Mass at the Basilica,  met her friends in the Colonial Room for lunch on many occasions.  I was always glad to see her there and although I was working I managed to sit and chat with her for at least a few minutes.  After high school, at Christmas time, I would often meet my sister, Linda, there for a "Manhattan" and then we would go to Lexington Market for oysters on the half-shell.  Those were the days when Chesapeake Bay oysters and Rockfish were plentiful.

On one soft and sunny November day, while on my way to the Men's Boutique, I heard that President Kennedy had been shot.  The store became very quiet, people were in shock and customers hurriedly began leaving the store and the Howard Street shopping district.

I could go on ... but hopefully what I have written will inspire some good memories of Howard Street at Christmas and the fabulous city where we were born, raised and educated.

                  Christopher Wm. Newman,  12/17/2010     *  See below:

*  "Howard Street" got it's name from the great Maryland soldier, patriot, Governor and U.S Senator from Maryland, John Eager Howard.  Baltimoreans thought so highly of this man that they named 3 streets after him: John Street, Eager Street and Howard Street. 

At the Belvedere Hotel, in the "John Eager Howard Room", there is a large portrait of Howard hanging over the grand marble fireplace.  (During my college years I worked there as a waiter, wearing a black tuxedo and a winged tipped shirt with a black bow tie.  ***The best tippers were bourbon drinking business men ! )