Jacob: Tell me about your experiences with the Empty Stocking Fund.
Mr. Hazel: As a child, I have fond memories of gathering around the old radio (a very large floor model) and listen to the Uncle Bill Show and the Junior Radio Stars, when they would raise money for the fund. The show was broadcasted from the Admiral Beatty Hotel. We would listen to this program year-round, but they would have a special show for the Empty Stocking Fund. Mr. Hazel fondly remembers listening to a little boy singing the song, ‘The Little Boy That Santa Claus forgot.’ It was very sentimental moment. I thoroughly enjoyed when Uncle Bill (Hugh Trueman) would “horse-race” and race against time by asking the listening audience to pledge money to reach $25 by a certain time. We would listen closely and hope they would reach it.
While attending the St. Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, I would come home by train for Christmas vacation and listen to the show and if I missed it, I would have my parents update me to their progress.
Mr. Hazel began to work for the paper in 1949 in the same position as Harry Ervin, as a police-court reporter, when the provincial court house was on King Street East. He understood what Harry Ervin went through as you can become a hardened person dealing with and reporting difficult situations and criminal trials. He was obviously a sentimental man as he reacted to a scene (in 1912) that he saw on his way back to the office from police court at around 6pm. As he passed by the MRA Manchester Robertson Allison Department Store on King Street, he saw two small children looking longingly at the Christmas display in the store window. He was so moved at this sight, that he returned to the office and literally passed his hat and collected money from his colleagues.
In 1913, the newspaper took up Mr. Ervin’s charge and began to look after this project. The paper would ask for donations and years later, Mr. Len Rudolph, who worked in the Circulation Dept., looked after the fund.
As Mr. Hazel was a young reporter at the paper, one of his jobs was to go to the homes of fund recipients and catch their stories. Not using their names for the paper, he would record their stories of how they had lost their jobs and needed the fund to help them. (Great Depression era) The stories would help build interest in our campaign.
Mr. Hazel became the editor in 1971 and worked under Mr. Ralph Costello, the manager of the paper. Mr. Costello was a recipient of the fund as a child, and due to this he had a soft spot for the fund. Mr. Hazel fondly remembered Mr. Costello standing in Studio 8 in CHSJ arms crossed with a scowl on his face, ensuring that the broadcast was done correctly. This job became Mr. Hazel’s, although he didn’t like looking so serious; he enjoyed it after a while. Working at the broadcast was a chore, but he looked forward to it year after year. Mr. Hazel became the Editor in Chief in February 1980, retiring in 1993.
During Mr. Hazel’s years of service and as the chairperson of the Empty Stocking Fund, Mr. Hazel attended various meetings, such as meeting with local church officials. He strongly felt that it was important not to exclude anyone who applied for the fund. If there was a need, the family got help.
Mr. Hazel shared how the design of the logo/trademark picture came to be. Mr. Hazel and a committee needed to come up with a design that would depict the Empty Stocking Fund. They contacted Mr. Jim Stackhouse, a local artist and Mr. Costello and Mr. Hazel described their thoughts of Mr. Ervin’s sentimental scene. It is interesting that Mr. Stackhouse used his own children as the models, as he worked hard to capture that longing expression of the children in the artwork. It was important not to have the children dressed in too shabby clothes, so people wouldn’t be offended. This art served as the trademark of the fund for many years and as the design for the pewter ornament that was created by Aitkens Pewter.
Jacob: What are your special memories or thoughts about the Empty Stocking Fund?
Mr. Hazel: I am a big fan and admirer of the fund. I am pleased to see that the community has taken it to heart and the spirit carries on. I am hypnotized by the wonder of the broadcast. It is interesting to watch through the television and see how smooth the show is. Behind the scenes there is a great deal of confusion. People get so taken up with the moment, that even some of the little children even forget their names!
One year, there was a strike at the CHSJ station (between 1970-80) and the newspaper has to have an extra strong campaign due to the fact there was no televised broadcast.
Mr.Hazel showed Jacob his home office and where he continues to write his weekly article called, People and Places.