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History of the Christmas St. Bernard

Though not strictly a Christmas tradition, the legend of the St. Bernard is appropriate to the spirit of Christmas. Though the exact history of the dogs has been lost through the centuries, their line is believed to reach back nearly 1000 years in connection with a famous hospice in the Swiss Alps founded by Archdeacon Bernard de Menthon.

The hospice was established to aid travelers crossing the dangerous passes between Switzerland and Italy. Through the centuries, the dogs were used to help rescue stranded travelers. The original dogs eventually evolved into the St. Bernard we know today.

Legend has it that some carried a small barrel or leather bag that contained food and drink to help the people they rescued in the bitter cold and snow of the Alps. Santa Claus thought a St. Bernard would be a good choice for a pet at the North Pole. Santa named him "Cider" after the little barrel of apple cider he carries around for thirsty elves.

The Grant Beach Neighborhood Betterment Association is a group of citizens working together to maintain and improve the quality of living in our area. We meet monthly on a regular basis to address neighborhood concerns, and encourage residents to start smaller neighborhood watch groups in their block. We believe that people should actively participate as citizens in a democracy and as neighbors in in a community. We are a group of citizens interested in working together to maintain and improve the living quality of our neighborhood, motivate the city to address our concerns, be a spawning ground for neighborhood watch programs and build a sense of community among us. Working together, there is little that cannot be done, working apart there is little that can be done.

Mission Statement: "Improving the quality of life in our neighborhood"

This website is simply a tool we use to help keep our neighbors connected to each other, to their neighborhood and to their City of Springfield, Missouri. Please consider attending the monthly meeting. Potluck Dinner for the whole family and Free child care for the meeting

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