Is it just us, or does everyone secretly hope to hum Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” when Christmas rolls around? Winter has certainly made itself at home this month, and when the frost isn’t nipping at our noses, there’s nothing better than heading outdoors to enjoy a few classic winter activities.

A white Christmas isn’t just a modern wish — it’s exactly what folks used to know, as seen in this delightful 1930s photograph of the community skating rink in Simcoe Park. Look closely and you’ll spot the original four-legged “Zamboni” hard at work keeping the ice clear.

This view is from Byron Street toward King Street. In the background, the corner of Queen Street appears on the left, with the back of the Apothecary visible, and the former Trisha Romance Gallery at 177 King St. near the centre right.

As Bing Crosby put it best, “May your days be merry and bright” — and may your Christmas be white, just like this scene from Simcoe Park.

Merry Christmas from the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum.