Christmas Past

In 1912, Quincyans were encouraged to
shop at the A. Doerr Department Store at Sixth and Maine where according to an
ad, customers could “buy where holiday stocks are complete; holiday gift buying
easiest; holiday goods handiest to see; where the Christmas spirit of good
cheer and helpfulness abounds from basement to roof.”

In contrast to today where holiday
shopping hours are longer, the 1912 Quincy merchants agreed to limit evening
hours to the last five nights before Christmas. This was a change from the
usual evening hours as according to the Daily Herald, the merchants wanted “to
encourage Christmas shopping by daylight, when customers may more easily
distinguish colors and quality, and to allow clerks the entire night in which
to rest for the rush and crush of the following day.” The article later states,
“The merchants seem united in the belief that greater satisfaction and much
better service will result and all of them favor adhering to the new plan at
Christmas time every year.”

The danger of fire was ever-present.
Although no longer on trees, candles were used in greenery displays and
decorations in the homes, in churches, and in stores. The illustration with
this article shows a child holding a lit candle. Fireproof decorations were not
widely used and cotton was used to simulate snow. The 1912 Daily Herald report the
Illinois Fire Marshal said, “Special watchmen … should be detailed to watch
places where … displays are installed, not only to prevent spread of fire, but
to avoid panics, which are almost sure to result from any fire starting where
…. people are gathered together.”

An example of the dangers of candles was a
children’s game called the Christmas Candle. The Daily Journal described it as a
funny game. One child would hold a lit candle, the other blindfolded, twirled
around and then expected to blow out the candle. “… His attempts will be very
funny indeed as he puffs out his cheeks and blows—probably in the wrong
direction—and they will cause much merriment among the other children.” Today
the candle game isn’t played but according to an article in the December 8,
2020 Herald Whig the Illinois State Fire Marshal said, “more than one-third of
home fires are started by candles.”

In 1916, the Daily Herald printed warnings
about the congestion of mail and the need to ship early. They suggested
packages mailed early should have “Don’t open until Christmas stickers.” The Daily Whig explained the post office schedule
that year as Christmas was on Monday. The law stated that carriers could not
work on Sunday but the clerks could sort the mail and have it ready for the
carriers to deliver on Christmas day. Extra carriers would work and each one
would have horse and wagon both on Saturday and on Monday to deliver “the whole
great mass of Christmas mail.”

A tradition still in use today is
the Christmas list. The December 16, 1916 Daily Whig by Ruth Cameron said, “If
we are going to have an exchange why not have it an intelligent and efficient
one? And that is what the list tends to do.” Miss Cameron said without a list
we would be like a fairy godmother granting wishes. She complained about those
who won’t make a list or say they don’t want anything as they will be the most
critical of their gifts after the holiday.

Holiday entertainments were held at
local theaters. Cantatas with narration, songs and instruments were given at
school programs and churches just as they are now. Christmas hymns and selected
music was listed in the paper for church services. Some churches preferred to
have their special music at Sunday worship while others had special music on
Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day.

The December 24, 1916 Daily Whig used
the term “bundled” which is seldom used today. “Bundled humanity has been descending on the
Burlington and Wabash passenger stations all week.” The article talks about
people carrying more bundles than usual on crowded sidewalks seemingly happy
with the notion that it is better to give than receive. The Daily Whig said, “We
are sorry that Christmas and Bundle time ends so soon.”

Traditional Christmas caroling was
done in 1920.That year it was the Young Women’s Christian Association and
school children who caroled on Christmas Eve. If a home was lighted, the group
would stop and sing one song. Different groups would wind their way through the
downtown and residential districts. The Daily Herald suggested, “If you are in
tune with the Christmas Spirit, and would hear one of the old songs before your
home on Christmas eve, put a light in your window and the carolers will visit
you.”

At Blessing Hospital the nurses
sang carols and a special meal was prepared for the patients. At the jail, the
prisoners had roast goose and were allowed to receive presents from their
friends and relatives.

“Christmas is above all a season of
joy and song,” said the 1920 Daily Herald. But asks later in the same column, “Have you
done anything to give a real Christmas for the sick and wounded soldiers in the
hospitals throughout this state?” The newspaper had established a Christmas
fund and was receiving checks from individuals and organizations to provide
Christmas cheer to the men and women who served in World War I and who were
currently recuperating from wounds and illness in 72 Illinois hospitals. Also
listed in the paper were the businesses who gave gifts and bonuses to their
employees.

Continuing the theme of giving, the
newspaper mentioned that Associated Charities had gathered toys for nearly 300
children in Quincy and 200 baskets of food for families. The Salvation Army was
making food baskets to be distributed on Christmas morning and was planning an
entertainment for children on New Year’s Eve.

Communities today continue to
spread Christmas cheer and the Christmas spirit of giving lives on.

Sources

Cameron, Ruth. “The Christmas List.”

Quincy Daily Whig

, December 16, 1916, 7.

“Carriers Will Have Big Job Christmas.”

Quincy Daily Whig

, December 7, 1916, 3.

“The Christmas Candle.”

Quincy
Daily Journal

, December 23, 1912, 11.

“Christmas Cantata at Dewey School by Immanuel Children.”

Quincy Daily Herald

, December 24, 1920,
2.

“Christmas Carols Sung Throughout City on Christmas Eve.”

Quincy Daily Herald

, December 24, 1920,
2.

“Christmas Cheer for Everyone.”

Quincy Daily Herald

, December 23, 1920, 1 & 13.

“Christmas is Bundle Time.”

Quincy Daily Whig

, December 24, 1916, 6.

“Christmas Music In The Churches.”

Quincy Daily Journal

, December 21, 1912, 11.

“A Christmas Warning.”

Quincy
Daily Herald

, December 21, 1912, 6.

“A Few Hints About
Christmas Shipping.”

Quincy Daily Herald

,
December 8, 1916, 8.

“Fire Marshall Warns of Fire Risk Posed by Holiday
Decorations. Herald-Whig, December 8, 2020, 3A.

Germann, Phil, “Christmas in Quincy 100 Years Ago.”

Quincy Herald Whig

, December 9, 2012.

“Hear Music to Realize Christmas is Here.” Quincy

Daily Herald

, December 18, 1920, 6.

“Santa Claus at Doerr’s –Holiday Stocks Opened.”

Quincy Daily Whig

, December 6, 1912, 6.

“To Be Open Five Nights.”

Quincy Daily Herald

, December 14, 1912, 3.