Published February 12, 2020
By Phil Germann
Christmas week in Quincy was a busy season a century ago with
the hustle and bustle of shopping, school and church programs, mailing and
receiving Christmas cards and packages.
On Monday, December 22, the municipal Christmas tree was
placed in the southeast corner of Washington Park. That evening, a crowd of 500
gathered in the park at 9 o’clock to officially kick-off the Christmas season
in Quincy. Light snow fell as Chaddock cadets sang from the bandstand, joined
by older singers on the balcony of the Newcomb Hotel down the street. For over
an hour, the throng enjoyed the snow, bright lights, and pleasant voices of
singers.
On the first three days of the week, a special train chartered
by Louisiana, Missouri merchants ran between Quincy and Louisiana, leaving
Quincy at 8:40 a. m. and departing Louisiana at 5 p. m. Passengers, presumably
package laden, were back home by 7:10 p. m.
Not to be outdone, Quincy merchants filled pages of the
city’s newspapers with ads. Unbehaun’s Piano Store, 430 Maine, offered oriental
rugs in addition to pianos. A. Basse Jeweler, 518 Maine, featured parasols and
umbrellas with gold filled handles at $3.50 and higher. Ware & Wayland Co.,
west side of the square, held a sensational sale on 25 styles of rocking chairs
for $8.50, a $1 – $4 reduction.
For those seeking a bit of liquid holiday cheer,
Hagen-Rundle, 508 Hampshire, offered a gallon of Old 76 Rye or Bourbon for $3,
and 4 quarts of Hagen Bourbon or Rundle Rye for $4 each. Quincy’s Ruff Brewing
Co. promoted its beer as “wholesome:
full of life and buoyancy. It drives dull care away and paves the way
for the enjoyment of a good meal, or a good night of sound, restful sleep.”
A farmer who rented in the bottoms south of Quincy brought
his wife and three children to town several days before Christmas. They stood
on the sidewalk looking in the show windows of a big store. The children looked
at all the wonderful things of toy land. The parents eyed warm garments they wished
they could buy for their youngsters. A man approached, and after talking to the
children, gave one of them a dime, perhaps the first dime the youngster ever
had. Seeing the appreciation and surprise, he took the children to a store and
bought for them complete outfits of good, warm clothing as well as a few extras
to brighten their Christmas. The stranger must have seemed like Santa Claus to
the children, but he was in fact Milt Cabell, engineer at the post office.
As busy Christmas shoppers hurried in and out of
Kespohl-Mohrenstecher’s, W. T. Duker Co., and The Model Clothing Company, a
shocking scene unfolded nearby. Curiosity turned to amazement as a big,
mysterious empty dray wagon backed up to the curb at 512 ½ Hampshire St. Sheriff
Joe Lipps and three deputies appeared and carried from the building roulette
wheels, playing cards, and a poker table and chips. The dray wagon did not
tarry, but moved on to 601 ½ Maine St., where officers repeated their
performance. Cheering crowds followed as they completed their mission with the
alleged owners of the gambling dens in hand. The wagon proceeded to the court
house where its contents were dumped in the county jail.
The wrong-doers found they had arrived in time to be
beneficiaries of a most worthy Christmas gift. Rev. J. B. Rogers, Pastor of the
1st Baptist Church, placed Bibles at the disposal of prisoners in
the jail at the city hall, county jail, and house of correction. It was hoped
prisoners might show remorse and repentance for wrongdoings and find redemption
during the Holy Season.
The first real snow of winter fell early in the morning two
days before Christmas. One observer reported that 4 ½ inches “fell as gently as
dew.” It did not hinder the Christmas programs in each elementary school later
in the day. Reports were uniformly positive that each program was outstanding
and that each student mastered his or her role to perfection.
The School Children’s Aid Society distributed Christmas
baskets to 405 children who came to Webster School from all over town.
Volunteers were on hand with automobiles to convey the little folks home to
enjoy their holiday vacation until school resumed on January 6.
Christmas Eve was snow-free. That evening, the house of
George Saalig, 8th & Vine (College), was destroyed by fire. No
alarm was turned in, and the conflagration was subdued with one bucket of
water. The house was only a toy one in the display window of the Saalig Grocery
Store. The fire discovered by Officer Riley as he walked past the store on his
beat, evidently was ignited by an electrical light wire, and was quickly
extinguished by Officer Riley and Mr. Saalig. It was reported that Old Santa
had tumbled out of the 18 inch house before the roof caved in.
Christmas Day was quiet in the Gem City. Stores, banks, and
the library were closed. The post office general delivery window was open until
10 a. m., and there was but a single delivery of mail by carriers. One drunk
was arrested for having imbibed too freely of liquid cheer.
As the Newcomb Hotel was serving a 75 cents-a-plate Christmas
dinner from 6-8 p.m. with music provided by Weiler’s Orchestra, county jail
prisoners enjoyed a sumptuous Yuletide meal hosted by Sheriff Lipps–with no
music.
Across town, firemen of Engine House #2 hosted dinner for 25,
including Mayor W. K. Abbott, City Attorney E. P. Allen, and ex-Mayor John F.
Garner. The featured entrée was “Spanferkel”, roast pig. The pig was done to a
turn, and its brown head made a noteworthy centerpiece for the long table.
Christmas week ended with Mayor Abbott offering a public
letter in which he encouraged fathers to make a special effort to win the
confidence and comradeship of their sons, even though it might seem to require
time which could be devoted to business pursuits.
Sources
“405 Children Provided For.”
Quincy Daily Journal
, December 23,
1913, 12.
“Big Crowd Greats the Singers.”
Quincy Daily Journal,
December 23, 1913,
12.
“Brevities.”
Quincy Daily Journal
, December 23,
1913, 4.
“Firemen
Give Fine Dinner.”
Quincy Daily Journal
,
December 26, 1913, 8.
“A New
Year’s Message from Mayor Abbott.”
Quincy
Daily Journal
, December 27, 1913, 1.
“Prisoners To Be Provided With Holy
Scriptures.”
Quincy Daily Journal
,
December 22, 3.
“Sheriff’s
Force Makes A Raid On Gamblers.”
Quincy
Daily Journal
, December 23, 1913, 1.
“They Found
Santa Claus.”
Quincy Daily Journal
,
December 22, 1913, 7.
“Toy House With Old Santa On Top Destroyed By
Fire.”
Quincy Daily Journal
, December
27, 1913, 8.
