What was Christmas like in Humboldt 100 years ago?
By KYLIE PORTZ
Humboldt Newspapers has a longstanding history, with its earliest publication dating back to 1860, making it likely the oldest business in Humboldt still in operation today. It remains the only newspaper serving Humboldt County. As such, Humboldt Newspapers has been dedicated to preserving and documenting Humboldt's history over the years, maintaining archives of its publications since 1904.
In the spirit of Christmas, this humble reporter decided to take a look into Christmas Past - breaking out the archival pages of the Humboldt Republican from 1925. Here is what I found.
A.B White Company, a department store, published a full-page ad in the paper on Dec. 18 inviting the community to its store to meet Santa Claus. The ad reads, "Bring the children and let them tell him their stories." The advertisement also provided some gift ideas, including hosiery, footwear, handkerchiefs and "Snappy Dresses."
Another advertisement, published on Christmas, from Myles & Sexe announced a December Clearance Sale which opened on Dec. 18 and ran for a week. It shared some gift ideas for men, claiming that "Men like hosiery. Hosiery is one gift that is always acceptable and sure to please. Our stock is especially fine this year with all the newest styles and shades. Sale price 8¢ to $1.00"
Breed Electric shop was selling "The Ideal Xmas Gift" a Zenith Radio which it said, "Costs more but does more!"
Ruse & Shepard was selling Foss Box Candies in Gift Packages, Half pounds for 50¢ to 75¢, pounds for 85¢ to $1.50, two pounds for $2.00 to $3.25 and three pounds from $3.50 to $4.50. A steal if you ask me!
As far as news goes, there were few stories of note.
In the Dec. 25 issue of the Humboldt Republican it was reported that a man near Lu Verne fought four skunks. The story is as follows: "Frank Thornton of near Lu Verne, is said by a state dispatch, to have killed two skunks and to have fought with two more during which he was badly bitten on his hand, and had to go to a physician to have the wound dressed. The events that lead up to the encounter with the first two sunks were the discover of a rabbit that ran into a culvert."
The story continues, "Mr. Thornton plugged up one end of the culvert and hastened to the other end to get a sight of bunny, when he was met by two skunks. They opened fire on him with material of their own and made it very disagreeable for him, but he succeeded in killing them."
"A few days later, his dog attracted him by much barking, and when he went to see what the dog was barking about, he discovered two more skunks. He armed himself with a club and started in to rough house it with the skunks when one of them took a mouthful of flesh out of his hand. However, he killed it and its mate, and then went to a physician who dressed his wound, and he is hoping that there will be no ill effects." The story finished.
According to the Humboldt Republican, a new dollar was in development. The story read, "Uncle Sam doesn't seem to have gotten very far in his attempt to popularize the $2 bill, so he is going to try another method of making his one-dollar notes last longer. He is going to issue a new dollar coin to replace the cumbersome silver dollar, and to relieve wear and tear on dollar bills. It will be a combination of gold and silver, probably a golden center with a rim of silver, the whole coin to be about the size of a quarter. Since a dollar bill wears out in six months, putting these new coins into circulation would naturally reduce the number of bills needed."
Residents of Algona reported spotting a plethora of wildlife in the area, including a pair of Timber Wolves and two flocks of pheasants.
The Society Pages shared details for multiple Christmas dinners and programs. The "Reasoner Clan" held its annual family reunion with a dinner and gift exchange being hosted by Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Reasoner. The country home of Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Goodell was the setting of their family reunion and Christmas dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Hans Halverson hosted a group of friends. While Mr. and Mrs. James Nervig entertained a group of relatives.
The Kiwanis Group of Camp Fire Girls enjoyed a Christmas Party the Friday prior in the home of Mrs. Carl Daziel. The Key Bearers set their December meeting for Dec. 30 in the home of Mrs. W.H March, with Clara Marsh and Mrs. Marjory Huntley as hostesses. A Christmas program was the special feature.
