First, we have some reflections of Christmas memories from The Akron Hometowner, published in Akron, Iowa, on December 14th, 2016. Three women, one of whom was 97, shared their favorite Christmas memories with the paper. Sybil Campbell remembers playing with her cousins, going to midnight mass, and helping her mother cook dinner during the holidays. She remembers being so excited to receive presents, her favorite gifts being a statue of Mary and a wicker doll buggy. Lois Nielson’s favorite part of the holidays is giving gifts, specifically homemade ones. These handmade gifts range from crocheted slippers to barstools, each one made lovingly with a specific person in mind. Finally, Mildred Baker said her favorite part of the holidays was getting to spend time with family. She recalls traveling from Canada to visit family in Iowa, and appreciating the rare moments when their family was able to reunite. These three ladies each shared a sliver of what makes the holidays so special, and it’s nice to see that through the years, we still make time for our favorite traditions.
Next up, we have a few gift ideas from the Hugoton Hermes, published in Hugoton, Texas, on December 13th, 1990. In an advertisement from Paul’s Pharmacy, they shared some gift ideas that they had available at their store. The list included things like jewelry, leather billfolds, stationery, and even cameras. They also included a list of popular fragrances like Coco Chanel and Charles of the Ritz. However, the gift that caught my attention the most was their suggestions for watches– specifically Mickey Mouse watches. I found it interesting that they listed Mickey Mouse watches separately from watches in general. I’m curious how high the demand was for these watches in 1990 that they felt they needed to note it specifically. At the very least, now I know that if I find myself stumped when buying gifts, I can keep these ideas in my back pocket.
(1945 – 1980s) Mailing Your Gifts: Dunedin, Florida, 1955
Now that you have some gift ideas, you might be wondering what the best way to give these gifts is. Luckily, this article from The Dunedin Times has some helpful tips for mailing presents. Published in Dunedin, Florida, on December 8th, 1955, they share advice from the postmaster general to make sure your gifts make it to their recipients in a safe and timely manner. Here’s some of the advice he shared:
Shop early and mail early to make sure they arrive by Christmas. Avoid flimsy cardboard boxes; instead, opt for sturdier plastic ones to protect the contents of your package. Make sure you package your gift in the correct size shipping container, and pack any extra room in the box with cushioning material to avoid damage during shipping. Wrap packages with the appropriate material and avoid writing anything on the outside other than necessary shipping labels. When possible, use printed labels instead of handwriting addresses to ensure legibility. And finally, if your package contains food items that may spoil, be sure to mark that there are perishables inside.
If you follow these guidelines and look up the recommendations from your local post office, you should have no trouble mailing your gifts this holiday season.
Next up, we have some more gift ideas for you, this time coming from The Dallas County News, published in Adel, Iowa, on December 11th, 1929. The first thing I noticed when looking for old gift ideas in the archives is that most of them are advertisements. Specific businesses would take out ad space to share gift ideas that could be purchased in their stores. This is something that businesses have continued to do for years! I remember being a kid and getting the gift catalogue from Target. My sister and I would circle what items we wanted, and my mom would use it as a list. Of course, now most gift lists are online, but websites still find ways to share products that would make great Christmas gifts!
The gift ideas shared in this article come from A.W. Heynen, which appears to sell mostly apparel, though I wasn’t able to trace back this store to find out its story. Their list included ties and Christmas hose for men, warm winter boots and silk pajamas for women, toys for children, and sweaters for all members of the family! I think all of these items would still make great gifts this year!
(1824 – 1914) DIY Decor: Coopersville, Michigan, 1888
Finally, we have a creative gift idea from The Coopersville Observer, published in Coopersville, Michigan, on December 14th, 1888. If you happen to have an old, worn-out hat and an empty tomato can lying around, this is the perfect craft for you! This article shares instructions for turning your dusty old hats into decorations for the back of a piano. By adding some flowers and making a bamboo stand, you can turn your hat into a one-of-a-kind art piece. I have not tried this craft, but I am incredibly intrigued by the drawings of the finished product they provided. Maybe one of these snow days I’ll have to give it a go!
That’s all for this festive edition of This Week in History! Join me again next week to discover more of history’s hidden gems and timeless tales!
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