The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 5, 1905

The Congregational Bazaar

In Crawford Building on North Sixth – Pretty Booths – Chicken Pie Supper Tonight.

The Crawford Building on North Sixth is the scene of the Congregational bazaar today and Wednesday. Booths of artistic design have been erected and trimmed with many different paper flowers. Yellow, and pink and blue booths, surround the walls, in which an unusually pretty display of Christmas gifts are temptingly arrayed.

The apron booth, which is in charge of Mrs. F.M. Ely, is hung in white curtains and trimmed with yellow chrysanthemums. At this booth fancy aprons and kitchen aprons can be secured. The Sunday School display at the next booth is worthy of comment. The boys have done their share here as well as the girls. An ironing board of beautiful symmetry is is (sic) one of the donations of the boys. Mrs. Charles Kline has a splendid booth of water color paintings which she has placed on sale at the bazaar. She is an adept at the work as her display plainly shows.  The baby booth in charge of Mrs. Eugene Hook, and the doll booth under the management of Mrs. Harry Vincent are artistically arranged along the north side of the room. Baby clothes of dainty texture are sold at the one and dolls of every variety are for sale at the other. Mesdames Charles Fisher and W.G. Jankins have charge of the fancy work booth which is filled with the finest of needlework.

A chicken pie supper will be served this evening at six o’clock to which all of the friends of the church are invited.

Tags: 1905, Ely, Fisher, Hook, Jankins, Kline, Vincent

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 5, 1903

Seven Hundred Children in Scramble For Sweets

Sturges Company Gives Away Candy – Many Children to Take Advantage of Gifts.

This afternoon at two o’clock Central avenue between Eighth and Ninth streets was a scene of tumult and confusion, and it looked as though all of the children in Fort Dodge had gathered there, and lined up in front of the Sturges store building. The Sturges company had anounced (sic) that it would give away candy at that time today, and several hundred children were present to take advantage of the offer. There was much strife and confusion among the children, as not all of them were successful in getting their share of the treats.

(Editor’s note: It sounds like a current Black Friday rush. This year’s Black Friday included a woman who allegedly sprayed pepper spray on fellow shoppers, a man who died in a Target store while shoppers and Target employees ignored him, and a shooting incident where shoppers refused to give up their purchases to robbers in the parking lot and a man was shot. Merry Christmas, indeed.)

Tags: 1903, Christmas

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 5, 1906

Letters to Santa

A Child’s Poem.

The Messenger is in receipt of the poem below which is said to have been written by a little girl eleven years old. Her name is unknown. The poem is entitled “The Fort Dodge Christmas Tree,” and is as follows:

Maybe in other cities fair
When Santa Claus comes round,
He’ll leave some mighty pretty things
For his boys and girls that’s found,

But one thing sure of Santa Claus,
And I sure know, you see,
He’ll save some fine and pretty toys
For the Fort Dodge Christmas tree.

I can’t tell why he always brings
His best toys to us here
But guess ’tis cause we write him
Such nice letters every year.

And show him such a jolly time,
‘Specially Tom and me,
That he just puts on the very best
On the Fort Dodge Christmas tree.

■ ■ ■

Dear Old Santie,

Won’t you bring me a doll,
to of them, one large and one small,
A bed and a chair and a story book
With pictures rare
And a woolon dog with curly hair,
And some candy and nuts, with popcorn balls
And, dear old Santa, I guess that’s all.
Now don’t for get our no. and street
And I’s got big stockings because I’s got big feet

BLOSSOM ST. CLAIR
1422 11th Ave south
Fort Dodge, Iowa

■ ■ ■

Dear old Santa Clause,

I want a doll
And a doll cab
Bring John a rocking horse
And a story book
And we both want a box of candy
Your loving little girl

Catherine Ryan

■ ■ ■

Dear Santa Claus how are you. I want a store, a big doll and a sled duble runner skates and a pair of furs and doll go cart and a little soeing muchine and a trunk and a washing mishine and a box of wrighting paper and a chair that’s all. Now don’t forget my adress is 1243 6 ave n and 13 street.

MARION FLAHERTY
Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Good by Sant Claus.

Tags: 1906, Christmas, Flaherty, Ryan, St. Clair

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 5, 1906

Even Tired of Turkey

An Incident of the Day After Thanksgiving.

A butcher tells the following story as an incident happening the day after Thanksgiving:

“Sir,” said an unhappy individual, walking into his shop, “please lead me to some delicate dish – something that’s easy to eat, something on the other side of the house from turkey, cranberries and oyster dressing. If we eat today it’s only because it’s custom. I don’t believe anyone’s hungry at our house. We fed turkey to the family, the cat, the dog and the bird. I suppose we’ll have turkey hash today and turkey pie tomorrow. The ‘Review of Reviews,’ I call it. Show me something to break the monotony.” The butcher finally fixed him out with  some kind of meat as far from turkey as possible. He says the incident is an old and happens a good many times after Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Tags: 1906, Thanksgiving