The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 23, 1905

Suggestions For The Christmas Tree

A Few Aids on How to Make and Decorate The Children’s Joy.

Woodsmen in the north woods who gather the harvest of Christmas trees mae (sic) a point of choosing young spruces and evergreens that have circles of branches able to support the toys and decorations that the Christmas spirits make grow on the limbs. The more symmetrical a tree is, the better its price, and if it has a terminal twig standing straight and sturdy on the very top, with fragrant boughs in ever-widening circles to the floor, it is sure to be carried off by the first Santa Claus messenger that appears on the scene.

Cones on the branches are a decoration of themselves, and if there is a chance to make a good selection, choose a tree that is fragrant; the balsam is a joy in its healthful perfume.

Ready-made stands may be purchased from a quarter up. That significant “up” goes a long way aloft, but the 25-cent of even the 15-cent stands do just as well.  The trunk of the tree should be shaved down to fit the hole, or the hole made larger if you will, or the stand fastened to the floor with wires or hooks and the tree guyed to the ceiling or the woodwork of the room. These first careful steps prevent the Christmas tree in all its finery from meeting disaster, and it is a sorrowful matter for a Christmas tree to tumble when laden with gifts.

A soap box makes a substantial stand and is far safer than many little wooden frames. There are iron stands that may be screwed to the floor and which are perfectly safe. The box stand permits the trunk of the evergreen to go clear through the box and stand on the floor. It is well balanced in this way and when the box is covered with evergreen wreaths or green crepe paper and a little snow scene, with halls (sic) and valleys and a top house and animals made on the box surface the effect is very pretty indeed.

The question of lights is solving itself. Few persons use candles on trees since electric lights are in. The candle is a dangerous top – too dangerous where there are children, when a tipped candle may mean a blazing tree and a death or a suffering mortal for the rest of his life. Pine is very inflammable, and the beard and trimmings of Santa Claus, many celluloid ornaments, gilt streamers and dry wreaths invite a match to make a glorious blaze. Do without candles for the sake of safety. Little electric lights and a small battery cost very little more than a supply of candles and are perfectly safe.

In trimming the tree invention and ingenuity tell. Of course strung popcorn and cranberries are always pretty, and then there are those long wreaths of tinsel with stars with streamers, the Christmas angel in gold for the top of the tree and a lot of colored balls and transparent ornaments which may be bought by the dozen.

Children enjoy seeing little dolls perched about in the greenery and the little stockings filled with candy for every visiting guest, and the pink and white peppermint candies. Expenses may run high if you wish but a tree can be trimmed for almost nothing. The popcorn and cranberries may be strung by the children themselves, and the kindergarten wreathes of rings come in nicely to give color to the trimming.

A few cents invested in pay tissue and crepe paper with a pot of mucilage and some old-fashioned books to be cut up, and the children will make a lot of funny t hings for their tree. They can gild nuts and tie red apples to the limbs and make tiny bags of colored net. they just love to do these thins for themselves.

Many families who have kept up the custom for a long time trim their tree secretly on the afternoon of Christmas eve and then distribute gifts from the branches with great ceremony on Christmas eve or on Christmas morning. Even if children know the fiction, they delight in keeping alive the Christmas Santa Claus myth, and a member of the family dressed to personate the jolly elf is welcome.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 22, 1904

Christmas Trees are in the Stores

Custom Grows of Decorating

The Trees Come From The Pine Forests of Michigan and Wisconsin – Southern States Furnish The Other Decorations

Holly and misletoe (sic) everywhere. There is no end to the Christmas green. The windows of all the stores are filled with it; and garlands of it festoon the interiors. There has never been a time in Fort Dodge, when there has been as great a showing of the Christmas foliages as there is this year.

Great heaps and stacks of Christmas trees block the side walks in front of the stores, and the whole atmosphere of Central Avenue is pregnant with the fragrance of the pine forest. The trees are of all sizes, and in price ranges from 25 cents ($6 today) up to as high as $5 ($120). Already the sale on them has commenced strongly. There will be hundreds of small trees sold to private families in and about the city. The Christmas tree is gaining in popularity  every year as a means of pleasing the children at home.

It is only within the past few years that this has become a yearly habit with Fort Dodge people. Eight or ten years ago, with the exception of the large trees used by the churches in their public Christmas festivities on Christmas eve, the practice of using trees in this city was rare. About eight years ago the citizens began calling for them and the merchants commenced ordering them along with a little holly and mistletoe. Both the trees and the other greens met with a ready sale, and each year since that time, the amount of such stuff ordered for the holiday season has been increased up to the present time, wehn the trade on this class of goods has become enormous.

Holly is always the more popular of all the Christmas greens. It holds its beautiful color for weeks, and the bright scarlet of the berries set off and intensified by the dark foilage (sic), makes a most pleasing bit for decorative purposes. The greater part of the holly and mistletoe received here from the southern states. The trees are fresh from the spruce forest of Michigan and Wisconsin. The evergreens, of which the beautiful garlands are made, come also from the northern part of Wisconsin, where they grow up about the bases of the big trees.

These garlands are becoming ever more popular. Up to a very few years ago they were unknown in this city. Shortly after the first of the Christmas trees arrived on the market however, they made their appearance along with the sprigs of holly and mistletoe, and at once became very popular for Christmas decorations. At the present time the making of these garlands has become a great industry. For weeks in advance of the holiday season, great forces of women and children, interspersed with a few men, are at work weaving the evergreen on the wire frames. The garlands, when completed are stored away in a damp place,  until they are shipped out to fill the orders that are flooded in upon them from every town in the country.

Foreigners Get Big Trees.

“The Danes, Swedes and Norwegians buy the finest trees they can secure for their churches and Sunday schools,” said a big dealer yesterday. “The Americans and Germans usually buy the smaller trees for home use. It shows the customs of the countries. You know in Sweden and Germany they make a great deal over Christmas and usually great companies congregate to celebrate. Thus it is the Swedish and Norwegians people here like to have their Christmas observances in the churches, and no trees are too large or too good for them. But the Americans and the Germans more especially seem to prefer to have Christmas at home, to have trees in the parlor for the children to exclaim over when they come down early Christmas morning. Hence we sell the smallest parlor trees to them.”

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 19, 1906

Letters to Santa

Dear Santa Claus,

I want a sled and a box of candy and some nuts, and a horn, and a drum, and a suit of clothes, a ball,a nd a bat, and a box of cndles (sic), and a Christmas tree, and a pair of leggings, and some storybooks, and a engine and a track, and some oranges and a sword and bring papa and mama something nice Good-bye Santa Claus,

Your friend,

Henry Coughlin

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Kalo, Ia.
Dec 13th

Dear Old aSnta (sic) Claus,

I take pleasure in writing you a few lines to let you know what I want for Xmas. Please send me a ring and skates and piano and doll cab. bye bye your Truly from Maggie miller,

Kalo, Ia.

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Dear Santa Claus,

Will you bring me a pair of skates a doll a horn and some candy and nuts washing machine and a wash board and a rocing horse and that is all

Winnie Greenside.

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Dear Santa Claus,

I want a doll cab and a doll a set of dishes and set of tables and chairs and a bag of candy and nuts

good by Santa Clause

Ruth Samuelson,
151 North 5 street

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Fort Dodge, Ia.
Dec. 14, 1906

Dear Santa Claus,

Pleas bring me a doll a chair a story book a table a coal pail a box of writing paper and hanchief a bottle of ink. Yes and I want a set of gray furs and a sled and my brother glenn wants a horn a gun a drum. Well good by for this time, Dear Old Santa Claus from

Mabel Woodbury

(Editor’s note: There are more letters to be added later.)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 16, 1905

A Joke on the Chronicle

Where the Interesting Letters to Santa Claus Received by it, Came From

For the past week the Chronicle has been regaling its readers with cute, witty little letters, written by the little folks to Santa Claus, and placed in care of the Chronicle. The space killing pastime has evidently amuse the scribe on the aforesaid daily, and each day’s edition has contained a few of the missive. They kept pouring in, and finally announcement was made that on Saturday all those that had accumulated up to that time would be run. The little folks were given a “jolly” about the good old Saint Nick, told how he turned over the letters to them, and instructed to watch for Saturday’s issue to see their letters inprint.

It may be interesting to Chronicle readers to learn that a member of the Messenger staff, appreciating the bobby of the rival scribe decided to aid him a little in his work, and has spent his spare time during the long evenings of the past few days writing in a scrawling hand, the letters that the Chronicle has been re-producing. The writer will enjoy very much seeing his letters in print.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 16, 1905

Christmas With Fort Dodge Poor

People of City Make Plans to Aid Them Wherever Possible

County Already Overtaxed

Is Only Able to Provide Necessities – Figures Show 200 People Now Cared For in City at the County’s Expense.

With the near approach of the Yuletide season it is well to give a thought to those within the city who are unable to partake in the spirit of the time, in so far as the same relates to good cheer and plenty.

A visit to the commissioner of the poor this morning, and inquiries as to the situation with the needy has brought forth the information that the county is already overtaxed in providing the poor of Fort Dodge with necessities, and that absolutely no provision can be made for Christmas.

40 Families Cared For.

At the present time forty families in the city of Fort Dodge, and more than two hundred separate persons are being cared for at the county’s expense. The poor fund is overdrawn in doing this, even through no attempt is made to provide the needy with more than the bare necessities of life, extending merely to fuel and food. Clothing is given by the Mosaic club, Salvation Army and Associated Charities in considerable amounts, and these organizations lend a helping hand in providing food and coal also. But even under this circumstances all are taxed to the utmost to keep body and soul together in many families that exist in poverty, dirt and squalor in the lower parts of the city.

An earnest appeal for aid, from the well-to-do people of the city is made by the county and by the charitable organizations of the city, for help in providing with more than the usual fare, and attempting to bring Christmas cheer into the homes of the poor during the coming week.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 12, 1904

Christmas Shopping Already Started

Saturday Was a Good Day With the Merchants in Fort Dodge.

Stores Crowded All Day

Purchases This Year Will Be More Along Sensable (sic) Lines Than Usual. Along Sensible Lines Will Visit Clothing, Dry Goods and Shoe Store

The Christmas shoppers are already at their work of selecting the “things” for the Christmas gifts. On Saturday there were large crowds of farmers in this city, and all of the stores were fairly well crowded the greater part of the day. In the evening the town people came in and filled the aisles left vacant by the rural trade, so that Saturday was probably one of the busiest days that has been seen in city for some months, and in consequence the faces of the merchants have brightened to a considerable extent.

There is now a prospect that the holiday trade will be very fair. While it will not be record breaking, there is enough of prosperity in the city and surrounding country to bring it up to the usual standard. Money seems to be much more free than it was expected a few weeks ago.

The farmers, in particular, are opening up wonderfully. many of the things that were really needed in the way of wearing apparel are being bought. The long deferred purchases that were put off from time to time on account of the bad crops, are being made at the present time, and many a fine top coat or cloak has replaced the time worn garment that has seen service much longer than it would have under ordinary conditions.

“Yes,” said one merchant, “I really believe there will be a first rate Christmas trade this year, but in my mind the purchases will be more along the sensible lines. The times have been too close for the past three years to encourage the people in spending their hard earned money for the fancy things and hew-gaws that are usually purchased for the Christmas gift.

“This year, I believe, there will be a good trade on the articles of dress and other useful things that are always acceptable to the sensibly inclined. Of course, there will be much of the usually light elegant but entirely useless stuff sold and the run on toys I think will be very good. Of course, the toys are the only thing for children, and they will always have them. What I mean is to convey the idea that there will be more of the really serviceable things sold this season than is usually the case. Christmas shoppers will not this year ignore the drygoods, clothing and shoe stores of the city.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 10, 1906

Letters to Santa

Dec. 7, 1906
Moorland, Iowa

Dear Santa Clause:

I want you to bring me a rubber ball, and a slate, a pencil box, a horn and a drum, are you going to in a buggy, or a sled? Where to you live in the summer time.

Please bring me a top. I guess that will be all

Good-bye

Ray Flaherty
Moorland, Iowa
R.F.D.

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Fort Dodge, Ia.
Dec. 7, 1906

Dear Santa Claus:

as it is getting pretty near Christmas I will write you a little letter I am a little boy 6 years old and live near the Olson Park. I hope you will find my home all right well Dear Santy will you Please Bring me a drum skates and a sled and a train of cars and a sak of nuts and candy and popcorn balls O yes and Blugle horn. well Santy if you have not got what I ask for send what ever you think best.

yours truely,

Glenn Newsum.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 8, 1906

Letters to Santa

December 5

Dear Santa Claus:

Pleas I want a barrel of apples and a drum a little shettling poney if it won’t kick your toys to peices to bring it with buggy and harnes. Stilla and Hellen wants dolls and dishes and a little iron and ironing board. Good by Thomas will write to.

Masting Ryan
822 north 9 St.

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Dear Santa Claus:

I want a drum, a sack of english Walnuts, candy and peanuts, a wooden snake a jumping jack and want a autobil that can run raced with Martins Shittlers poney and beat it. Martin rote for Stella and Hellens things pleas don’t anything good by.

Thomas Ryan
822 6 ave N 9 st.

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Dear Santa Claus:

Please bring me a train of cars and a toy automobile and a knife nad I guess that all buhan t your loving friend JohnMonk, be sure to come to tobin college at fort dodge, iwoa.

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Kalo, Ia., Dec. 6, 1906

Dear Santa Claus:

please bring me a little broom and horn and doll bring he a thing like Thelma Smith s, bring Tommie a sled please

good by

Rose Walton
Kalo, Iowa

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Dear Santa Clause:

Kalo, Ia., Dec. 6, 1906

please bring me a pair of skates and some candy bring little Carrie Bell a rubber doll and a rattle box

good by

Doris Walton,
Kalo.

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.)