Selling Christmas in 1873 - Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster

In this 21st-century world that we live in, Christmas has become an all-encompassing event that stretches from late September, when the dollar stores begin to display sparkling decorations, through to the Boxing “week” specials that haunt us for more than one week. Any song, classic or modern, can become the vehicle for television ads about diamonds, chocolates or power tools. Many admonish the erection of outdoor festive decorations that sprout up before Remembrance Day and dear ol’ Santa Claus floats down every burg’s main street weeks before his traditional global marathon trip bringing joy to girls and boys. It is difficult to avoid that constant barrage of advertising and amidst all this commercialization perhaps, many forget the real meaning of Christmas.

 

This week, Glimpses of the Past decided to take a look back at what the lead-up to the Christmas season was like decades ago by turning to the “Digitized Newspapers of Huron County”, as found on the websites of the Huron County Museum and the Huron County Library. The earliest newspapers found there are that of the Huron Signal that was published in Goderich in 1848. This paper was created letter by letter and then printed one sheet at a time. It seems a miracle that some copies have survived. The print is difficult to read but, by careful scanning, references to Christmas, in these early newspapers, were not to be found.

 

Let’s fast forward to 1873, a mere 150 years ago, to look at the Seaforth newspaper, the Huron Expositor. It was exciting to see an advertisement for a “Christmas Sale”. It turned out to be a livestock sale held at Mr. Houghton’s yard in the Seaforth vicinity. The ad stated that, “Buyers from a distance will find it to their advantage to be present as this section of Huron cannot be surpassed in the province for fat stock”. 

 

The next week’s paper reported that one fat cow was purchased for the sum of $100. It seems that, in addition to being a sale, the event also was a competition with prizes for “ox and steers, heifers and cows, pairs of dressed geese and turkeys”. 
The only mention of a religious kind was that Advent services were to be held in St. Thomas’ Church with several guest speakers coming to tell about missions.  To start the Christmas season off, the ladies of that same church were holding an “Apron Fair”. It is supposed that this was a kind of bazaar with baking and handcrafted goods available for purchase. Musical entertainment was on the bill, as well as coffee and oysters.

 

One merchant, M.R. Counter, let folks know “in anticipation of the Christmas holiday, he would receive, next week, the largest stock of jewelry and fancy goods ever offered for sale in this county.” He added that for the festive season, a five per cent discount would apply. (and no HST!)

 

Down the street, Allen’s Grocery was bringing in “canned peaches, cherries, pears, pine apples, blackberries, string beans, green peas, salmon, lobster and sardines.” Such an ad these days would not be of note as these goods are available canned, fresh and frozen year round.

 

Hickson’s Drug Store was the place to go to buy perfumery, soaps, combs and brushes - the type of gifts that are still valued today. Another drug store, that of John S. Roberts, would be selling “pure grape wine”. Some Christmas gifts are timeless.
One statement found in several Christmas ads that readers of today are not likely to see is that for Christmas  and New Year’s gifts, several stores were selling goods that are “really good and cheap”.

 

In an editorial, the desecration of the Sabbath was decried. It seems that some young men had dared to skate on the pond at the centre of the village on a Sunday afternoon. How times have changed!

 

Travelling a bit westward to the Goderich area, it was found that Santa Claus was represented in Maitlandville (present day Saltford) at the establishment of W. Stanbury with “fancy goods and toys”. For the last-minute shopper, the Dec. 24 edition of the Huron Signal carried an ad for the Moorhouse store offering children’s books, as well as Bibles and prayer books. Not to be forgotten were “silverware, work boxes, writing desks and dressing cases”. The Saunders’ Variety Store was rather cosmopolitan with goods such as Bohemian glass, as well as toys from England, France, Germany and the U.S.A. Also added was the note that, “schools and churches supplied with presents for Christmas trees at low rates”. 

 

In the spirit of the season, Colborne Township Council was providing relief for several indigent women. One was to receive a barrel of flour, another, a half barrel of the same and a third woman was to receive a refund of her property taxes.

 

It is always nice to receive mail at Christmastime and, in December of 1873, the Goderich post office published the names of over 50 individuals who had mail waiting for them there.

 

So, 150 years have passed and it seems with each year, the commercialization of Christmas has multiplied over and over during that time.