Bit of History - December 25, 2024

Here is what you might have read in the December 21, 1916 edition of the Ridgeway Journal, just a few months before the United States entered World War I:

 There were three little articles on the front page celebrating the Christmas season.  The first was a little poem in the shape of a Christmas tree; under the tree was an editorial “Get the Meaning of Christmas” reminding readers that Christmas is more than just a day off, but a “holiday, a time for rejoicing, for merry-making and for remembering the whole world.”.  

Another item titled “Christmas Greetings” written by William Marion Reedy urged readers to “let yourself surrender to the season” and “don’t let the horror and misery of the great ware oppress you. “  

A number of business, including the Ridgeway Journal, were requesting that their customers come in to pay their bills.  The Journal even asked that people come in before receiving the statement of account due “but save us that postage, as we are going to try to save you an additional fifty cents a year—do as much for us by saving us the price of a stamp and together we will keep down the ‘high cost of reading’.”

A “Tin and Linen” shower was given as a surprise to Miss Erma Black, who was married a few days later to Payton Hull of Leon, IA.  Another surprise party was thrown for the “Twin Triplets”:  Lee and Lela Triplet for their 18th birthday. 

Funniest ad of the issue:  The Shroyer Music Co of Bethany and Albany advertised their Edison disc Victrolas and Granolas and all records.  The picture of their merchandise was upside down.

Bit of History - December 18, 2024

BIT OF HISTORY:   For this week, we are honored to have Linda Purdun share her memory of Ridgeway: 

The Christmas memory I think of first is how the lights in town looked.  Red, green, blue and yellow bulbs from east to west covering Main Street with light.  A beautiful sight coming into town.  

Another memory is standing in a crowd, in the cold, watching balloons and poultry tossed from the roof tops.  I think each balloon told of a price from a merchant while whoever caught the poultry could have a chicken dinner!  A greased pig would be turned loose on Main Street and who ever caught it would have a supply of pork.

My memories may not be accurate, but that’s the way it seemed to me in the early 1950s.

Thank you so much, Linda, for writing this up and sending it to me!  It sounds like those Christmases were a lot of fun!  

Bit of History - December 11, 2024

Last year around Christmas, I found letters from Ridgeway children to Santa from the early 1900s.  This year, I present you with letters from the early 1970s.  You might even find your own letter in this bunch.

In 1973, Alicia Sanders, age 8, wrote “Hi! What have you been doing?  I am getting ready for Christmas.”  She wanted an ice-cream maker and a snow cone maker and assured Santa that her sock was on the chimney and “I will give you some apples for you.  I will give you some carrots for the reindeers and the carrots are on the chimney.”  Her little brother Jeff, age 6,  also wrote to Santa:  “This is what I want.  I want a race track and a 5-speed bike. I want a radio, a plane and some models.  We have a new house and it is in a different place.  We have a chimney now and our socks are on the chimney.  The apples and carrots for the reindeers are on the table.  P.S.  We have a cat and his name is Fred.  He has a stocking and its the little stocking.  Fred wants something from Santa.”  Wesley Booth, age 6, wrote “How are your reindeer?  I want a football and a Miami football suit.  Will you please get me that suit?”  (Bethany Republican-Clipper, 12/19/1973)

In 1974, the letters were written by the kids in school and their teachers sent in three from each class. Kindergartener Alan Smith asked for, among other things, “a big John Deere tractor” and “two real guns”. First grader Stacey Fitzpatrick wrote “I want a train to play with. I want a sled. I want a evil knevil set.” Paula Hagan, also first grade, asked for “a dollie named Sweet Sounds tender Love.”
Second grader Paula Hammer wrote “Will you give a new doll and a crib for her to sleep in? How is the workshop. I wanted to find out how Mrs. Claus the elves are doing. And I would also like a game the name of the game is Operation. Please can have doll?”. Classmate Ricky Whitaker asked for “a cowboy suit. I have tried to be good.” In the third grade, Kristy Billups wrote “How are you sweet Santa Claus? Sweet Santa Claus I would like a lite brite. Please Santa Claus will you filled my stocking of toys. And don’t forget my sister.” Shawn wrote “Dear Santa Claus: I’ve all ready sent you a note. This is my picture – Your friend, Shawn” and enclosed his school picture. (Bethany Republican-Clipper, Dec 18, 1974)

The letters to Santa are always fun to read – hope you all had enjoyed these notes from the past.

Bit of History - December 4, 2024

A popular social event of Ridgeway’s early days was the “box supper”. This event was usually a fundraiser for an organization like a church or school to help raise money for projects like a library or musical instruments. Young ladies were asked to provide a decorated box containing a supper for two. Fried chicken was a popular menu item in these boxes. The boxes were then sold or auctioned off to the young men in who then shared the meal with the lady who donated it. A girl might drop hints about which box was hers so that the boy she was sweet on could bid on it and they could share the meal.

At one Blythedale box supper, several young men who tried to avoid sharing the meal were called “shoats” (another word for young pigs). “One fellow was halted at the door and told to wend his way back on the inside and that if he didn’t want to eat supper with the girl to go and give her the box and not cheat her out of her supper. ‘He went and eat with the girl.’” (Ridgeway Journal, 11/07/1907)

Another fundraiser for the evening was a cake contest, essentially a popularity contest for the ladies. Men would vote via donations and the lady with the most votes would win a cake. The women would then vote for the “ugliest man” and the winner would receive a pipe. 

These fundraisers were very popular and usually pretty successful. The church or school sponsoring the supper might get anywhere from $20-$45 for the fundraiser.  

In 1908, the Union school held a box supper which included a “brief but well rendered program of recitations, dialogues and songs given by the children and phonograph music.”  (Ridgeway Journal, 12/17/1908)  The sale of the boxes, cake sale and pipe sale amounted to $45.10, which is about $1500 in today’s money. 

Got a favorite memory or pictures of Christmas in Ridgeway?  I am looking for personal stories and/or pictures of Ridgeway Christmas happenings.  If you would like to share, send an email to ridgewaycba@gmail.com or stop by Paula’s Sewing Corner! I would particularly love any pictures of Main Street decorations if you have any – I’ve not found any yet.