Washington Irving published a satirical story about St. Nicholas in 1809, writing "lo! the good St. Nicholas came riding over the tops of the trees, in that self-same wagon wherein he brings his yearly presents to children. ... And he lit his pipe by the fire, and sat himself down and smoked; and as he smoked the smoke from his pipe ascended into the air, and spread like a cloud overhead." (Washington Irving’s Works: Knickerbocker’s history of New York, 1895 edition, p. 181-182)
An illustrated poem about "Old Santeclaus" was published in New York in 1821, the first known publication to depict Santa's sleigh and reindeer.
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| The Children's friend. Number III. A New-Year's present, to the little ones from five to twelve, 1821 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University / Wikimedia Commons |
The earliest known depiction of a Christmas tree in the United States was published in Boston in 1836. The book gives an overview of German immigrant communities in the U.S. and begins by praising the German Christmas traditions, particularly the decoration of the table-top Christmas tree.
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| Hermann Bokum, The Stranger's Gift, A Christmas and New Year's Present. Boston: Light and Horton, 1836 archive.org |
Christmas in the 1840s
During the 1840s, Waterbury's population grew from 3,668 to 5,137 as the town began to transform itself from a farming community to a manufacturing center. The town had two hotels, four churches (Congregational, Episcopal, Baptist, and Methodist), and 26 manufacturers. Until the arrival of the first railroad in 1849, stage coaches were the primary transportation service to other towns. What we now think of as "downtown" Waterbury was the only commercial center.
The Waterbury American newspaper began publication in 1844, giving us a glimpse into daily life of that era. Edward B. Cooke joined the paper in February 1845, serving as editor, reporter, and foreman of the paper until his death in 1875 (Anderson, The Town and City of Waterbury, Volume III, pp. 968-979).
Just as it is today, Christmas in the 1840s was a time of joy and sadness, with occasional tension between secular and religious observations of the holiday. In 1848, the Waterbury American's Christmas editorial spoke of "the usual demonstrations of juvenile hilarity and happiness" but noted that for some "a shade of sadness passes over the brow, despite the cheering influences which apparently surround them." The writer lamented the popular celebration of Christmas as a time of "roytish mirth" (wild merriment), when it should instead be a time of religious veneration and the adoration of "the advent of the Redeemer of a lost and ruined race." ("Christmas," Waterbury American, 22 December 1848)
An editorial in the Waterbury American in 1846 welcomed Christmas as a time for children to enjoy presents and amusements, humorously noting that Santa Claus "claws our pockets to the lining!" They also described Christmas as a time to "renew the friendships of our youth... review the events of our past existence, and set ourselves right in those weighty matters that may probably have been too much neglected." ("Christmas," Waterbury American, 19 December 1846)
Scovill's
The first merchants to advertise gifts for Christmas were the Scovill brothers, founders of the manufacturing firm. Although we associate them today with the brass industry, they also owned a general store, offering books for sale during the Christmas and New Year season in 1845.
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| Waterbury American, 20 December 1845 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Nelson Weston
From 1845 through 1851, Christmas gifts for children could be purchased from Nelson Weston, an African American who also operated a barber shop, cafe and dance studio. Weston was the first, and for several years the only, Waterbury merchant to advertise Christmas gifts for children.
Weston's business was located in the basement (street level) of the Baptist Church at Exchange Place.
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| Waterbury's Baptist Church in 1852. Detail image from the 1852 map of Waterbury surveyed by H. Irvine and published by Richard Clark of Philadelphia. |
Originally from Seymour, Weston moved to Waterbury in 1845 and became a successful businessman here before relocating to Naugatuck. His father, Juba (or Jubal) Weston had been enslaved by the Humphreys family but eventually gained his freedom and was noted for his talent as a musician. Nelson Weston's son, Horace, became a world-famous banjo player during the 1880s.
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| Waterbury American, 13 December 1845 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 19 December 1846 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Weston referred to his business as a saloon, a reference to the concept of a French salon. The use of the word saloon to describe a bar or tavern had not yet come into popular usage.
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| Waterbury American, 18 December 1847 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Alphonse Braunfels
Alphonse Braunfels operated a paper box factory on Scovill Street and started marketing fancy boxes for holiday gifts in 1847. Braunfels was a French immigrant who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1851.
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| Waterbury American, 18 December 1847 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
William Patton
William Patton (1809-1883) was an Irish immigrant who started the first bookstore in Waterbury in 1842 (Anderson, The Town and City of Waterbury, Volume III, pp. 1019). He also started a book bindery attached to his bookstore.
In 1846, Patton ran an advertisement in November and December for "gift books" in ornate leather bindings with gilt edging. The following year, his advertisement emphasized that the books were suitable Christmas presents.
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| Waterbury American, 19 December 1846 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 18 December 1847 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
In 1848, Patton sold the book bindery portion of his business to Alphonse Braunfels. Patton eventually moved his bookstore to Bank Street, where it was renamed the Book Haunt.
E. R. Welton
Oysters was a popular Christmas treat during the 1800s, much like shrimp is today. E. R. Welton (possibly Ephraim R. Welton, 1825-1848) offered fresh Virginia oysters for sale at Christmastime in 1847. His business was located at the Mansion House hotel on Bank Street near Exchange Place.
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| Waterbury American, 18 December 1847 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| The Mansion House hotel on Bank Street, illustrated in Anderson, The Town and City of Waterbury, Volume II, p. 222 |
Christmas in the 1850s
The Christmas tree came into popular usage in the United States during the 1850s. Godey's Lady's Book, a fashion magazine, published an image of a family (modeled after an image of Queen Victoria and her family) gathered around a table-top tree in 1850, which helped popularize the tradition. The following year, Christmas trees became available for purchase in New York City and, in 1856, President Franklin Pierce set up the first Christmas tree at the White House.
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| The Christmas Tree, Godey's Lady's Book, December 1850 |
Waterbury experienced tremendous growth during the 1850s, incorporating the center of Waterbury a as a city in 1853. The population nearly doubled, from 5,137 in 1850 to 10,004 in 1860, thanks to the success of the manufacturing industry. Waterbury had become a thriving hub of commerce and industry.
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| Bank Street at Exchange Place in 1857, illustrated in Anderson, The Town and City of Waterbury, Volume II, p. 71 |
Waterbury's Christmas advertising grew tremendously during the 1850s, with more merchants than ever promoting their goods for the holiday season. By 1855, gift giving was as varied as it is today, from toys and games to expensive jewelry.
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| Waterbury American, 21 December 1855 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 20 December 1850 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 20 December 1850 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 20 December 1850 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 17 December 1852 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
George N. Granniss
George N. Granniss promoted photographs from his portrait studio as holiday presents during the 1850s, advising customers to arrive early in the day, since his studio relied on natural light for the photographs. His first studio was in a custom-designed building at Exchange Place from 1851 until 1855, after which his studio was at a series of different locations in the Exchange Place area. He sold his business to Adt & Brother in 1885.
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| Waterbury American, 17 December 1852 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 21 December 1855 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Leavenworth & Dikeman
Leavenworth & Dikeman was a drug store on Bank Street started in 1850 by Elisha Leavenworth and Nathan Dikeman. The business continued until 1890. During the 1850s, they sold toys and other small items for Christmas and New Year gifts.
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1852 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Bronson Brothers
Isaac R. Bronson started a bookstore and book bindery in the spring of 1852. His brother Edward L. Bronson joined the company in 1853, and the business was renamed Bronson Brothers. In 1858, they published the first history of Waterbury, written by Henry Bronson.
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| Waterbury American, 17 December 1852 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 21 December 1855 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 21 December 1855 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Meigs & Trott
The Meigs & Trott bakery started in 1852, eventually becoming the Trott Baking Company in 1891 and remained in business well into the 1900s.
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| Waterbury American, 21 December 1855 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Christmas in the 1860s
The Civil War lasted from 1861 until 1865, impacting every family in the country. The popular Harper's Weekly magazine published images reflecting the sense of loss and separation felt by many. Christmas images in the magazine during the war were supportive of the Union troops.
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| Thomas Nast, Santa Claus visiting the U.S. troops, 1863 Harper's Weekly, 3 January 1863, Wikimedia Commons |
In Waterbury, wartime sentiment was captured in a Christmas poem by Fannie A. Foote (later Seeley), published on the front page of the Waterbury American on Christmas Day, 1863. The final two stanzas were:
Liberty catches the golden song,
Rolling o'er hills and valleys along,
And her brave lips the sounds prolong--
Merry Christmas!
When one more year has sped away,
Bearing its freighted sheaves, O may
The North and South shake hands and say,
Merry Christmas!
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| Waterbury American, 25 December 1863 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
After the war, Christmas was celebrate with more energy than ever before. Theatrical performances were held on Christmas day. Christmas fairs and holiday stores became popular in Waterbury, leading at least one person to complain that they were drawing business away from regular retailers (Waterbury American, 24 December 1869, p. 2).
Christmas in Waterbury in 1868 was marked by the destruction of St. John's Church on the Green in a dramatic fire that started on the morning of Christmas Eve.
Several merchants who started business earlier, including Meigs & Trott and William Patton, continued their businesses and their Christmas marketing into the 1860s.
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| Waterbury American, 25 December 1863 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1869 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
C. D. Bailey
C. D. Bailey was a confectioner who heavily advertised his "Toy Emporium" every year at Christmastime. His business was located in the Hotchkiss Block, built on the corner of East and North Main Streets in 1854. Bailey operated the local telegraph office in 1855.
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| Waterbury American, 25 December 1863 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 25 December 1863 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Park Place Book Store
The Park Place bookstore was located in the Reynolds Building on the Green for about a decade, until 1872. The business was a partnership between two brothers, Anson F. and Charles S. Abbott, who were also insurance agents.
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| Waterbury American, 25 December 1863 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
David David
David David (1833-1912) was a French immigrant who operated a restaurant and candy store for decades. He arrived in the U.S. in 1852.
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| Waterbury American, 25 December 1863 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 25 December 1863 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Booth's Crockery Store
John J. Booth opened his crockery store in the Hotchkiss Block during the 1850s. His business continued until about 1870.
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| Waterbury American, 25 December 1863 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Henry F. Bunce & Co.
Henry Bunce (1841-1873) started up his business selling crockery during the 1860s when he was in his twenties. His father, Daniel Bunce, was the superintendent at a brass factory.
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1869 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
James R. Ayres
James Ayres (1819-1889) came to Waterbury from New York in 1849, establishing what became the leading jewelry store in Waterbury for two decades. He also owned property in the Abrigador neighborhood, where Ayers Street was named after him (the spelling changed over the decades). Ayres is credited with being the first merchant to keep a sizeable stock of jewelry and silverware in Waterbury (Anderson, The Town and City of Waterbury, Volume II, p. 199).
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1869 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
1 comment:
Thank you so much for putting these old ads together. Iinteresting that the first trees were table top trees. Maryellen Walsh of West Main St, Bidwell St. and East Ridge Drive.
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