Waterbury's population boomed during the late 1800s, with thousands of people moving here to work in the factories. From 1870 to 1900, Waterbury's population grew from 13,148 to 51,139. It reached 73,141 in 1910.
Waterbury's growth was directly connected to the growth of industry and transportation throughout the country. This was an era of expansion, innovation, and colonization.
The first Christmas cards in the United States were introduced in 1874 by Louis Prang & Co. The advent of chromolithographic printing made the production of colorful cards affordable for the masses.
Thomas Nast's iconic illustration of Merry Old Santa Claus, carrying an armload of toys, appeared in Harper's Weekly magazine on January 1, 1881.
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| Thomas Nast, Merry Old Santa Claus, 1881 |
The first U.S. patent for an artificial Christmas tree was issued in 1882. The artificial tree was marketed as a way to preserve the forests, but was ridiculed in popular media. By about 1900, however, concern for the preservation of the nation’s forests created a demand for artificial Christmas trees.
Edward H. Johnson, president of the Edison Company, was the first person to use electric lights on a Christmas tree. He demonstrated his unique tree to the press in 1884. A decade later, President Grover Cleveland popularized the use of electric lights on Christmas trees by having the White House family tree illuminated by red, white, and blue bulbs.
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| President Grover Cleveland's family tree at the White House, 1894 The White House Historical Association |
During the 1890s, electric Christmas tree lights were a luxury item: it could cost over $1,000 (in today’s dollars) just for the bulbs, and as much as $2,500 for the electricity needed to power the lights for the holiday season.
The first pre-assembled electric Christmas lights were introduced by General Electric in 1903. A set of 24 bulbs cost a little less than the average week’s wages.
Gifts were wrapped in brown paper or in tissue paper. Modern gift wrap paper was introduced by the founders of Hallmark in 1917.
Christmas Entertainments
In 1870, the Scovill House hotel on the Green in Waterbury hosted a week of festivities for various organizations. The Sociable Club held a holiday reception on Wednesday, brass manufacturers held a grand banquet on Thursday, and on Monday Henry Merriman gave a Christmas family party for 40 guests.
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| Hartford Courant, 30 December 1870 |
On Christmas night 1874, a "Grand Holiday Jubilee" was held at the City Hall auditorium, featuring two plays. The Niblo Garden Combination from New York City presented "Hidden Hand, or the Mysteries of the Lone House," a ledger drama. This was followed by "Jack Harkaway, Laugh and Be Merry," inspired by penny dreadful novels of the 1870s.
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1874 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Jacques' Opera House
Eugene Jacques opened up his theater on the corner of Abbott and Phoenix Avenues in 1886. Christmas extravaganzas were an annual tradition. In 1887, the Christmas performances featured five horses trained to perform onstage, led by actor and producer James H. Wallick.
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1887 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Theatrical Poster for "The New Bandit King", 1902 Historical Society of Pennsylvania |
In 1889, the Christmas show at Jacques' was a slightly more subdued production (no live horses).
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1889 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
In 1891, Jacques expanded his business to include an "auditorium" used for sporting events and other types of performances. On Christmas day in 1897, Waterbury residents could enjoy a polo match between Waterbury and New Haven at Jacques' Auditorium.
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1897 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
Poli's Theater
Poli's Theater opened on East Main Street on December 19, 1897. Their first Christmas special was a "big burlesque extravaganza."
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| Waterbury Democrat, 24 December 1897 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Christmas Gifts
Just as it is today, Christmas shopping in the late 1800s and early 1900s was a stressful endeavor, with crowded stores and an overabundance of goods to choose from. Discount stores offered inexpensive gifts, department stores offered holiday sales, and luxury goods included diamond jewelry and deluxe pianos.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 5 December 1903 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
During the 1870s, stores in downtown Waterbury were still relatively small, as they had been during the previous decades.
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| View of downtown Waterbury looking south, 1876 Boston Public Library, Norman B. Leventhal Map Center Collection |
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1874 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1874 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1874 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1874 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1874 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1874 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
During the 1880s, as Waterbury's population expanded, the downtown commercial district and its businesses expanded as well.
Waterbury One Price Clothing Co.
The Waterbury One Price Clothing Company was started in 1882 by James Hynes, who came to Waterbury as a teenager and worked at the Waterbury Clock Company for ten years before starting his business. Hynes was also involved in real estate and served on the City's Board of Water Commissioners. The Waterbury One Price Clothing Co. was in business until about 1905.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 19 December 1887 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
I. Chase
Isadore Chase (1852-1917) was a Jewish immigrant from Prussia (now Germany), one of the first to move to Waterbury. He arrived in the United States in 1867 and moved to Waterbury to work in the millinery and fancy goods store of his relative, Max Chase. Isadore took over the store in 1875 or '76.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 19 December 1887 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 18 December 1899 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 26 December 1902 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
E. J. Finn
Edward J. Finn (1856-1930) was born in Waterbury to Irish immigrants. His shoe store, which he started with John J. Geraghty, was in business for about thirty years until he retired and became superintendent of the Catholic cemeteries of Waterbury.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 23 December 1887 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 21 December 1888 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 14 December 1900 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 26 December 1902 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Miller & Peck
Miller & Peck was a landmark Waterbury department store founded sometime around 1860 by Henry H. Peck and Charles Miller. The business was located on South Main Street for more than a century.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 14 December 1888 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 17 December 1897 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 14 December 1900 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
J. M. Burrall & Co.
John Milton Burrall (1817-1908) started his furniture store in partnership with George Root in 1849. The business continued until Burrall's death in 1908. His daughters, Lucy and Mary Burrall, were lifelong friends with Edith Chase and spent their summers with her at Topsmead in Litchfield.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 18 December 1888 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 19 December 1899 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Boston Furniture Co.
The Boston Furniture Company was owned by William Squires Rushmore Wake (1861-1935). The Boston Furniture building on the corner of
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| Waterbury Democrat, 17 December 1897 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
E. T. Turner
Edward T. Turner (1835-1891) started his business in 1863 in partnership with William Newton, eventually taking over the business.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 21 December 1888 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 23 December 1890 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
L. F. Haase
Louis F. Haase started his career in 1885 with Dennis Blakesley & Co., taking over the business and renaming it for himself in 1887.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 19 December 1889 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 18 December 1899 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 26 December 1902 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Haase converted his five-story furniture store building into a hotel after the fire of 1902 destroyed much of downtown, including two hotels, naming it the Hotel Connecticut.
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| Illustration from The Connecticut Magazine, Volume VIII, 1904, p. 631 |
Ziglatzki-Marks
The Ziglatzki-Marks Company was started in 1898 by Oscar A. Ziglatzki, William B. Marks, and Paul J. Ziglatzki.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 19 December 1899 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 26 December 1902 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 23 December 1903 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Jones, Morgan & Co.
Jones, Morgan & Co. was one of Waterbury's landmark department stores, specializing in clothing. It was started in 1885 by William Samuel Jones and John P. Morgan. The store was in business on Bank Street for nearly a century.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 24 December 1897 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 14 December 1900 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 20 December 1901 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Grieve, Bisset, & Holland
Another of Waterbury's landmark department stores, Grieve, Bisset & Holland was started in 1901 by William G. Grieve, George S. Bisset, and Lewis M. Holland. Grieve and Bisset were both Scottish immigrants.
The company moved into the former Odd Fellows Building on the Green in 1948.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 17 December 1907 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 17 December 1907 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Currans'
The Curran Dry Goods Company was started by the Irish immigrant Curran family. Thomas Curran had worked for the Conlin Brothers dry goods company on South Main Street during the 1880s; his daughter Nellie worked there as well.
Thomas' son Philip A. Curran started the Curran Dry Goods and Furnishings business in 1891. Philip's brother Peter soon joined him, as did their sisters, Alice, Josephine, Catherine, and Nellie, who all worked as clerks in the store.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 24 December 1897 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 12 December 1908 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Dodge the Slipper King
Harry G. Dodge (1865-1921) moved to Waterbury from Iowa and Massachusetts, joining his father, George R. Dodge, in starting a shoe store here in 1889. Harry took over the business in 1895, eventually proclaiming himself the Slipper King, Harry I, Rex (at least in his advertising). His store was destroyed by the fire of 1902, but reopened soon after.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 18 December 1899 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 14 December 1900 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 26 December 1902 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 17 December 1908 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Upson Jewelry Co.
The Upson Jewelry Company was formed in 1888 by W. D. Upson, F. G. Thornbury, and C. E. Hall.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 24 December 1900 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
The Gaffney Jewelry Co.
The Gaffney Jewelry Company was in business from about 1903 until 1911.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 17 December 1907 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
The Smoke Shop
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| Waterbury Democrat, 17 December 1907 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Groceries
Reading through advertisements for groceries gives us a sense of what people liked to eat during the holidays.
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| Waterbury American, 24 December 1874 Silas Bronson Library microfilm |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 23 December 1887 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 23 December 1887 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 19 December 1889 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 19 December 1900 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Kelly the Baker
Thomas Kelly, an Irish immigrant, became a successful business owner in Waterbury, eventually setting up a dairy farm in Middlebury.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 23 December 1890 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 20 December 1902 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 17 December 1907 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Christmas Trees, Wreaths, and Flowers
A. Dallas
Alexander Dallas was a Scottish immigrant who arrived here during the 1870s and launched a successful business as a florist.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 19 December 1889 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 17 December 1897 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 19 December 1903 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 17 December 1907 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
R. S. Rasmussen
The Rasmussen family were Danish immigrants who farmed land on Town Plot. Florist Robert Scott Rasmussen grew his flowers in greenhouses on Town Plot and sold them in his store on the corner of Bank and Grand Streets.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 18 December 1888 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 19 December 1889 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
Holiday Drinks
Local liquor stores and breweries offered holiday discounts and special seasonal brews at Christmastime.
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| Waterbury Democrat, 14 December 1888 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 18 December 1906 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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| Waterbury Democrat, 17 December 1907 Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers |
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