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Christmas in Watertown

 

1889

12 09       WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS

No weather was ever more unseasonable or out of joint than the present.  Within one week of Christmas the river is as high as last June and lawns are showing a carpeting of green grass.  The roads are simply horrible with their great depth of mud and mire.  Everything is so unlike what it ought to be, that the mind can be brought up to a realization of where we are in the calendar only by the most careful and thoughtful preparation.  It does not seem at all like the thing to be is buying Christmas presents in the midst of such surroundings.  - WR

 

12 24       FIRST CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

The Electric Light Company started the incandescent lights Christmas Eve for the first time.  All that have been put in so far are the sixteen-candle power. The lights are a success.

 

12 27       CHRISTMAS DAY

As far as the weather was concerned last Christmas day was the most remarkable ever experienced here -- the day was a delightful one, the sun shone brightly all day, and the air was as balmy as in May.  Services were held in all the churches, and the decorations and music were particularly fine this year.  At St. Bernard’s and St. Henri's [today St. Henry Catholic] churches High Mass was celebrated at 5 o'clock in the morning at which very large congregations were present, many outsiders being among the number, to witness the impressive ceremonies.  Other Masses followed and were all largely attended -- at 10:30 o'clock Haydn’s Mass was sung by the choir at St. Bernard's, and an Ave Maria duet by Albert Schultz and Miss Mary Malloy.  The singing at this Mass was exceedingly fine, especially the duet of Mr. Schultz and Miss Malloy.  All the members of the choir are to be congratulated on the excellence of their singing on this occasion, and Miss Anna Brown, the organist, deserves special praise for the perfect manner in which she instructed and prepared them to sing so difficult a Mass as Haydn's.    WG

 

1918

12 09       SITE CHOSEN FOR COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE

The committee having in charge the work of arranging for the community Christmas tree, decided at a meeting held for that purpose to hold the exercises at the intersection of North First and Madison streets.  The site is desirable as adjacent to it is the city hall, the Elks club room and the Otto hotel dining room, which can be used to take care of the little folks in case of inclement weather, allowing old and young to warm up if necessary during the exercises.

 

The tree will be lighted every evening during the holiday week and the announcement of the opening exercises on Christmas eve will be made by the ringing of the church bells in the city.  Mayor Charles Mulberger will have the honor of lighting the tree, which will be done by electricity.

 

The committee in charge of this work consists of George Richards, G. H. Lehrkind and Joseph Raue.

 

The cost of the tree and accessories will be considerably more than the amount appropriated, $200, despite concessions made by the Wisconsin Gas and Electric company and the offer of the Barker Lumber company to furnish the lumber necessary for the platform, free of cost.

 

With this in mind “The Brighter Christmas Club" was organized with an initiation fee of one dollar, payable to W. A. Beurhaus, treasurer.  When a total of 168 members have signed, the fact will be made public and additions to the club received sufficient to cover the cost.  A prompt and hearty response is expected from the public by the committee.

 

The exercises will begin on Christmas eve at 4:30 and will continue until 6 o’clock, and as it is the first time in the history of Watertown that such an innovation was made, all our people are asked to be present and make the occasion a memorable one.     The Watertown News, 09 Dec 1918

 

12 13       FIRST COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE A WONDER

Nine dozen trees used as branches in its construction

 

Plans for Watertown’s first big community Christmas tree are moving along splendidly.  At a meeting held last evening reports of the various committees were given.  The members of the committee are working eagerly and enthusiastically to make Watertown’s first community tree one that will ever be remembered by the kiddies and the grown ups of this city.

 

The big tree will be formed of evergreen trees arranged like branches upon a large pole.  Nine dozen trees will be used in the construction.  The Gas and Electric Cos. have agreed to furnish the pole and will attend to setting it up. The Barker Lumber Co. has generously agreed to furnish the lumber for the erection of the large platform on which the singers are to be seated.

 

All the church choirs of the city have been invited to participate in the program and many have already agreed to do so.  The program, which will be announced at a later date, will consist of Christmas music and will include solo numbers, choruses and community singing.  The school children, under the direction of Miss Ladwig, will take part in some of the chorus work.

 

The Christmas tree is for every resident of Watertown and it is to be hoped that everyone who can will participate in the celebration.  In the hope that the people employed in the stores may be enabled to be present at the program, a letter has been sent to the Business Men’s Association asking them to give the matter their consideration, and if they find it possible to allow the clerks some time off between the hours of 4:30 and 6 o’clock.

 

Mr. Beurhaus of the finance committee is ready at any time to accept the dollars of those wishing to become members of the “Brighter Christmas Club.”  More money means a bigger and brighter tree.  Christmas time is the season of giving, so let your generosity extend to the community tree.      The Watertown News, 13 Dec 1918

 

12 20       ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN XMAS TREE EXERCISES

     Plan Big Celebration in Honor of Day and Peace Which Has Come to World After War

 

People residing in the country contiguous to Watertown as well as the city people are invited to participate in the exercises attendant upon the community Christmas tree planned for Tuesday afternoon between 4:30 and 6 o’clock.

 

It is fitting that on the day that commemorates the birth of the Prince of Peace, a community has been brought into new and closer relations by its united efforts to achieve a great victory should join in such a celebration of Christmas as it has never had before.  The first thrill of joy that found expression in a great spontaneous demonstration is over, but there remains with all of us a deeper and a quieter sense of gladness that may well find its own expression in the lights, the songs, and the good cheer of a community Christmas tree.

 

So let the spirit of thankfulness be present in the heart of every one who attends the community tree celebration, thankfulness that after four long years of struggle and conflict, nations are once again at peace with one another and that in so many American homes there is rejoicing because her sons have come back.

 

The Christmas season is the time of giving and some of us may feel that we would like to help those who have been less fortunate than we.  The drive for the fatherless children of France ends on Christmas day, and a box will be provided by the Christmas tree committee wherein people may drop a contribution for the poor orphans of France if they so desire.  Thus, a Christmas festival in Watertown will end by bringing joy and peace to some of the million orphans of France whose fathers have given their lives for the cause of liberty. 

 

As a thank offering, let every home to which a boy is returning, do something to help keep with its mother a little French orphan whose father will never come back.

 

In such a way we will round out a perfect Christmas with merriment and gladness for those of us from whom the shadow of war has been lifted, and with a tender thought for those across the seas, who, however they may rejoice over the coming of peace, must still carry a heavy burden of sorrow.       The Watertown News, 20 Dec 1918

 

1968

12 21       DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS CONCERT

The Watertown Municipal Band, directed by Dr. Arnold O. Lehmann, will play its annual downtown Christmas concert on Monday evening, the last nighttime shopping period for the Christmas season.  The band will be playing in the lobby of the Merchants National Bank starting at 7 o’clock.  A one hour program has been arranged.  There will be loud speakers to carry the music to the streets.  This concert will be an actual performance by the band and will not be presented in taped form as has been done on some past occasions.

 

1992

12 23       SHARING

Sharing is a lesson some Watertown children have received perfect grades on this holiday season.  Whether sending gifts to children less fortunate than themselves in Czechoslovakia or packages to Somalia — students discovered sharing can take place locally or internationally.  “Christmas is a time to share,” said one little girl, sitting comfortably in her second grade classroom at Lincoln Elementary School.  The girl is in Randall Dorn’s class, one of three classes at the school which passed up the traditional gift exchange among classmates, instead sending presents to children in Watertown’s Czechoslovakian sister city, Uhersky Brod.  The gifts, wrapped with pride as if they contained gemstones, are tissues and toothbrushes and shampoo and soap.

 

1993

10 20       OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS PARADE AND CELEBRATION

Watertown’s annual Old-Fashioned Christmas parade and holiday kickoff celebration has been cancelled, according to Jack Erdmann, executive director of the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the event. The parade has been cancelled because of a lack of a chairman to oversee the parade which has been the main event of the celebration, Erdmann explained. “We are disappointed that no one would step forward to chair or co-chair the parade this year, but a few people have expressed interest in doing it next year,” he said, adding that he did not feel a change in date had any bearing on the lack of a chairman. Old-Fashioned Christmas celebration has traditionally been held on the first Sunday of December, but last year the parade committee decided to change the date to the last Sunday of November.

 

2008

12 03       MODEL TRAIN DISPLAY

The popular model train display has been constructed once again in downtown Watertown, just in time for the Christmas season.  As in past years, the display, the work of several Watertown model train enthusiasts, is located in the upper level of The Market on South Water Street.  As soon as visitors enter the area, they instantly become children at heart.  No matter the age, their mouths drop in amazement at the display they are witnessing.  This display was the dream of Bruce Degner. When asked about what inspired him to undertake this huge task he said, “I just wanted to create a place where people could come and reminisce about Christmases past and their love of trains.”

 

 

 

Cross Reference:

1958: “An Old-Fashioned American Christmas”

     same as

“Christmas at Bradford Farm”

     same as

Christmas at Grandfather’s Farm (1890s)

 

A number of Watertown residents will appear in an educational movie titled “An Old-Fashioned American Christmas” which is being filmed here under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Tod Stromquist of Coronet Instructional Films of Chicago. This project is being made possible by the Watertown Historical Society, working in cooperation with the Wisconsin State Historical Society and the Watertown Curtain Club. T

 

 

 

 

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