A Victorian Washington County Christmas Told Through Newspaper Clippings
And above all the bustle, you'll read... Take a leisurely "scroll" through a time when communication was slower, and almost everything was newsworthy. These historic newspaper clippings tell the story of a Victorian Washington County holiday through the local news.
In this blog post:
- Local ads for holiday gifting
- Historic holiday edition newspapers
- Event announcements for holiday celebrations
Washington County's Local Gift Ads
Packages, boxes, or bags! Before online shopping, local craftsmen, bakers, and retailers would target customers with newspaper advertisements- detailing their stock of holiday novelties and treats.
Pictured below are ads from John Goetter & Co and the West Bend News Depot, both offering "free gifts" with a purchase around the holidays.
The Tower Heritage Center
Washington County Christmas Gatherings
Making sprits bright... together. Though gift-giving was a popular practice in 19th to early 20th century Christmas celebrations, it was not the central focus of the holidays.
The season was less about receiving presents, and more about gathering with fellow community members, social groups, and churches. Festive parties, dances, and communal dinners were highly anticipated events of the season!
Notice the language of the following postings for Christmas balls, each claiming theirs is the "best" or that "everyone is going," plus a merry meeting agenda for the local Women's Club shown below.
Washington County Holiday Edition Papers
Comfort, joy, and local brevities... 19th-century newspaper often printed yuletide editions in December, featuring seasonal illustrations, poetry and carols, and short fiction. They depicted themes of charity, family celebrations, and seasonal wonder- oftentimes with a moral.
Pictured below: "Tree Trimming" poem and a gleeful cover illustration from the West Bend News.
Additionally, you'd find local happenings, weather updates, and suggested precautions while indulging in festive cheer- like this 1909 bobsleigh warning from the West Bend Pilot:
Why Use Washington County's Newspaper Clippings for Information?
Newspapers give us timestamped access to events and celebrations as they happened in real-time, like a portal to reliving Washington County's Christmas-past!
You can find local historic newspaper clippings in archives, both online (Newspapers.com) and in-person at local research center's. The Tower Heritage Center Archive has access to thousands of local news clippings, ranging in date from Washington County's origins to the present day!
If you have historic papers that tell the story of Washington County's past, you can donate them to our collection to be preserved, stored, and made accessible to the public.
Good Reads About Winter in Historic Washington County, Wisconsin
The Tower Heritage Center
The Tower Heritage Center
Preserving the Past, for Tomorrow
Community support keeps Washington County’s stories alive! Make a difference in preserving our community’s historic places and cultural heritage today - by becoming a member or making a donation.