Straight from the digital files of The Evening Sentinel, courtesy of The Lower Naugatuck Valley History Archives, this week we go back to Christmas Week 1923.
Here’s some of the most sought-after items that would have been on Christmas wish-lists in 1923:
Wristwatches
Radio Flyer Wagons
Chanel No. 5 perfume
Yo-Yos
Electric Appliances
Teddy Bears (inspired by former president Theodore Roosevelt)
Chemistry Sets
Here is what was happening in our Valley!
Saturday, Dec. 22, 1923
Santa Claus Appears At Church
ANSONIA – The annual Christmas exercises of the First Baptist Sunday school were held last evening in the lecture room of the church. Every chair in the church was called into service, and many had to stand during the exercises.
The Brownie Band Cantata, which was given with such success just a week ago, was repeated to a much appreciative audience. The platform was arranged to represent a forest in winter. Santa made an appearance to distribute presents, including purses of gold for the pastor.
Christmas Observed In Schools With Programs by Children
DERBY – Christmas was observed in the schools of Derby yesterday, previous to their closing for the holiday season. The rooms were decorated with wreaths and other Christmas emblems, and trees stood in many of the rooms gaily bedecked with tinsel and stars and everything.
Pupils in the rooms took part in the programs, musical numbers and plays and readings were given by the children and gifts were distributed among the pupils.
Elks To Provide Christmas Gifts
DERBY – Derby Lodge of Elks will provide entertainment and gifts for the children of Derby and Shelton, who are on its list Christmas morning. For several years, the Elks have been making children, who might otherwise not be remembered by Santa Claus, happy with a tree and a dinner. This year, the dinner will be eliminated and money that it would have cost will be devoted to presents.
Candlelight Service
SEYMOUR – For the past seven years, the Church of the Good Shepherd has given on Christmas Eve a picturesque and quaint midnight candlelight service. In past years at this service, the choir has rendered the Christmas cantata, but this year following the request of a number of people, the musical program will consist of old carols which the congregation will probably enjoy singing. The service will begin at 11 o’clock Monday night and end shortly after midnight.
Sunday, Dec. 23, 1923
The Evening Sentinel Didn’t Publish On Sundays
Monday, Dec. 24, 1923
Sunday Work For Post Office Force
ANSONIA – With the biggest Christmas mail in the history of the local post office, Postmaster Joynes and his augmented corps of assistants labored Sunday and today to make a clean up by tomorrow noon. Orders have been received from Washington to quit at noon Christmas Day and hopes were expressed this morning that all the holiday mail would be cleaned up by that time. The force at the Ansonia Post Office worked all day Sunday to make it certain that Christmas mail would all be delivered by tomorrow noon.
Showed Christmas Spirit
DERBY – In the city court this morning, George Schivone of New Haven, who was charged with the theft of a dog from Joseph Levietes of Main Street, was discharged. Schivone drives a truck from the Miner, Read and Tullock Company. While making a stop on Main Street yesterday, he picked up the pup and was followed by the owner and his arrest followed. In accordance with the Christmas spirit, Levietes asked in court this morning that he be discharged.
Town Will Conduct Exercises Tonight
SEYMOUR – The town will observe the holiday tomorrow with exercises this evening around the mammoth Christmas tree that stands on the railroad property. The tree will be illuminated with colored ornaments and townspeople, with the school children, will render Christmas carols. It is expected that a large crowd will be present.
Miss Holbrook Entertains
SEYMOUR – On Saturday afternoon, Miss Gladys Holbrook entertained the members of her Sunday school class at a Christmas party. Her home was tastefully decorated with holly and gay colored festoons. The afternoon was pleasantly spent with music and games.
Shelton Alleys Will Be Enlarged
SHELTON – All arrangements have been completed for the enlarging of the Shelton Bowling alleys. The proprietor is to take a five-year lease, and the new extension is to be built under the post office to connect both buildings by archways. The building is going to be up to date in every respect and the contracts for the building are with the Beardsley Building Company. J. Brennan and Sons have the mason work.
Tuesday, Dec. 25, 1923
Christmas Day – No Paper Published
Wednesday, Dec. 26, 1923
Santa Visited The Derby Elks
DERBY – Santa Claus did not arrive home in time for breakfast yesterday morning. He was delayed somewhat, but when he told Mrs. Claus where he had been and the reason for his not appearing for his morning dish of oatmeal, his cup of coffee and his doughnuts, she forgave him and hustled merrily about preparing the Christmas dinner.
The reason Santa Claus was late for breakfast was because he was at the Elks’ party in the Sterling Theater, giving out toys and clothing to boys and girls of Derby and Shelton.
Kiddies Enjoyed Christmas Day
SEYMOUR – It was indeed a great Christmas for the little guests at the second annual party and dinner given by the Seymour Elks yesterday morning. With the bright, crisp morning came hundreds of children to witness the entertainment and picture show which marked the opening of a few happy hours to many tots who otherwise would have found this Christmas Day the same as any other day had it not been for the Elks.
Santa Claus made an appearance and addressed the children to their great delight.
New Year’s Dance
SEYMOUR – The annual dance, which is to be given by the Alumni Club of the Seymour High School, will take place on Tuesday evening and will probably be the first dance of the new season. Plans are perfected by the committee in charge of the social and many of the graduates and undergraduates and friends of the alumni association will be present to make the time one to be remembered.
Big Holiday Rush
SHELTON – Postmaster Kruger reports that the Christmas rush of mail, including incoming and outgoing mail, has been the greatest known in the local post office in many years. The Christmas rush does not end with the holiday either, postal employees say, and generally continues until January 15.
Thursday, Dec. 27, 1923
To Quit Business Here
ANSONIA – Charles Rogoff, who has conducted a haberdashery and tailoring establishment in the Gardella building on Main Street for the past 10 years, is going out of business about the first of January. Mr. Rogoff, who conducts a similar line of business in Seymour, plans to devote all his time to his establishment in that town and will transfer his merchandise from the Ansonia store to his Seymour location.
Many Christmas Trees
ANSONIA – Many homes in this city present a most attractive appearance at night with their Christmas trees illuminated with colored lights. In most cases the trees are located near the windows in the homes and area conspicuous to passersby. It seems that there are more Christmas trees this year than ever before. Most people keep the trees up until the beginning of the New Year, and in a number of cases, the trees are kept illuminated for at least a month after New Year’s Day.
Concordias’ Christmas
SEYMOUR – On Saturday evening, the members of the Concordia Singing Society and the Concordia Ladies’ Society will hold a joint Christmas celebration in Concordia Hall. Annually at this occasion, the members of the two organizations, with their families, make a special effort to attend so there is practically a complete roster. As usual, the affair is principally arranged for the children, who will be well provided for, but the older folks will also find plenty of entertainment.
Christmas Observance
SHELTON – The annual Christmas of the Baptist Bible School were held in the church auditorium last evening and standing room was at a premium. In addition to the Christmas decorations holding over from Sunday, there had been added a gorgeous tree, tall and graceful, occupied a prominent place in the front of the church.
Friday, Dec. 28, 1923
Methodist Church Sees Santa Claus
ANSONIA – The annual Christmas exercises of the First Methodist Church Sunday school were held last night in the Sunday school rooms. The students and their parents and friends turned out in big numbers that filled the large lecture room and latecomers had to stand up.
After a brief address by the pastor, the jolly old elf, Santa Claus, appeared. Needless to say, the attention was directed to him and his pile of toys for the children.
New Year Dance By Elks
DERBY – The annual New Year’s Eve party will be held by the Derby Lodge of Elks next Monday night and is expected to be the largest attended affair held in the Elks’ home in recent years. The committee is making elaborate plans for the party and when the old year goes out and the new year comes in, there will be many on hand to welcome the event.
Vandals Steal From Christmas Trees
SHELTON – Many people who have occasion to pass the high school grounds are wondering why the community Christmas tree, which was such a pretty sight on Christmas Eve, has been removed. Last year, the tree was kept up until New Year’s and aroused much favorable comment.
The reason the tree has been removed is because when the persons who helped themselves to the decorations and lights got through, there was nothing left but the bare tree.