Barton County KS Archives History - Books .....First Christmas Tree 1912
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Book Title: Biographical History Of Barton County

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE
By Fred W. Warren

ON the night of December 24th, 1874, Ellinwood had the first Christmas tree in
Barton County. It occurred somewhat after this, manner.

   Our town, being so fortunate as to have five or ten of the most wide-awake,
go-ahead ladies to be found in Kansas, thoroughly alive to every social interest
of the town and country, determined to make one happy time for the children
during these grasshopper times. Accordingly a committee consisting of Mrs.
Hollinger, Mrs. Landis, and Mrs. Bay, went to work in good earnest thus showing
their motherly aptitude in providing for the little ones of the community, made
all necessary arrangements, and in due time had a very respectable evergreen in
position, in the school house, profusely decorated and literally loaded down
with beautiful cornucopias and large, neatly ornamented and embroidered
stockings, well filled with candies, nuts, and goodies of all kinds. These, and
the material of which the cornucopias and stockings were composed, were
bountifully furnished by Messrs. Land is & Williamson, but very little help
having been given by other parties. The expense of the tree was defrayed by Mr.
Geo. W. Hollinger. Indeed the profuseness and generosity with which the tree was
furnished is very creditable to the liberality of our citizens.

   Reaching Ellinwood's handsome school house at an early hour we were
astonished to find the house literally jammed from parquet to dome;—not even a
seat in the gallery could be obtained for love or money. We have attended many a
similar gathering—have often seen the lamps shine "o'er fair women and brave
men," but never such a crowd as this. Not our least surprise was the large
number of handsome young and married ladies (the committee by no means excepted)
who adorn this vicinity.

   The exercises of the evening were conducted by Mr. Chalfant with a masterly
hand; and considering that the programme which had been previously arranged was
"noncomeatable" on account of the failure or lack of promptness on the part of
those who had had parts assigned them, the impromptu prcgramme was carried
through very creditable and successfully.

   A melodeon was on hand, furnished by Miss Etta Avery, and played by J. H.
Bross, who conducted the musical exercises of the evening.

  The exercises were opened with music—"Let the Master In"—by the choir,
consisting of Messrs. Chalfant, Shannon, Geo. Barngrover, J. H. Bross, A. R.
Huffman, of Nickerson; Mrs. Royal Harkness, Mrs. John Shimmins, and Mrs. W. W.
Shannon.

Opening Prayer by Mr. Shimmins.

Music by Choir.

   Opening address—Our Sunday Schools— Mrs. Shimmins.

   Solo and Duet—The Old Mountain Pine—by Messrs. Huffman and Bross.

   Followed by a very amusing description of Santa Claus by Mr. B. B. Smyth,
teacher of the school, during which the tinkling bells and swift hoofs of
reindeer were heard and suddenly in rushed Santa Claus, in the person of Mr. F.
W. Warren, covered with fur and frost from head to foot, and loaded down with,
presents; and was introduced to the audience by Mrs. W. C. Bay, amid much
commotion and merriment.

   While Santa was behind the curtain placing the presents on the tree a piece
of music— Meet Me Darling Josie at the Gate—was sung by Messrs. Bross and
Huffman by special request.

   Here a short and pithy address was made by Mr. A. McKinney on Christmas Customs.

   Music, by the choir.

   Then came the unveiling of the Christmas Tree, by Mrs. Bay, who made a very
neat and appropriate speech showing the enterprise of Ellinwcod in getting up a
Christmas Tree in such hard grasshopper times.

   Here Rev. Mr. Reed was introduced, who made an address to the children on
"Our First Christmas Present." In the meantime the lights were rapidly burning
on the tree, and the children were anxiously awaiting.

   The distribution of presents, by the committee, assisted by the little Misses
Lottie Towers and Kittie Halsey, as pages, and assisted also by Messrs.
Chalfant, Warren and McKinney. Old Santa remembered every one of the 150
children present, by giving each one something to remember him by. Among the
amusing incidents of the distribution were the reception, by Misses Carrie Bacon
and Ida Forsyth, of immense dolls, dressed in the height of fashion. Mr. Bross'
loneliness, too, was remembered; and he was presented with a very neat and
pretty young lady in the shape of a doll. A young gentleman from Cow creek was
presented with a penny American flag with which to celebrate the centennial.
Simy Avery was presented with a broom, not to show, like a schooner, that he was
the fastest young man in town; but to assist him in his prospective
house-keeping. Mr. Halsey received a candy marble, and several other important
personages received a stick of candy each.

   The exercises closed with music—Waiting On, by the choir; and "Larboard Watch
Ahoy," my Messrs. Bross and Huffman.

   The evening's entertainment closed harmoniously, and everybody went home to
enjoy a Merry Christmas.




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