From the Museum's Archives is a weekly section of local history columns written by the Manistee County Historical Museum.
The following news items are reprinted from the Manistee Daily News for the week Dec. 16- 22, 1921 and are compiled by Teena Kracht from the newspaper archives of the Manistee County Historical Museum. Read more of the 100 Years Ago column at manisteenews.com.
“The first Christmas trees for this year’s holiday are now on sale. Edmund Kieling, First and Cypress streets, announces that he has received a carload ... The price this year may be more, or may be less, than last year, depending on whether there is much or little snow. If the snow is heavy in the forests, making it difficult to secure the trees, the prices will be high, but if the trees are easily gotten the prices will be low. The cost of those offered by Kieling range from $0.25 to $4, the latter price being for church trees ... .
“The Manistee bowling league season was opened last night on the Clement & DeCair alleys, when the Moulders team took three straight sets from the Alley team ... .
“As Noah Heap puts it: The wise man never brags about his four aces until he shows them.
“Wonder what the coming year means by presenting us with a Friday the 13th in January, the first month.
“Why worry? Statistics show that only one person in 1,200 is murdered and fewer than that get into the movies.
“It looks now as if three burning issues of 1921 which won’t attract much attention in 1922 are Babe Ruth, Fatty Arbuckle and the Island of Yap.
“About 40 members of the King-O’Connor post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, enjoyed a goose supper at their hall last night ... Saturday night the veterans will have a rabbit supper.
“Traffic ‘blisters’ at street intersections are the bane of motorists when they are concealed by snow. Dozens of automobile drivers have unwittingly hit them with the front wheels of their cars, only to have the steering wheel wrenched from their grasp, or with the back wheels, giving them an awful bum.
“Dr. H. D. Robinson, on the witness stand yesterday afternoon in connection with the (newborn-infant) murder case, testified that he viewed the remains of the baby which is at the Bradford undertaking parlors, but because of the condition of the body he was unable to tell whether the baby had been born prematurely or had been born dead. The examination will be continued next Tuesday afternoon.
“That war veteran who shot a Chicago packer must have discovered who invented canned corned beef.
“Peace on earth, good will toward men, ought to mean more this Christmas than at any time in the history of the world to date.
“Noah Little comes to bat with this: The meek may inherit the earth but that is the only way they’ll ever get it.
“Christmas tuberculosis seals are on sale at the Red Cross booths which have been placed at some of the business places in the city for the two ‘Volunteer Days’ (membership-drive days) today and tomorrow.
“Frank Lewandowski yesterday was fined $1 and costs in Justice Greve’s court when he pleaded guilty to the charge of using indecent language before women and children.
“A lot of boys who had to do with horses and mules in the late war can explode the common belief that one must be due south of an animal looking north to get massaged with iron slippers. An evil-minded horse is likely to reach out in any direction, they say.
“LONDON, Dec. 17. — Telephoning from the United States to Europe or Asia from one’s office ‘phone is a possibility contained in a prediction made by Marconi.
“‘I see no reason why, in the immediate future, our ordinary telephone exchanges should not be connected with our big wireless stations,’ Marconi said.
“‘The subscriber would use his phone in the usual way.
“‘His voice would be carried by wire to the wireless station, would then go into space to the wireless station of the country in which his friend lived, thence by wire to the telephone exchange and thus to the office or house of the man to whom he wished to speak.’
“The Pilot club will have a homemade candy sale at the Pilot rest rooms, Tuesday, Dec. 29. Molasses kisses, popcorn balls and other candies will be sold. The proceeds will be given to the Red Cross and Social Welfare League.
“The spirit of Christmas was beautifully expressed at the Grant school Parent-Teachers club meeting yesterday afternoon by a Christmas play given by 22 pupils from Miss Jentoft’s room; by the five-piece orchestra selections; by the Christmas carols sung by the pupils of Miss Jones’ room; in choice selections played as a trio with Hazel Belcher and Cordelia Brock at the piano and Norman Chambers on the violin; and last, but not least, two ideal Christmas stories splendidly told by Mrs. William Shewry.
“The American Woodenware company, manufacturers of knock-down clothes racks, washboards, ironing boards and other products has placed ... the clothes rack on display at the Manistee manufacturers’ exhibits in the H. B. Larsen building windows ... Stacy Thompson is the inventor (of the rack).
“A sixth exhibit, the Liberty-phone talking machine, has been placed in the same window by J. M. Ramsdell. Mr. Ramsdell does not manufacture the parts ... but assembles them. This display shows several types of completed machines ...
“With the installation of these two displays, the exhibits of the local manufacturers now fill the windows.
“That Christmas is only a week hence was evident this noon at the Pere Marquette railroad station when about 25 young people arrived from college to spend the holidays at home.
“Oh, boy! It surely was a happy sight when they came off the train and were enfolded in the arms of the waiting parents, brothers, and sisters ... .
“Eighteen people who bought tickets for the Manistee-Frankfort basketball game received a double reward, for besides seeing a fast game, they won prizes, which had been donated by Manistee merchants.
“With but three exceptions, the articles for ladies’ use were won by them and those for men by males ...
“The winners of the prizes are to apply for the articles at the various stores by whom they were given ... .
“Playing before a crowd of 550 interested basketball fans, the Manistee High school basketball team last night at Ramsdell hall opened its court season by defeating the Frankfort High school quintet, 18 to 11 ...
“With few exceptions, the playing of both teams was comparatively clean ... .
“Protect the birds. The dove brings peace and the stork brings income tax exemptions.
“Mary Garden says, ‘The most beautiful thing is a leg in a black silk stocking.’ Mary mustn’t believe what every man tells her.
“Work of rebuilding by Julius Jaekel of Chicago of the pipe-organ in Trinity Lutheran church, First street, was completed today and it will be in operation again tomorrow morning. Trinity church bought the organ in 1880 from Trinity Lutheran church of Milwaukee where it had been used for 21 years. It is now probably the oldest organ in Manistee, 63 years.
“To forgive and forget is fine; to give and forget is finer.
“Noah Little says: Don’t chew the rag. Consider the moth who hasn’t a friend in the world.
“Shoppers are reminded that stores will be open every evening next week including Christmas eve.
“We Have Just Received a Shipment of Christmas Holly. Place your orders for loose holly and holly wreaths early. This lot will not last long. Remember what happened last Christmas. Wilbur Erickson, Florist. 422 RIVER ST. PHONE 688.
“The boys of the city are asked by the directors of the Indoor Circus given by the Veterans of Foreign Wars not to eat too hearty a supper tonight, so that they will be able to make a good record in the pie eating contest which will be one of the features at the circus tonight ...
“Due to the storm, only a fair-sized crowd attended the opening Saturday night ... The kids’ afternoon Saturday was successful, a large number of children taking advantage of the free entertainment. The human frog contortionist was especially interesting to them ...
“A special feature has been added for Wednesday night’s entertainment. Burt Buckner and ‘Ginger’ Meyers have been engaged for a boxing bout. They are well known for their ability as boxers and should draw a good crowd.
“En route to Chicago preliminary to another mission to foreign lands, Donald M. Brodie, former pastor of the Congregational church of Manistee, is spending a couple of days here visiting friends.
“Since leaving here upon America’s entrance into the world war Mr. Brodie, after serving in various capacities with the American Expeditionary Forces, has been connected with the diplomatic service of his country, his last attachment being as secretary to Charles R. Crane, recent American Ambassador to China.
“Mr. Brodie’s imminent trip abroad will be with Mr. Crane to the north coast of Africa and down toward the Sahara desert, in a study of Mohammedan problems having an important bearing on present peace movements, and he is looking forward to it to add another rich chapter to the volume of his international experiences ... .
“The community Christmas tree project has been abandoned for this year. And the reason was made clear in the report submitted by the committee having the affair in charge at the regular noon luncheon of the Exchange club this noon.
“Opposition of women’s organizations, which feared that through this channel money would be diverted from the Social Welfare fund, for which a drive was on at the time the project was broached, was the chief impediment. Regret was voiced by a number of Exchangeites that the plans had not been carried out, and declaration was made that no matter what other drives might be undertaken the coming year, a community Christmas tree would be an Exchange club accomplishment ... .
“Snow makes it seem more like Christmas, but don’t look for the Christmas spirit from the fellow handling the snow shovel.
“It was hard sledding, hard wheeling and hard footing during the storm Saturday night. And not such a darned sight better Sunday.
“The local Post Office force was today augmented by putting on one clerk, Neil Chesbro; and one carrier, Ralph Stubbs, for service during the holidays.
“The shortest day of the year comes this month. Some hold that it falls on the 31st, some that it falls on the day they do their Christmas shopping, and some that it is the day they pay their taxes.
“The Volunteer Days last Friday and Saturday for renewal of memberships in the Red Cross, brought very satisfactory results, Manistee’s quota being easily raised. The charter will therefore be retained for another year.
“The big red Napoleon truck used to carry passengers between Manistee and Filer City had a hard time breaking through the snow yesterday morning. The first trip from River street to Filer City at 6:30 in the morning took close to one hour. Reitz hill was not covered by drifts, so no trouble was encountered there, but the Filer City hill was covered with several feet of snow, and the car had to be run down the hill in low speed.
“Saturday night’s fall of snow came down on us almost as heavily as the 1921 taxes.
“As Noah Heap puts it: The best little thing that has come to bat so far for prohibition against whisky is some of the whisky.
“Trees yesterday were dressed in mantles of clinging snow, a very beautiful sight to those who admire such things. The snow-covered ivy on the facade of the high school, on the side wall of Russell's grocery and elsewhere in the city looked especially beautiful.
“Juvenile cigarette smokers, take notice! A campaign to enforce the law which prohibits the smoking of cigarettes by or for sale of cigarettes to any person under the age of 21 years has been started by the Manistee Public school, city and county authorities.
“At the present time, it is said, conditions in regard to both are very lax ... at several places in the city.
“The officials will largely depend for the success of the campaign on the local retailers, who can refuse the young fellows smokes. They are being notified as to the requirements of the law in this regard and asked to see that the statutes are enforced as far as it concerns them. Later on, if the law is not respected prosecution will follow ...
“Some poolrooms of the city, it is stated by the authorities, are to a large extent responsible for allowing students and other young men to frequent their places, and it is said that many acquire the habit of smoking while frequenting these places. The poolrooms are being asked to rigidly enforce the law which prohibits minors under the age of 17 or any students to frequent such places. It is believed that this will stop to some extent the use of tobacco among students and minors.
“Weed painting is the latest form of expression for the amateur artist, and several cults in this city are decorating the milkweed pod and the mullein stalk as Victorian poets used to paint the lily.
“Several mediums are used, the most commonly employed being water and oil paints, pastel crayons, bronzes and dye tints. Really remarkable results are obtained by the more expert devotees of the pastime, the empty husk of the milkweed pod being transformed into marked resemblance to sea-shells.
“One result of the craze that is likely to prove of benefit is the fact that (by) gathering the pods and destroying the seed-carrying floss, the future crop of milkweed will be less than in the past ... reducing ... this particular noxious weed.
“The decorated pods and weeds have usurped the time-honored ledge on the what-not whereon formerly reposed the shell ornaments; framed, they have taken the place of the hair wreath and the waxed flowers, and the pastoral atmosphere produced by jugs of painted pods on the mantel has caused the statue of Venus, or Psyche to hide her sophisticated plaster self behind the new decorations.
“The pods also have commercial possibilities, a good healthy stalk with several pods bringing good prices at society or church bazaars ... .
“GRAND RAPIDS, Dec. 20. — Joseph Gramza, of Manistee, charged with unlawful possession of liquor, was sentenced ... here Monday, to serve four months in the Detroit house of correction.
“Gramza first entered a plea of not guilty but later changed his mind and admitted his guilt ...
“Gramza ... was one of a half dozen alleged local violators of the prohibition law snared in a raid by prohibition enforcement officers on the night of Nov. 4 ... Cases against the others ... are still pending.
“The Red Cross will sell a painting by Joe Trevitts at the indoor circus.
“Public schools will close for the holiday vacation Thursday afternoon, Dec. 22, and reopen on Tuesday morning, Jan. 3.
“In this day and age the Wise Men of the East probably would first get into a few garages by mistake.
“More lines (contributed) from Old Autograph Albums: ‘Cute is the cat, cuter the kitten, Cutest the girl that gives the boy the mitten.’ Manistee, Feb. 14, 1880. ‘The older the tree, the softer the bark, The older the girl the harder to spark.’ Manistee, March 1, 1880.
“Six suggestions for suitable Christmas presents for a gentleman, as quoted by an Albuquerque, New Mexico, paper: 1. A bottle of Hooch. 2. A bottle of Hooch. 3. A bottle of Hooch. 4. A bottle of Hooch. 5. A bottle of Hooch. 6. A bottle of Hooch ... .
“It is frequently easier to be sure you are right than it is to go ahead.
“When a man is continuously talking about his troubles his neighbors never trouble about his talk.
“The resignation of Milk Inspector Magnus Nelsson was the chief matter before the city commissioners in their brief session last night ... The resignation was accepted on condition that he continue his duties until a successor has been secured ... .
“City Health Officer Homer Ramsdell submitted the following report for the month to the city commission last night:
“‘Since Nov. 15 there have been 23 cases of communicable diseases reported to the health department, classified as follows: scarlet fever 17, pneumonia 1, diphtheria 1, chicken pox 3, tuberculosis 1.
“'Of these, seven of the cases of scarlet fever have recovered, as has also one of the chicken pox cases. The pneumonia and the tuberculosis patients died. This leaves at the present time in the city 10 cases of scarlet fever, confined to five families, one of diphtheria and two of chicken pox.
"'Since the last report 304 school children have been examined, all being found free from diphtheria bacillus. In these same schools last year 12 children had positive throats, being potentially spreaders of diphtheria.
“'Thirteen tobacco workers were examined and one positive case detected.
“'During the month of November there were 13 births and 13 deaths.’
“Manistee after being without such an institution for a number of years, is shortly to have a post of the Salvation Army. Beginning about the middle of January the boom of the bass drum and the tinkle and thump of the tambourine will be heard regularly on downtown corners of evenings supplementing the fervent appeals of the Salvation exhorters.
“Who will be in charge here is not announced. But that Manistee will soon have this picturesque adjunct of metropolitan religious life is assured. There undoubtedly is a field here for the Army’s customary activities.
“About 250 kids will kick their little feet under the tables at Castle hall next Saturday afternoon when the annual Christmas for the needy children of the city will be given by the local chapter of the Knights of Pythias. This is an increase of 100 over the number of children feted and entertained last year at the first Christmas dinner ... .
“The outstanding feature of the report of the Social Service Worker Ida M. Brownrigg for November is the large amount of relief given the poor people of the city at Thanksgiving time, 74 families being provided with dinners and supplies at this time.
“The Community Club under the chairmanship of Miss Helen Lloyd packed and distributed most of the food.
“Plans for Christmas are also well underway ... .
“There seems to be a question this year over which will be the more scarce, the egg or the nog.
“As Noah Heap puts it: The man with a landlord doesn’t need a calendar to tell when the first of the month rolls around.
“The examination in the (infant) murder case continued yesterday ... (and) was continued again until tomorrow ... .
“Today is the shortest day of the year as well as the last day of autumn. Winter will officially take possession at 4:08 tomorrow, which will be one minute longer.
“Time speeds as rapidly for the young as for the old. Which thought was borne to our consciousness by the confidential remark of one dainty flapper as she sat on a stool before the soda fountain and nervously rubbed an ankle, that it seemed no more than an hour between mosquito bites and woolen stockings.
“Have you got a little bunch of painted weeds in your home?
“That the ‘shop early’ admonitions have been quite generally heeded this Christmas shopping season is the impression of Manistee merchants.
“A number of merchants interviewed today on this subject stated that the Christmas trade had been pretty evenly spread over a longer period than usual, and in most cases has been fully up to expectations. There have been a few spurts the most noticeable being after banks distributed Christmas club checks and last Saturday and Saturday evening, when despite the bitter storm, buying was brisk ... .
“What’s Doing In Our Schools.
“(High School) The high school basketball team won its first game ... About 50 alumni of the high school are home for the Christmas vacation. This number is almost one-seventh of the enrollment in the school. Manistee sends a large number of students away to take up higher education ...
“(Grant School) The little tots in Miss Lorenz’s Kindergarten had their annual Christmas celebration this afternoon. A program consisting of songs and a Christmas selection by each child followed by a visit from a real Santa Claus featured the afternoon’s entertainment ... The eight grade (eighth grade? — T. K.) ... celebrated Christmas on Tuesday afternoon in true holiday spirit ... The gysium was decorated ... with branches of fir and pine gathered by the eighth grade boys. Poinsettias, in crimson beauty brightened the dark background of evergreen, red bells hung from the ceiling, and scarlet streamers gaily floated from the electric chandeliers. A huge fir tree occupied the center of the room, decorated with silver stars and long strands of pop-corn prepared by the girls. Gifts for teachers and pupils also made the wonderful tree an anticipation and a delight. Santa Claus in real costume, dispensed hospitality and good cheer and in a loud voice distributed the gifts, creating much jollity. The pupils proclaimed this Christmas celebration the best ever known ... .
“P. P. Schnorbach, chairman of the Board of Commerce committee, yesterday reported to the directors the results of the recent membership campaign. The report shows an increase of 13 over the previous memberships ... making a total of 399.
“If you don’t care for the things you can’t obtain you will be fairly happy.
“For the children of the city the holidays officially began this afternoon at 3:30 with the closing of school. Quite a number of the teachers whose homes are elsewhere will leave tomorrow to spend the holidays with their relatives.
“A Christmas tree will be placed in the library, and Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock a Christmas story will be told to the children around it. The library will close Saturday evening at 6 o’clock, will be closed all day Sunday, and will be open from 2 to 5:30 Monday afternoon.
“An optimist is a person who wishes a pessimist a Happy New Year.
“Noah Little reminds us that There are only nine more ‘resoluting’ days before New Year.
“As Noah Heap puts it: Parents with old-fashioned moral notions must be very embarrassing to their children.
“There would be more old-fashioned Christmases this year if the price of turkey was a bit more old-fashioned.
“So this is winter! Seems sorta familiar, as though it had been here some time instead of arriving only this morning.
“(Article) STORE WINDOWS DECORATED TO CONFORM WITH SPIRIT OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.
“Holiday decorations are again doing much to give to the River street shopping district the real Yuletide atmosphere. One has only to look into the store windows to note the pretty Christmas aspect which pervades along the street.
“Manistee merchants have again given a great deal of attention to their window and interior decoration for the holidays, although quite a number of them have substituted for the big, showy Christmas effects displays of beautiful and useful articles and have just added enough of the red and green festoons, wreaths, bells, streamers, and Christmas designs to give a Yule atmosphere.
“At the Lloyd and Smith store, a large Christmas tree decorated with electric lights and with a sign, ‘Say It Electrically This Christmas,’ gives the place a note of Yuletide atmosphere.
“The A. H. Lyman company, as usual, have their two stores beautifully decorated with Christmas fringes streamers and festoons. Their windows have been made attractive with pretty displays of stationery, useful toilet articles, books and a phonograph.
“The Sugar Bowl has used a small decorated Christmas tree and red and green streamers to display its Christmas candies very effectively.
“Green is the outstanding color in the window decoration of the Vanity Hat Shop. Dolls have been placed in the window so as to produce a very stunning effect.
“White Christmas bells, streamers and small Christmas trees are used by the Mertens Drug company to produce a Yuletide atmosphere among the many useful gifts and decorations on display in the windows of the store.
“The Erickson Floral shop shows some attractive designs in holly wreaths and other Christmas floral decorations.
“Red, white and green drops with unusually attractive displays of candies, stationery, ivory sets, and talking machines, form clever decorations at the City Drug Store.
“A large holly wreath forms the center of the Christmas decorations in Billie’s Clothes Shop window. Ropings are used in the interior to decorate the walls, while a large sign wishes everybody a ‘Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.’
“The Hub Clothing company store is very neatly decorated throughout with red and green streamers and festoons. In the window displays, ropes of red and green paper are artistically used to bring out the holiday atmosphere.
"Red ropes and little holly wreaths on a green and white background are the holiday decorations used for a fine display of slippers and haberdashery by the Dahlquist company.
“Tiny Christmas trees, festoons and bells form the decorations used by the C. A. Zobel store to display its slippers and mens’ furnishings.
“The especially arranged display windows of Frank’s store are decorated with Christmas trees, gold and silver ropes, Merry Christmas, and Santa Claus designs, and pictures of houses covered with snow. The interior of the store is given the holiday atmosphere by means of Christmas bells, festoons and streamers ...
“Small colored lights and red and green ropings are used by Harry J. Aarons ...
“Nordhouse’s have used a very attractive greenish blue and white Christmas design ...
“The Woolwoorth store is gay with its pretty holiday arrangements of red and green paper streamers, draped to the center of the room. Innumerable Christmas bells, attached to red and green ropings and a fire-place are in evidence in the windows, and attract a great deal of attention ... (This article continues for two more columns. Just about every store on River street is described in some detail, most sporting red and green streamers, trees, and ‘useful’ items for sale. This excerpt gives an idea of the holiday look, inspired by the advice given during the Merchants’ Institute this fall, as well as the highlights of those decorations which varied from the norm. — T. K.)
“(Editorial) ‘WHY IS A PISTOL?’
“Commenting on the bank robbery at Grand Rapids recently in which a policeman was killed and another fatally wounded an exchange asks: ‘Why is a pistol?’
“This point has been raised in this column before. The nations are disarming at Washington. When there are not so many weapons of warfare there will not be so much chance for war. Why not apply this lesson to the individual and absolutely do away with the use of revolvers except for officers of the law? ‘Why is a revolver anyway?’ ‘For protection,’ you may answer but the cases are few and far between where it is any protection, but is rather a menace. For one case where it has kept away a burglar, there are probably a dozen cases where the burglar’s revolver has spoken first and brought death. With children in the home, many believe a revolver in the house is a greater menace than a complete absence of weapons.
“The pistol is the chief tool of the criminal. Deprive him of it and he is helpless. Various states have made efforts to stop (the) sale of firearms but these have been made null and void by the action of mail order houses and manufacturers who are permitted the use of the mails to convey arms to their customers.”