Seasons Greetings from The Seneca Hartzell History Links! May the joy and peace of the holy season be with you and yours throughout the coming year. Below are some glimpses of Seneca County Christmas Past. The simple messages of many Christmas's ago can still apply today. Perhaps our lives in these modern times are more complicated than they really need to be. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 1842 - Charles Dickens Visits Tiffin The Atlantic Monthly of November, 1870 contained the following account of a visit to Tiffin by the famous author of "A Christmas Carol". The article was written by Dicken's secretary. "Our stage - coach ride across Ohio ended at Tiffin, a small town which we reached about noon, from whence was a railroad to Sandusky City on Lake Erie. The good landlord at Tiffin, finding who were his guests, did his best to please, and also to let the entire town know that "Dickens was at his hotel" And when we left the house for the depot he had a large kind of open wagon on springs, with seats very high, on which Mr. and Mrs. Dickens were perched. I think the driver was instructed to pass through all the principal streets of the place before he reached the railroad station, for we went at a slow pace and were a long time going; and the people awaited us in groups, as if by appointment, at the street-corners and at the windows and doors of the houses; and if the inhabitants of Tiffin, Ohio, did not on that occasion see "Boz" and his wife, it certainly was not the fault of that good landlord or of his carriage-driver." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 1850 - Sleighing In December >From the Seneca Advertiser of December 13, 1850 "We were visited with a fall of snow on Friday night and Saturday, which has afforded fine sleighing during the present week. The merry ringing of bells in our streets as we write, tell us that our citizens generally are enjoying it." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> January 13, 1892 "Your letter of thanks at hand. I am more than pleased to know the children were happy, that is what Xmas is for and I was also glad you wrote about your Xmas and glad you had a tree for them. While they are small let them have a good time if possible, and even if (it costs) a little more than you can afford. It is much better than to give them more money when you are gone, (instead of) a dull cheerless house to remember all their life. I only wish I could have sent more..." Quoted from a letter from my collection written by Jesse Stoner to his brother's family in Green Springs, Ohio - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 16, 1895 "I fully believe Xmas intended for children and as it takes so very little to make them happy, I think there is no time in life they can get as much enjoyment out of it as when small. If more people would only confine the Xmas to children and not make it a tax as they so often do, in trying to see how much better things they can give than receive, it would make a very happy time of year instead of a trial and bore as it often is." "I am afraid on our side of the house we all take life much too seriously. We only have one life to live and there ought to be more enjoyment gotten out of it." Quoted from a letter from my collection written by Jesse Stoner to his brother's family in Green Springs, Ohio ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 29, 1907 "We had a tree for the children and they string popcorn and put it on the tree. I wish you could (have) seen them in (the) morning, how glad they were. I will tell you what the children got. Ivan got a sled, book, checkers, hose, goods for an overshirt, candy, orange, peanuts and niggertoes. Anita got a dolly buggy, jack in the box, tiddledy winks, hose, under shirts, gingharm for aprons, plate, white ribbon, candy, book, orange, peanuts and niggertoes. Sam gave me a ring for my present. I gave Sam a dollar for his present. Ivan's teacher gave him candy and orange." Quoted from a letter from my collection written by Ella to her sister Mrs. William (Sarah) Stahl in Attica, Ohio -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1938 - Christmas - "Community Santa" Sends Gifts to over 600 Poor Children In a remarkable undertaking amidst a depressed economy, volunteers brightened the holidays of over 600 poor children who would have otherwise been overlooked. Donations of new and used toys were taken from throughout the city by the Boy Rangers. The toys were repaired and refurbished to the point where it was difficult to tell the new from the repaired. On Christmas Eve, about 14 truckloads of these toys were loaded and distributed to the underpriveledged of Tiffin by the Boy Rangers of Tiffin and their adult volunteers. As further evidence of the generousity of Tiffin people in these hard times, the Salvation Army distributed Christmas dinners to over 60 families. At the Tiffin Theater, a Christmas Theater Party was held for 500 children. At the County Jail, Mrs. Verne F. Deats, wife of the sheriff, arrainged for a Christmas dinner for the prisoners. The dinner included chicken and mince pie. Mr. and Mrs. Deats had just celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary 2 days prior. At the County Infirmary, matron Mrs. C. L. Good prepared a dinner for the elderly, destitute and infirm residents that included chicken and pumpkin pie. At the Jr. Home, Christmas Eve was marked by the annual Santa Claus Parade. Santa Claus, accompanied by "Dad" and Mrs. Kernan, visited each cottage in turn, judging each on their hand made decorations. On Christmas morning, each child awoke to find their presents arrainged under the tree. A special church service for the children was held at 10:00 a. m., and a huge Christmas dinner was served at 2:30. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Although the Jr. Home has been closed for many years now, the Santa Claus Parade is still held annually, in addition to the Downtown Parade. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! Stephen J. Hartzell Tiffin, Ohio