OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS IN STEUBENVILLE, 1830'S Ushered in With the Roar of Games, the Day was Spent in Sports and Social Amusements Christmas is Christmas the whole Christian world over, but its observance in Steubenville in 1830 was a great deal different from that of 1890. Beyond dispute, the Christmas of 1890 was one of the best and most enjoyable ever in the history of the city. They probably thought the same in 1830 but they demonstrated to a different manner. Then it was more like the fourth of July celebration. The merchants made no special effort to sell attractive goods. Gifts were exchanged, but they were mere trifles. Few toys were then made and places like Steubenville did not handle them. Boys and girls were out the day before greeting every person with "Christmas Gift" and were raised to a heaven of delight at the present of a cake, a penny, a sixpence or some sweetmeat. The boys had saved up their pence, but it was to buy powder to raise a grand hurrah with cannons made out of musket barrels. It was a holiday, laid only in so far that men did no work and congregated during the morning at the Red Lion, kept by Squire JENKINSON in the HOIT property on North Third; the Sign of the Ship, kept by Jas. DICK; the Green Tree, kept by Thomas KEHS; the Bush, kept by Mrs. McKINLEY; Washington Hotel with its sign of the Lamb, The Blackbear, and others of the eleven hotels in the town. Here they would "have smuthin" to warm up the cockles of their hearts. It might be matigellum, Armstrong's strong beer, Hobands, Jamaica Rum, a ported Madeira, but was generally straight liquor with hot water and sugar. They would sit around the fire and discuss business or the coming shooting match, raffle or shinny game. Meanwhile the boys and young men were firing Jackson crackers and cannon and the very air was redolent with the smell of burnt powder. The women and girls were busy preparing for a dinner. Turkeys were not then considered such a necessary piece de resistance of a Christmas dinner. Two or three days before, several live bears would be brought to the city and killed; deer was fairly plenty and the game of all sort was in abundance. These were the articles feasted upon sixty years ago. Then there were no Sunday school treats; about the only treat the school boys and girls would get would be when they would lock or bar the teacher out of school and not let him in until he would promise to give them a donation party. A majority of the prominent early settlers were Presbyterians. They were more interested in doctrinal theology and the contest between Calvinism and Armenianism than in giving Christmas any peculiar significance at the present day. There were in 1830 only six churches in the city: The Presbyterian upon the present site of the Third Church and with the late Dr. BEATTY as pastor; the United Presbyterian with Rev. George BUCHANAN as pastor; the Kramer M. E. with Rev. T. M. HUDSON as pastor; the Methodist Protestant, just formed from eighty-one members of the Kramer and with Rev. R. C. HATTON as pastor; the Episcopal church then meeting in the old academy on High Street, with Rev. Intrepid MOORSE as rector, and the A. M. E. The Roman Catholics had no church until two years later, although Father McGRADY did missionary services with Steubenville as one of his stations. So it may be seen that sixty years ago only one church observed the day with any religious exercises, the Episcopal. The shooting matches and shinny game usually began in the morning. For the shooting matches all manner of game, such as deer and wild turkeys, were the prizes. The old time heavy barrelled muzzle loading rifle was used. Steubenville was noted for her expert marksmen and many are living today who will recall the unerring aim of the BICKERSTAFFS, the MYERS, and Barney WINTRINGER. Shinny was played then as now, only instead of boys, men would engage. The shooting matches and other games usually took place in the vacant ground above the present Reliance Engine House, now known as Carroll KELL's addition. The great sport of the day was catching the greased pig. A fine razor backed porker that could run like a deer was captured, shaved and smeared with lard. The man who caught the pig and held it got the pig. Both young and middle aged men entered the lists and what fun the onlookers had: The venerable Wm. RICHARDS, famous both as a butcher and athlete, especially for being a swift runner, made himself still more famous by successfully capturing the pig on several occasions. The men not engaged in the field sports would pitch coppers at a peg and everybody enjoyed the day. But these were not all the amusements. As has been stated before, Steubenville was then a city of 4,000, made up of all classes, but people mingled together with true democratic geniality. Yet there was a class usually denominated as the "nobility" or as we would call them the high social circles. Among the families then looked upon as in the higher social circle were the WELLS, McDOWELLS, COLLIERS, DIKES, MASONS, TAPPANS, WRIGHTS, LARIMERS, HALLOCK, ROBERTS, MEANS, PAGES, ANDREWS, HUTCHINS, GALBRAITHS, SLACKS, HENNINGS, and others. Very seldom was there a green Christmas, and advantage was taken of sleighing to go to Phillipsburg, now Brilliant, Wellsburg, or out to the Forks, at all of which places were excellent hotels or taverns. A messenger would be sent out the day before to notify the landlord of their coming so that a hot supper would be ready upon their arrival. Some would go together to the number of eight or twelve in a big sled, others in double or single sleighs, but it would be a merry party arriving at the tavern. Heavy wraps would hardly be removed when a huge punch bowl filled with steaming hot toddy would be brought in and all partook. The chill taken off, they were ready for a dance, the Virginia reel, the Tucker and the other dances then in vogue. With what zest the old people recall these days when the lights were tallow candles and the music a single old violin! In the intermissions they would gather around the big blazing fires, tell stories, relate amusing experiences. A bountiful supper was spread, as the taverns at all these places were famous for their table. At midnight they were ready for home and with song and jest, away the sleds and sleighs would go and home to bed and pleasant dreams. And we doubt whether they present day can give such pure unalloyed pleasures and enjoyment as they had in 1830. (This is part of a featured column in the December 26, 1890 Steubenville Evening Star Newspaper which is at Schiappa Library in book form, and fully indexed - abstracted from the said paper's microfilm - also at the library. )