‘Twas the year 2001. Late December. I was Sunday editor at the Portsmouth Herald. I loved scrolling through Herald archives on microfilm to find historic nuggets and treasures to share with Sunday readers. For the Herald Sunday edition of Dec. 23, 2001, I delivered a sleigh full of fun local nostalgia from the Herald edition of Dec. 23, 1901.
The Portsmouth Herald cost 2 cents back then. Tragedy had struck three months earlier when President William McKinley was shot and killed by an anarchist in Buffalo, N.Y. His successor, the rough and ready Teddy Roosevelt, called the fallen president “the most widely loved man in all the United States.”
The Herald’s news columns are filled with dispatches from around the nation and the world at large, informational items and unusual odds and ends like “High Heels a Menace” and Why Drowning Men Claw the Air.” And the advertisements list bargains aplenty:
One could find “Basket Balls, Indian Clubs, Dumb Bells and Athletic Goods” at A.P. Wendell & Co., 2 Market St., which also stocked a fine pearl-handled pocket knife. Groceries could be had at Ames Butter and Tea Store, 35 Congress St. “Quality is a matter of principle with us.”
W.E. Paul, 39 to 45 Market St., offered ranges and parlor stoves, and noted, “Many useful articles will be found on the 5¢ and 10¢ counters.” Right up the street was Oliver W. Ham, 60 Market St., Furniture Dealer and Undertaker.
Frank Jones, the legendary Portsmouth brewer, ran an ad touting his refreshing “Old India Pale Ale, Homestead Ale and Nourishing Stout.” The local pharmacies had no shortage of miracle medications like Chichester’s English Pennyroyal Pills and True’s Pin Worm Elixir. (“Keep Your Bowels Strong with Cascarets Candy Cathartic.”)
And perhaps the best variety of all could be found at Alkon’s 5 and 10 Cent Store, 27 Market St.
Very handsome silver plated Bon-Bon dishes – 25¢- Books – 5¢ to 50¢
- Extra fine girls sleds – 49¢
- Parcheesi, “the most popular game in the market” – 75¢
- Boys pocket watches – 98¢
- Mechanical autos – 25¢
- Mechanical Walking Roosters – 20¢
During the week surrounding Christmas 1901, the Herald features news of the Navy yard, of ships and trains, of crackling fires and snow-melting rains. Passenger trains left Portsmouth for the Yorks each day at 8:40 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 2:50 p.m. and 5:50 p.m. And a traveler could take the Joy Line steamer direct to New York for a $3 fare that included a berth in a stateroom. The city’s working port hosted a procession of cargo ships — the barge Phoenix bringing coal from Philadelphia; the Yankee Maid hauling brick between Boston and Rockland. There are reports of joyful Christmas celebrations and the sad news of a respected citizen’s tragic death.
Then, as now, there was a holiday rush at the post office and wintery entertainment at The Music Hall (Mr. Harry Martell presents a play with a moral as strong as a sermon, “The Volunteer Organist.” Tickets: 35, 50 and 75¢). The following are some of the tidbits (printed largely verbatim) that I discovered during my nostalgic sleigh ride through the pages of our past.
Christmas Present Buying
Behold, the time is at hand when man goeth about the streets with a shrinking tread; When he goeth into the store with fear and tribulation and fifteen dollars; And cometh out with 20 cents and anger and a small bundle.
Tongue Stuck to a Picket
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — While Willie Barry, aged thirteen, tried to lick the frost off an iron picket in front of the Middletown Savings Bank … his tongue stuck to the picket. He could not free himself and he began to make a noise as a boy can with his tongue partially out of business. His cries were heard by a physician, who tried thawing the tongue from the iron picket by the use of hot water, but it did not work. It was necessary to cut the tongue loose with a lancet. … Willie stood the operation well but dropped in a faint when he was cut loose from his frosty fastening.
City Government
The board of mayor and aldermen met in regular session at the city building, Mayor McIntire presiding, and adjourned after a short and uneventful session in which but little business of importance was transacted.
Myrrh: The Silent Killer!! … Heed this important warning or yule be sorry!
The Cellar
Great care should be taken to keep the cellar dry, for rheumatism, pneumonia and numerous malarial affections, as well as neuralgia and sciatica, are caused by foul air from a damp cellar.
Killed Himself
BOSTON — Elbridge Currier, motorman, blew out his brains today because the young woman to whom he was engaged would not marry on Christmas day.
Police Court
At a short session of police court this morning, Annie Carter was arraigned before Judge Emery charged with being drunk on Congress street. As soon as Annie met the stern gaze of the judge, she became excited and pleaded to be allowed to go home and hardly ceased her entreaties long enough for his honor to think. She was given a suspended sentence of six months at Brentwood, the sentence to be enforced if she is found again in this city. After thanking the judge and our genial marshal, she made all possible haste to get out of the station.
Christmas Oratoric
Through the kindly co-operation of many of the musicians in our city and under the enthusiastic leadership of Mr. Perkins, a very worthy musical service will be given at the North church on Sunday evening. … The composer has made it possible for the congregation to join in singing the well known hymns of the Christmas time.
Awful Country Ruts
Traveling in and about the city is in the worst condition that it has been for years. The warm spell of the past few days has melted about all the snow and the roads now abound in mud and water. … According to the storekeepers, (this) has interfered somewhat with the Christmas trade, but the outlook for the trade later is very bright. Since the electric roads have been operating in this city and the vicinity, less dependence is placed on the traveling over the carriage roads.
Christmas Exercises
This morning at the kindergartens at the Haven, Cabot and Farragut schools, Christmas exercises were held to which the parents were invited. After an exhibition of the work of the little ones, dainty Christmas gifts were distributed to the parents in the form of match scratchers, calendars, etc., the gifts being taken from the pretty Christmas tree. Candy and pop corn was also served and the last session of this term will long be remembered by the little people.
Spiritual Exercises Will Be Held Generally, As Usual
The beautiful story of the birth of our Savior will be told again in song and lesson on Sunday, when augmented choirs, wind and stringed instruments will give forth notes of praise while sermon and precept will teem with the tale that never wearies.