Roses are Red, Violets are Blue…

…Sugar is sweet, and so are you!

We are quickly approaching that day when people around the world celebrate love and friendship – Valentine’s Day.  It can be argued that these are ideals that should be cherished daily; however, it is important to have special days set aside for observance so that it does not get lost in what can be the hum drum of everyday life.  Right about now stores are rapidly selling chocolates, flowers, stuffed bears, and, of course, cards.

The first use of a Valentine card is believed to have been recorded in the diary of Samuel Pepys, an Englishman who recorded domestic life.  On February 14^th, 1667, he wrote that a servant boy brought his wife a pretty Valentine of her name written in gold letters on blue paper.

Before the 1860s, Valentine’s Day greeting cards were handmade from paper with elaborate designs and using different materials such as lace, feathers, ribbon, and chiffon.  The shift to machine-made cards began during the 1860s as lithography (printing with a stone or metal plate) became popular.  Mechanical cards had moving parts, and ‘pull-outs’ could stand themselves up on a table for display.

Here is a selection of Valentine cards from our collection!

(Click on the images to enlarge!)

Pre-1900s Cards

Inside: From me to you, in greeting

Affectionate and true;

To say one heart is beating

That still remembers you.

1910s Postcards:

1909 Postcard

1917 Postcard

1916 Postcard

The following cards were collected in the 1920s.  They are examples of cards children gave to each other in the classroom, as is still done today.

This unique card comes with a paper doll that can be punched out of the card.

On back: I’m standin’ here, a-waiting’ dear, ‘N truly wishin’ too

You’d up ‘n say without delay: “The girl I want is YOU!”

On back: A heart ahoy!  And say, oh boy!  It’s for a sailor who

-Must I confess, or can you guess – Is you and ONLY YOU!

Whether you’re a lover or a hater, it can’t be denied that Valentine’s Day is the second largest card sending holiday, just behind Christmas.  The Greeting Card Association estimates one billion Valentine cards are sent each year.  Cards purchased from the store today might contain images of cartoons, princesses, and superheroes, but there still is something to be said for the old-fashioned hand-made card.

Winter Lecture Series!! – http://www.midwayvillage.com/event_calendar.cfm

Kings and Queens of Swing – Music of the 1930s & 40s

Speaker: Amber Veigel

Sunday, February 12  2:00 pm

$7 Adults, $5 Students, $4 Members

Miss Helen Keller

Portrayed by: Jessica Michna

Sunday, February 19  2:00 pm

$7 Adults, $5 Students, $4 Members

Slave, Freedman and Free People of Color Genealogy

Speaker: Joyce Higgins

Sunday, February 26  2:00 pm

$7 Adults, $5 Students, $4 Members

Daisy’s Girls: Juliette Low and 100 Years of Girl Scouting

Portrayed by: Betsey Means

Sunday, March 11  2:00 pm

$7 Adults, $5 Students, $4 Members, $3 Girl Scouts

The Illinois Andersonville Monument Commission

Guest blog entry by Noah Neiber

In 1864 during the Civil War there was a Confederate prisoner of war camp constructed near Americus, Georgia. The name of that camp was Andersonville and it became well-known as one of the harshest camps in the Civil War. Many Union soldiers died at that camp of malnutrition and heat stroke. 889 of those were from Illinois. The ones who survived were in wretched condition but at least made it out at the end of the war.

Among those survivors were five men who would not soon forget what pain they had to go through. And because of this fact they could not allow the sufferings of their brothers to go on unremembered. So that future generations would remember what they had to go through for their cause, these men decided to form a committee and erect a monument in honor of those from Illinois who died at Andersonville. These men were A.H. McCracken of Chicago who was the president, G.J. George of Springfield who was the Vice President, Lewis F. Lake of Rockford who was the secretary and treasurer, William H. Hainline, and James M. Swales. Together they formed a commission in 1907 to erect the monument.

But in order to do this they had to find a contractor to submit a good design and to erect the monument. It took them a while to find the contractor that they thought could do the monument correctly, but they finally chose the Trigg Monument Company of Rockford, Illinois.

Trigg Monument Works, c. 1880s

Now from here it was not smooth sailing. The monument should have been done within a year, but there were so many delays due to things that ranged from the health of the commission members that stalled meetings, to weather in Andersonville that cracked the foundations of the monument, to the misinterpretation of what the commission wanted the monument to look like.

Because of such delays the monument took years to build, but it was completed in December of 1912, and finally dedicated on the 20th of that month. When completed the  granite pedestal was 20 feet by 24 feet and the monument itself was 18 feet overall. The monument depicts large figures of “Columbia with Youth and Maiden” that are supposed to depict nations to come. Engraved in it are the last clause of Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address and the last clause of his Gettysburg address. There are also two figures on the side of the monument that represent veterans of the Civil War as a sad reminder of what they had to go through in that war.

The dedication of the Illinois Andersonville Monument, December 1912

The men of this commission had many battles of their own during the construction of this monument. It was a long and hard process that required a lot of sacrifice from each member; however, in the end though it was all worth it, because their hard work could finally help generations to remember the sacrifice that the prisoners at Andersonville made, not just at Andersonville, but throughout the whole of the war. The monument they built is there to remind us of the cost of freedom and how it affects even the very place we live.

A close up of the Illinois Andersonville Monument

If you would like to learn more about the Illinois Andersonville Monument Commission the records of the exploits of these men are at the Midway Village in our collections and research department. Also, if you would like to learn more about the Civil War in general, please join us on Saturday, January 21 from 10 am -2:pm for our 10th annual Civil War Symposium.

For more information about the Civil War Symposium, please visit our event page: http://www.midwayvillage.com/event_calendar.cfm?id=1048

Noah Neiber is a Midway Village Museum volunteer. In addition to being a junior interpreter, Noah also works in the Collections Department. He and his mother, Michele, recently catalogued the Illinois Andersonville Monument Commission collection.

Letters to Santa

When writing a letter to the jolly old elf up North, we usually begin with “Dear Santa” and then explain how good we’ve been all year.  Maybe we entice St. Nick to our house with promises of chocolate chip cookies and ice cold milk.  And a courteous greeting to Mrs. Claus and the reindeer is a nice touch.  But eventually we get to the object of our letter, and Santa finds our wish list of toys.

The modern tradition of writing letters to Santa began around 1871 when Thomas Nast published a cartoon of Santa Claus in Harper’s Weekly.  The caricature shows Santa at his desk reading letters from children’s parents.  Notice how the pile of letters from naughty children is much taller than those from nice children!

Perhaps to simplify Christmas shopping, catalogues advertised stockings for children that included different toys, such as this page from the 1927 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue.  Parents could choose the stocking’s size and whether it was for a boy or girl.  (Clicking on the picture will show you larger view of all of the goodies in the stockings!)

Here are just a few examples from our collection of what children might have written Santa Claus for in the first half of the twentieth century.  Most of them appeared in catalogues like Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Marshall Fields & Co.  Maybe we’ll give you some gift ideas for the little ones if you still have some shopping left to do!

Late 1800s Stuffed Bear

The stuffed bear is a timeless toy for any child.  Many gifts were handmade by the child’s loved ones.  Stuffed animals continue to be loved and favorited toys by children.

1890s Doll

Another classic toy, dolls have been loved by children since ancient times.  Jointed dolls like this one were advertised in the 1892 Marshall Fields & Co. catalogue.  Her knees and elbows bend, making her more lifelike.  Doll companies endeavored to make the doll that looked most like a live baby.

Early 1900s Velocipede - Tricycle

A velocipede is a human powered land vehicle that has more than one wheel.  Made by the Gendron Wheel Co. of Toledo, Ohio, this tricycle was featured in the 1897 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue.  In 1919, Sears refers to this velocipede as a “girl’s tricycle.”

1910s Schoenhut Piano

This toy piano made by Schoenhut has ten wooden keys.  Albert Schoenhut made a new piano in 1872 that replaced fragile glass sounding bars with steel plates.  Pianos like this were made until 1935, but based on the stencil design of dancers and cherubim, it is believed to be from the 1910s.

1914 Panama Pile Driver

The Panama Pile Driver is a mechanical toy that uses marbles to operate.  Marbles are loaded into the top tray.  When the string is pulled, the marbles drop one at a time into the bucket, driving it down.  To see this toy in action, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNV4t37gQKo

1920s Electric Train Set

Pictured here is an American Flyer O gauge passenger train set.  It was first introduced by the American Flyer Manufacturing Company in 1918.  The wind-up motor of the earlier clockwork trains were replaced with an electric motor.  These electric trains were enjoyed by boys and girls alike during the 1920s.

1927 Skeezix and Pal Dolls

These two dolls, made of imitation leather, are characters in the comic strip Gasoline Alley, created by Frank King in 1918.  Still in publication, the comic is the second-longest running strip.  It is unique in that the characters age in real-time and experience major life events such as marriage and children, as well as growing old.  Skeezix made his appearance in the comic in 1921 as a baby left on the doorstep of bachelor Walt Wallet.  These dolls were featured in the 1927 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue, Skeezix for 39 cents and Pal for 59 cents.

1936 Parker Brothers Fianance and Fortune Board Game

Monopoly’s predecessor, Finance and Fortune was first issued by L.S. Ayers & Co. in 1932 and was later reissued by Parker Brothers.  It is similar to Monopoly in that lots can be purchased and Chance cards are played; however, there are no monopolies, and instead of going to jail, you’ve unfortunately missed the train and must pay $10 to take a rowboat to “Soak’Em Wharf.”  If you look closely at the picture on the game’s box cover, you can see Mr. Monopoly, or maybe his brother.

1930-40s Sled

What would Christmas morning in the Midwest be without fresh powdered snow and a new sled?

1940 Erector Set

The Erector Set that boasted to be “the boy builder” was first produced by A.C. Gilbert in 1911.  A very popular toy throughout the decades, this set can be found in the 1940 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue.  In 1918, the Council of National Defense considered stopping toy production so that those factories could produce materials needed for the war effort.  A.C. Gilbert spoke to the Council and convinced them not to cancel Santa.  The media called Gilbert “the man who saved Christmas.”

1946-49 Nylint "Amazing Car"

This wind-up car was the first toy produced by Rockford’s own Nylint Corporation.  It was called the “Amazing Car” because it could drive forwards, backwards, start, stop, and make turns all on its own.  The box, unique because it pictured the product, gives detailed instructions on how the car operates.  The selector on the bottom of the car determines the path, the wind-up key determines the distance, and the stop prong will stop the car.  It became popular at the 1946 Toy Fair in New York City where 100,000 orders were placed.

1950s Push Down Cat

Evolved from the early pull toys, spring toys like this were introduced in 1895, but did not become popular until WWI.  By pushing down the tail of the cat, it springs forward across the floor or table.  Many toys such as this did not go out of style or change much over the decades aside from modernizing the look of the toy.

Happy Holidays from Midway Village Museum!

Thanksgiving Greetings!

Featuring selected 1910s postcards!

The first Thanksgiving in America by the Pilgrims was a celebration of the harvest.  Although they did not have an over-abundant amount of meats and vegetables, sauces and dressings, they gave thanks for their blessings.

1918 Postcard

We continue the tradition of eating turkey on this day because it is the main source of meat the Pilgrims survived on when they arrived in this new world.  Bread crumbs or cornmeal made an adequate dressing or stuffing.  Over the years, people used whatever was locally fresh because refrigeration was limited.  By the late 1800s, cooks stuffed their turkeys with chestnuts and dried cranberries, oysters, sausage, or various fruits with a creative flair.  The meal consisted of lavish dishes to be served over the course of a few hours.

An example of a Thanksgiving menu from a 1921 American Cookery magazine:

1913 Postcard

Three Course Dinner for Small Family in Servantless House

Roast Chicken, stuffed with Chopped Celery and Oysters

Baked Sweet Potatoes

Boiled Onions

Salad(Fine chopped apples and nuts in red apple cups) Cream Dressing

Mince or Squash Pie a la mode

Sweet Cider

Coffee

Larger menu examples can be found here: http://www.vintage-homemaking.info/2008/10/victorian-thanksgiving-menus/

1914 Postcard

1910 Postcard

The first Thanksgiving is believed to have taken place over the course of three days in mid-October.  So why do we celebrate at the end of November?  And who decided Thursday?  During the 1700s, the event was celebrated at different times in different states.  In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the national celebration to take place on the final Thursday in November.  In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared Thanksgiving to be the fourth, and not necessarily the final, Thursday of November.

In this time of economic and political uncertainty, it is important that we take a note from the Pilgrims and gather around our loved ones in thanks for what we have.  From all of us at Midway Village, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving packed with love and tryptophan!

A Lesson in Warding Off Witches

From Ancient Greece to present day, people have been fascinated by the supernatural, and Victorians were no exception.  Mary Shelley’s Frankstein (1818), H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man (1897) and The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896), and Edgar Allan Poe’s dark and somber poetry (1830s – 1840s) are all examples of the mystics and monsters in literature that Victorians devoured in earnest.  They also practiced fortune telling through palm and tarot readings because of their curiosity of life after death.  They needed to be reassured that their dearly departed were indeed in a better place.

 All Hallows’ Eve refers to the night before All Hallows’ Day (Or All Saints’ Day) on November 1.  Eventually the name was shortened to All Hallow E’en, then Hallowe’en, and then Halloween.

Superstition appears to have dictated certain rituals before and during the early 19^th century.  A fear of evil spirits prompted many to hang a witch ball in their front window.  The witch ball was first used in England during the 18^th century.  Because it was handmade of blown glass, the ball contained a remnant strand or two inside.  It was generally hung in a window to attract evil spirits, negative energy, sickness, and ill fortune.

Mesmerized by the beautiful and swirling colors of the orb, the spirits would become trapped inside the strands.  It was thought that if one felt ill or depressed, they need only to sit near the witch ball until the negative energy left their body.  The orb also needed to be wiped daily, and by this act, exorcize the spirits trapped inside.

The witch ball is still around today.  They are sold in some specialty stores and gift shops.  They are also commonly displayed in gardens as gazing balls.

After the turn of the 20^th century, Halloween images became less ghoulish and more cutesy.  Greeting cards depicted young women posing with pumpkins, or small, plump children wearing witches hats and carrying black kittens.  Jack-o-lanterns had wide toothy grins.  Even the witch at the top of this entry is shown as young, beautiful, and almost innocent-looking.  Halloween was, as it is today, celebrated by dressing in costume and enjoying a little bit of trickery and the chilling of the spine.

Jack-o-lanterns are thought to have evolved from the early Europeans who carved out turnips to carry as lanterns.  Faces would be carved to ward off evil spirits.  In America, pumpkins work better for us!  These paper-mache jack-o-lanterns are examples of Halloween decorations possibly during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.  Pumpkins like the one seen above could have many different faces with colored tissue paper backing, giving them creepy, fun expressions.  Cats were also popular as these decorations.  They may have been used to keep hold candy or to illuminate a room on a string of lights.  Today, they can make wonderful decorations by placing a battery operated candle inside.

The custom of dressing in costume may have begun out of the superstition that it would confuse the spirits who walked the earth on All Hallows Eve.  Victorians brought this back into fashion because they enjoyed having costumed parties.  Masks were made out of paper-mache.  Some costumes were made simply by pinning paper cutouts of pumpkins, witches, cats, etc. to skirts, vests, and hats.  Children dressed as witches, ghouls, and clowns, as seen in the photo below.

The act of trick-or-treating may have something to do with the Celtic practice of leaving food out for the dead.  Others believe it comes from a time when the poor went door to door begging for food with the promise of a prayer or rhyme in return.  Perhaps it is from this that “trick or treat, smell my feet” was born.

Upcoming Event!!!

All Hallow’s Eve

Saturday, October 22  2pm – 8pm

$5.00 per person

Bring your family to “trick or treat” in safety at our charming Victorian village.  Additional children’s activities and crafts will also be offered throughout the day, including a costume parade led by Rockford’s own dance crew Fatally Unique, as seen on America’s Got Talent.  Village buildings will be decorated and waiting for young trick-or-treaters.  Sponsoring organizations will do the decorating and provide the treats.

Be prepared for surprises as you take a guided tour into our Haunted Woods from 4:30 to 8:00 pm!

For more information, click here to go to the event page: http://www.midwayvillage.com/event_calendar.cfm?id=1011

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!