Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas from Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog

Merry Christmas!

Courtesy of Vintage Holiday Crafts

Published 25 December 2016, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Card Sent from Vietnam 1968

Published 25 December 2015, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com

Letters to Santa Claus 1908

Newspapers often published letters written to Santa Claus by boys and girls in the local community. They told what each child would like to receive and how good they had been throughout the year. The following letters appeared in the Twice-A-Week Gleaner of Henderson County, Kentucky on Tuesday, 22 December 1908.

Hebbardsville, Ky., Dec. 18, 1908.

Dear Santa Claus at North Pole:

I will write you a letter to tell you what I want for Xmas. I am a little boy seven years old. I want a suit of clothes, a cap, a rubber ball, a two bladed knife, some candy, raisins and nuts.  I believe that is all I want. So good bye. 

Your little friend, Jimmy Haynes

Dear Santa Claus:

I am a little boy 8 years old, my mother is dead and I live at Dr. H.D. Book's on Frog Island. I go to school. My teacher says I read and write very well for my age. It will soon be Xmas and I would like for you to come to see me. Please bring me some nice things to eat. Then bring me a new saddle and bridle as I have lots of riding to do. I also want a gun, harp, knife, drum and anything you wish to bring me. Please bring Sterling something as he is so nice to me. With best wishes to you and Mrs. Santa Claus for a merry Xmas and a happy New Year. I am, as ever, Your good little boy, Johnnie Thompson.

Dear Santa Claus:

I am a little girl 11 years of age and I go to school every day and learn my lessons well so you will bring me all I want.  I want you to bring me a story book and a little doll trunk, and candy, oranges, bananas and nuts of all kinds. Don't forget mamma, papa and my four sisters. I hope you will get down the chimney safe.  From your little friend, Zella Rideout.

Dear Santa Claus:

I am a little girl 6 years old, have been going to school every day and learned my lessons good so you will bring me everything I want. I want you to bring me some little dishes, a story book, apples, candy and bananas. I will go to bed early and shut my eyes tight and not watch at all. Don't forget my two little sisters, Cordelia and Daisy. I remain, your little friend, Lorene Howard.

Dear Santa Claus:

I am a little boy two years old. I have been just as good as I can be so you will bring me everything I want. I want you to bring me a little wagon, rubber ball, a soldier doll and candy, oranges, bananas, apples and nuts of all kinds. I remain, Your little boy, Marquis Elliott Gibson.

Henderson, Ky., Dec. 13, 1908

Dear Santa Claus:

Please don't forget me. I think I have been a very good little girl. I want a scrap book and a little toy watch, and firecrackers and nuts, candies and other good things, and a pair of overshoes, please. I am the only little girl at my house, but be sure to bring my little brothers a Teddy bear and a toy pistol. Goodbye, dear Santa. From your friend, Dixie Gregory.

Published 22 December 2015, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog!

 

 

Published 25 December 2013, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/



Steamboat Christmas Dinner Menu 1890

Lavish meals were served on steamboats in by-gone days and if you doubt it, just take a look at the menu for Christmas dinner on the steamer W.F. Nisbet in 1890. This menu appeared in the Evansville Press on Sunday, 26 April 1936. Personally I think the Baked Opossum could have been left off the menu.

Menu

Oysters

 

Fish

Baked Red Snapper     Potatoes Croquette

 

Broiled

Leg of Beef   Brown Gravy   Joint of Veal

Currant Jelly   Lamb   French Peas   Young Shoat

Applesauce   Baked Opossum   Sweet Potatoes

 

Poultry and Game

Young Turkey   Oyster Dressing   Cranberry Sauce

Wild Goose   German Dumplings

Fried Chicken   Maryland Style Quail on Toast

 

Vegetables

Delmonico Potatoes   Okra   New Asparagus

Baked Mashed Sweet Potatoes   Green Corn

Puree of Spinach in Cream

 

Entrees

Fricassee of Sweet Breads   Baked Macaroni Cheese

 

Salads

Chicken   Lobster   Potato

 

Relishes

New Onions   American Cheese   Green Olives

 

Pastry

Steamed Apple Pudding   Frozen Sauce   Mince Pie

Cranberry Pie   Lemon Pie

 

Dessert

English Cream    Charlotte Russe  Italian Cream

Macedonia Fruit   Wine Jelly   Pine Apple Cheese

Brandy Jelly Soufflé  Peaches   Floating Island   Ice Cream

 

Assorted Cakes

Pound Cake  Lady Cake  Fruit Cake  Chocolate Lady Fingers  Jelly Cake

Jelly Roll  Sponge Drops   Coconut Macaroons   Egg Kisses   Brandy Snaps

Ice Cream Cake  Jenny Lind

 

Fruits, Etc.

Bananas   Oranges   Pine Apple  Mixed Nuts  Assorted Candy

 

Coffees, Teas, Etc.

Mocha and Java   Melson Chocolate   Green Teas   Sweet and Buttermilk

Indiana Lemonade   Tennessee Corn Dodgers

 

 

Published 24 December 2013, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/



Dear Santa ...

I've done genealogical research for more years than you want to know, but, alas, I have failed to find everything I need. So, I'm hoping you can help. Here goes.

Dear Santa,

I have been really, really good this year. I cited my sources accurately and completely just as the top notch genealogists say to do ... well, except for the time I was in such a hurry I forgot and then there was the time I ... I meant to, I really did. I'll do better next year, I promise.

Santa, you would be so proud of me when I visited the courthouse. I didn't pester the clerks too much and take up their time with stupid questions. OK, I promise never again to ask for every record they have on my great-grandfather John Smith. I was only kidding anyway. I did put away all those big books I used, Santa. Do I get a Gold Star for that?

This year has been a great time for making progress on my John E. Wilson family. With the help of another researcher, we tracked some of his grandchildren from Kentucky to Missouri and then to Nebraska. I'm a little upset with those folks in Nebraska, though. They haven't had many county records microfilmed and it's a little far to drive to Nebraska every time I have a question. Would you mind seeing what you can do to make those records more accessible? If you would also put those records on FamilySearch, where I can use them for free, that would be nice, too.

Now, Santa, I know it is hard to spell Wolstenholme, but surely to Pete it doesn't have to be spelled 133 different ways! Please, kindly suggest to those you meet in your travels that the name should be spelled one way only. That will make it ever so much easier for me.

I hesitate to mention this last item, Santa, as it is a big one. I spend a lot of time in cemeteries and some tombstones that should be there can't be found. I'm guessing they have fallen over and are now covered with dirt. Would you work a little magic and set them upright again? The last time I took a shovel to the cemetery I got some very scary looks. Hmmm, wonder if they thought I was going to dig up bodies instead of tombstones?

OK, use your powers, Big Guy, and I'll leave you alone until next year!

Brenda

Letters to Santa 1912

The Henderson Gleaner published Letters to Santa each year shortly before Christmas. The following letters were published in the 14 December 1912 issue of the Gleaner.

Reed, Ky.

Dear Santa:  I am a little boy 11 years old. I want you to bring me a gun, ball, candy, oranges, apples and nuts.    

Your little boy,

Jim Henry Haynes

~  ~  ~

Henderson, Ky.

Dear Santa Claus:  I want a new dress, a pair of shoes, a new hat, some candy, fruit and nuts, and don't forget my little brothers, Curtis and Robert. They want a wagon with a seat on it, some new waists and a new hat, also some candy, fruit and nuts, and please don't forget my little baby sister. She wants a doll and a rocky horse and a little broom and candy, nuts and fruit. That will be all. Please don't forget us.

Marie, Curtis, Robert and Gladys McBride

We live at 611 Second street.

~ ~ ~

Hebbardsville, Ky.

Dear Old Santa Claus: I am a little girl four years old. I want you to come to see me Christmas; also come to see papa, mama, my brothers and little sister. Bring me a doll, dishes, stove, necklace, oranges, nuts and candy, and all the nice things you have to spare. I will be good until Christmas.

Chestine Newman

~ ~ ~

Baskett, Ky.

Dear Santa Claus: I am a little boy 13 years old. I want a Daisy rifle, 50 shots, and a harp and a watch and some apples and some oranges and candy. That is all for this Christmas. Don't forget my little brother, Isadore. He is two years old. He wants a rockying chair, a box of building blocks, a rubber ball, a little rubber doll and candy and apples and oranges, a pair of shoes. I will close for this Christmas.

Lonnie Beals