Vintage Lodi: Lodians gather to celebrate a merry Christmas in December 1914

Written by Ralph Lea & Christi Kennedy, December 19, 2014 in the Lodi News Sentinel

Beginning in 1913, Lodi held celebrations beside a decorated tree brought in for Christmas and erected near the Arch. This photograph shows the tree set up in 1915 in the middle of Pine Street. Photo from the Ralph Lea collection.

In December 1914, Europeans were mired in the early deadly days of World War I, but Lodi citizens were focused on prosperous times and eagerly anticipated Christmas.

Early that month a century ago, the Lodi Sentinel proudly announced that the city had 21⁄3 miles of paved streets and 21⁄2 miles of cement sidewalks. It had taken about two years and nearly $108,000 to make these improvements.

“It is safe to say that no other city on this coast can boast of the progressive spirit shown during the past two years by the property owners and businessmen of this city,” the Lodi Sentinel said. “The spirit of progress is surely here and it is here to stay.”

The city’s first paved streets were portions of Downtown on Sacramento, Pine, Elm, School and Oak streets, and several alleys.

However, there wasn’t much progress traveling the streets on Dec. 4, 1914.

That day, a long freight train blocked the Pine Street crossing for half an hour, forcing “the long string of automobiles, rigs of all descriptions and pedestrians” to sit and wait. Angered by the traffic jam, people summoned the police. A city ordinance made it a misdemeanor to block the rail crossing for more than 15 minutes.

Officer Harry Myers was searching for the conductor and planning to arrest him when the train finally pulled away. Myers, however, got the train number and the conductor’s name. The city clerk was expected to report the matter to the Southern Pacific headquarters.

Construction continued this month on the grand Hotel Lodi building at Pine and School streets. Workers concentrated on installing the stairs. Members of the curious public were cautioned not to smoke around the flammable materials and not to talk to the workmen so as not to interrupt their tasks.

A front-page story on the Dec. 8, 1914, Lodi Sentinel was headlined, “Boys, You Have Got To Stop Swiping Mr. Wauchope’s Oranges.”

T. J. Wauchope of 303 E. Elm St. reported several bold boys sat on his fence and ate his oranges as he sat on his front porch.

“The young scamps have carried off about half the oranges from his eight trees,” the newspaper reported.

Mayor Frank O. Hale received a letter from a Woman’s Club of Tulare member who wanted information on Lodi’s first open-air Christmas tree celebration, held in 1913. They wanted to have a similar celebration in Tulare and needed help. This letter prompted the Lodi Sentinel to again editorialize that Lodi needed to repeat the successful event.

The next issue of the newspaper two days later on Dec. 10 proclaimed that volunteers had stepped forward and another open-air Christmas tree celebration was being planned.

Quickly, the Chamber of Commerce organized a committee, and the Moquelumne Club endorsed the idea and donated money. The Sentinel announced it would receive donations to buy candy and decorations for the event.

“This year it is the fond hope of the committee that there be enough candy for every child who attends, and there should be generous portions, too,” the Sentinel said.

A meeting was set for Dec. 14 at the Methodist Church. All churches, clubs and fraternal organizations were asked to send representatives.

The Christmas spirit of giving enveloped Lodi.

Mrs. O.H. Wells, president of the recently formed Lodi Relief Organization, set out a plea for people to donate warm comforters and other bedding for needy families.

“While there are very few families in Lodi who need assistance, there are some who cannot get along without the help which is given by the association,” the Lodi Sentinel said.

The Woman’s Relief Corps’ Sewing Circle put together a large package of dresses, knit shawls and robes and mailed their offering to the Old Ladies’ Home of Soldiers’ Widows. The WRC was an organization of Civil War veterans’ wives, and was active in Lodi for many years.

Woman’s Club of Lodi members replenished contents of the club’s “maternity chest” with handmade dresses and apparel for babies. Clothing had been given that month for a baby born to a needy family.

Lodi’s postmaster delivered letters addressed to Santa Claus to the Woman’s Club of Lodi’s Philanthropy Department. Previously these letters went to the “dead letter office,” but Mrs. A.V. Friedberger and Mrs. W.A. Spooner were in charge of making sure Santa knew what children ordered.

Meanwhile, Lodi citizens worked like elves to put on the community-wide celebration planned for Christmas night.

On Dec. 22, Mrs. Addine Beckman, Mrs. John C. Montgomery and Mrs. C.M. Ferdun used the donations to purchase 500 pounds of Christmas candy. Volunteers set about putting the candy in boxes to be given to the youngsters. The Rev. W.A. Schwimley led the choir, made up of 150 members from various Lodi churches, in rehearsals. The Sentinel printed 4,000 programs to be distributed during the ceremony.

The 30-foot white fir tree selected for Lodi’s Christmas tree was cut down near Sonora and delivered on Wednesday, Dec. 23 in a baggage car donated by Southern Pacific Railroad. W.D. Voorhies directed the setup of the tree near the Lodi Arch.

By the morning of Christmas Eve, the tree was ready for F.J. Wallace to install the lights. J.L. Pickering led the decorations committee members who adorned the tree with yards of tinsel, ornaments and strings of popcorn and Christmas berries. The evergreen was topped with a golden cross that glowed with colored lights.

When Christmas night finally arrived, thousands of people dressed warmly in their heavy coats and flocked around the festive tree for the city’s second annual outdoor yuletide observance. It was a crisp, clear night when the ceremony began at 7 p.m. and the tree lights were turned on.

“It was a most glorious thing, this municipal tree as dressed by loyal Lodians for the annual observance of the Christmastide in this splendid community,” stated the Dec. 26 edition of the Lodi Sentinel.

The evening program began with the Rev. Fred A. Keast welcoming the crowd. Mayor Hale announced that he hoped the city’s Christmas observance would become an annual tradition. The Rev. W.L. Greenwood recited the Christmas story, and the Rev. Schimley delivered a Christmas message.

A major part of the program featured singing by the combined church choirs, soloists Mrs. Addine Beckman and Fred Setzler, and the entire audience. To the delight of children, Santa Claus, portrayed by Charles Ferguson, handed out boxes of candy to all the youngsters.

The day after Christmas, rain poured over Lodi and “played havoc” with the decorated tree. The gingerbread decorations were ruined, but people still rejoiced in the success of the event. No child was disappointed as 1,205 boxes of candy were handed out that night. Happily, there was even candy to spare, and 100 boxes were given to adults.