Submitted by Rebekah Sheats
Since Jefferson County’s inception almost two hundred years ago, Christmas has always been a festive occasion in every corner of the county, marked by joyous celebration and reverent devotion. Yet this holiday has also been marked by other noteworthy items through the years. A brief walk through some of the Christmases of the past might prove interesting.
Take, for example, Christmas Week of 1924. This was the week the Jefferson County Poultry Association excitedly reported that it had sold 11,250 dozen eggs during the past year. From these sales it had brought in a total income of $3,338. Cost per dozen eggs averaged 30 cents. The Association jubilantly noted, “The showing is good, and we hope that next year it will be at least doubled.” This was joyous Christmas news indeed.
The following year, as families prepared to welcome Christ’s birth, it appears that parents were wishing Santa Claus were real after all and could fix the troubles caused by their dust-filled, mud-caked, dirt roads. On the front page of the Christmas Day edition of the newspaper, an article voiced perhaps one of the foremost longings of many locals that Christmas: “Do You Want Your Street Paved?”
But Christmas of 1927 brought Jefferson County a more solemn news piece. Resident Hal F. Hentz had taken the holiday week off to enjoy a hunting expedition in Georgia. With a few friends, he planned to spend a pre-Christmas morning bird hunting. As the hunt began, however, Hentz stumbled over a rock and fell. He was carrying a loaded shotgun, and the firearm struck the rock during the fall and discharged. Shot ploughed through Hal’s right leg just above the ankle. Two bones were broken, and the wound bled profusely. Hal’s hunting companions applied an improvised torniquet and rushed him to a hospital. Unfortunately, doctors were unable to save his foot, but the ensuing amputation proved successful. By Christmas, it was noted that Hentz “is expected speedily to recover.”
Despite the distressing accident, Christmas came to Jefferson County as usual that year. Alongside the sobering report of Hentz’ unfortunate hunting trip, the Monticello News published a letter from young Alice Lawrence: “Dear Santa, please bring me what you think I need. Both mother and daddy says that I have been a good girl. I will thank you for anything.”
The stock market crash of 1929 brought chaos in its wake, but little change was noted in the local holiday celebrations here. For Christmas of 1929, the students of the Lloyd school presented a play entitled “The Kidnapping of Santa.” Tickets were available for as little as 10 cents apiece. This included “sandwiches and hot drinks”—the latter of which were non-alcoholic since Prohibition was still going strong.
The following year, seniors of the Monticello High School celebrated the season with a candy pulling party. Guests were greeted with a warm fire, which was quite welcome due to the unusual cold of the season. Younger members of the school performed in a “White Christmas” program at the First Baptist Church, in which six-year-old Jim Sledge was given a solo.
“Large Liquor Still Captured Friday” screamed the headlines of 1931’s Christmas edition of the Monticello News. Deputy sheriffs Lewis and Lindsey were the first to arrive on the scene at an unspecified location north of Monticello just prior to Christmas. There they discovered a 100-gallon still and 1,300 gallons of mash. Someone, it appeared, was preparing for a riotous holiday.
The December court term that year ended only a few days before Christmas. Two men who stood trial were Dane Welbon and Will Smith, who were both convicted of illegally riding trains and were fined five dollars each.
Christmas of 1932 was marked by the arrival of a new Chevrolet in Monticello. A. E. Cooper, the local dealer, brought this new model to town and put it on display Christmas Week. The car reportedly incorporated 192 improvements over previous models, including “a longer wheelbase, a more powerful six-cylinder engine, an entirely new body styling, and new skirted fenders.” Even with the larger, more powerful engine, Cooper assured his customers that this 1933 model was “more economical” than previous vehicles.
While Cooper exhibited his newest Chevrolet to potential buyers, the Presbyterian church prepared for its candlelight service, a quiet hour of reflection “woven around some of the most beautiful hymns that have been inspired by the birth of the Saviour of mankind.” Hymns forming a part of the service included “O Holy Night,” “Adeste Fideles,” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” Christmas Day was also ushered in with a special mass by Father Devane at St. Margaret’s, the local Catholic church.
A decade later, when Christmas of 1942 rolled around, the nation had already been plunged into the midst of the Second World War. Troops shipping overseas, women entering the workforce, and the Battle of Midway were all topics of general interest. Yet the birth of the Savior was not forgotten in the turmoil and hubbub of this strange new war-driven world. Reverend J. Hill Johnson, rector of the local Episcopal church, held extra services that Christmas week, as did most churches around town. E. Nash Philpot, minister of the Methodist church, was preparing his Christmas message like every other local pastor. In times of war as well as peace, these men knew how to lead folks to the only answer to life’s problems.
With the arrival of the 1940s, times were changing in little Jefferson County and the world at large. But the truths of Christmas and the life-changing realities that celebration brings would remain the same forevermore.
Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as Man with us to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
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