12/14/2025
For those so inclined to read news of the season...
Christmas in Columbia and Adair County, 111 years ago—
“In Santa Claus Land,” a play given by the Primary Department of the Lindsey-Wilson Training School, was the theatrical highlight of the Christmas Season in Columbia, December 1914, one century and eleven years ago. On the evening of December 15th, the Primary Department performed the play in the Chapel. Admission was 10 and 15 cents. The players and their roles were as follows:
Rachel Faulkner, Mother; John Ottley, Ted; Mary Harris, Lula; Ray Goff, Santa Claus; Frances Strange, Santa Claus' wife; Virginia Harris, Santa Claus' baby; John Morrison, Imagination; Sallie Hudson, Cook; Amelia Damron, Mother Goose; Margaret Harris, Margaret Hynes, Maxine Moss, Pauline Arnold, Leona Bryant and Sadie Mullinix, Fairies; Walker Bryant, Sanford Strange, Delbert Arnold, Russell Goff, Keithley Wickliff and Louie Feese, Brownies. Miss Mary Heyd, principal of the Primary Department, assisted by Miss Mary Chandler, pianist.
“On Display—The season has arrived when the people are looking into the show windows, trying to select in their own minds the gifts they will give for Christmas presents. There are many beautiful gifts on display, and to us it seems like a donor would experience but little difficulty in making a selection. There are many articles, at the different stores, designed mostly for show; then there are others that will prove useful. The latter is the kind to buy, except you must purchase a few articles to please the children.”
Russell and Company, on the Public Square, advertised many goodies for Christmas, including: Hand painted china, cut glass, pictures, sterling and silver plated wares; leather goods such as hand bags and suit cases; silk umbrellas, brass umbrella stands and jardiniers; furs for the ladies, misses and children in capes, collars and muffs; fine table linens, table and dresser scarves, embroidered articles and handkerchiefs; for the men: ties, collars, hosiery, suspenders, shirts, etc.; imported and American toys, picture and reading books for the children...
Buy your candies from Flowers & Walker. They sell the best.
Just what you want in jewelry and diamonds. Paull Drug Company.
The very thing—a Kodak. Murray Ball, The Jeweler.
Full and complete line of nice fruits and candies. Garrison Brothers.
Nell & McCandless sold 500 pounds of candy Saturday and have plenty on hand at the lowest price.
The Graded School will close for the holidays next Thursday. On Tuesday night there will be a play by Misses King and Clark's pupils in the gymnasium.
The store windows are very attractive in their Christmas decorations, pleasantly suggestive of the many handsome articles within. The children are as busy as bees, looking and wishing for the many nice things left by Old Santa. They make many expressions as to what would please them, and in many instances their wishes will be fulfilled. There are other children who are just as longing, but they know the conditions at home, and cannot hope for many articles that would gladden their little hearts. They should remember, however, that they are living in a community of churches and Sunday schools and that the good people will see that they are all remembered.
A prize Christmas Cake will be given to the lucky holder of the ticket at the Parlor Circle Thursday night. Tickets at Nell & McCandless.
Some Christmas Marriages, 1914: Walker Compton and Burbie England; Garlan Reece and Polly Jesse; G.C. Sullivan and Rena Atchley; Owen Cundiff and Bessie Williams; L.G. Bault and Docia Woodrum; Loyd H. Wilson and Mattie Martin, both of Green County; Sam Murrell and Nannie Bailey, of Clear Spring, married at Columbia in their buggy by Rev. J.S. Chandler; W.B. Hansford and Callie Feese, eloped to Jeffersonville.
There was a Christmas Tree, well laden, given by the members of the Presbyterian Church, at the home of Mrs. Nannie Flowers, the evening before Christmas. The tree was planted in this home on account of Mrs. Flowers' mother, Mrs. Easter Dohoney, who is ninety-five years old.
The Christmas Tree at the Christian Church Friday evening was largely attended and all the children and members of the congregation received a remembrance.
These offerings from The Adair County News, December issues, 1914. Merry Christmas from the Watsons! And a most prosperous 2026 to all!!
