Portrait of Aline Mary Ford, 1888, given to her Aunt Susan Hayes Chalfant as a Christmas gift. Portraits were common holiday gifts in the early days of photography.
At this time of year people ask us, “How was Christmas celebrated in the early days?” The answer is it was celebrated much as in all small towns across America. Christmas trees (Mendocino had plenty), church programs, children speaking pieces, and Santa handing out presents.
Katie Ford, born in 1857, wrote in her journal “At Christmas time we always had a tree for the Sunday School in the Church where each child had a book or box of paints or drawing instruments—and all had a cornucopia of candy. Some had presents on the tree there, but we always had our gifts at home; we always included the Chalfant, Denslow and Minister’s family in our celebrations.”
A few decades later Maurice Tindall, born 1893, had a memorable Christmas: “One Christmas there was a tree upstairs at Murray’s Hall and half the town was up there. I remember that one. There was a good-sized tree, 16 or 18 feet.
“The way they got the tree down to the Hall they’d get someone with some extra time, maybe Jim Bowman down at the livery stable; we’d take a couple of Packard boys, me, Allie Brown, and a crew and we’d go out above Fury Town somewhere in the woods and get the tree. The ladies would decorate it that afternoon and night. They lit it with candles all over the thing. At Mr. Beach’s house, yards and yards of popcorn were strung and a lot of people took half their presents down. When you came in there at night and looked at that brilliant tree standing there, I tell you it was a grand sight.
“Each member of the various departments, numbering considerably over a hundred, was provided with presents. The trees had been whitened and trimmed and around the foot of each tree the larger presents had been placed and covered with cotton and sprinkled with white sparkling tinsel to represent snow. After songs and recitations came a telegram direct from Santa Claus at the North Pole and in due time Old Nick appeared and delivered a portion of the presents. Then Mrs. Santa with her six daughters made her appearance to help.
“Al Henderson and wife took the parts of Santa and wife. At the conclusion of the program, the Rev. M L. Goff read a poem he’d written in appreciation of Mrs. Kelley and esteem on her 50th Christmas on the coast.”
The December 25, 1915 issue of the Beacon repeats this story: “The item which follows is taken from the maritime news column of a San Francisco paper and is evidence that the jovial captain of the Sea Foam is ‘right there’ with the Christmas spirit. This capable and well-liked skipper is just the man to enter into the spirit of the holiday season and be the first to follow the observance of a good old custom. The item follows: ‘Captain Henriksen this year as in the past, was the first master to bring his command, the little coaster Sea Foam, into port decorated with Christmas greens. The Sea Foam came in from Mendocino with a small Christmas tree at her bow and one at the fore and the main mastheads. The Christmas decorations are not so prevalent on steamers as they were in the old days of the windjammers, but there are still many skippers in steam from the sailing vessels who dress their commands in conformity with the old custom.’”
—From the Mendocino Beacon December 10, 1989 by Dorothy Bear
Happy Holidays from the Kelley House! The Kelley House Museum is closed on Christmas day but will be open Friday-Sunday 11am-3pm. Join us for Holiday Walking Tours of Mendocino! Check the Kelley House event calendar for a walking tour schedule.