Traditional Christmas Presents of the 1920s
Toys and Musical Instruments Were Popular Holiday Gift Suggestions
Nov 16, 2009
It was a prosperous year and the local merchants fully expected the pioneers of that era to celebrate Christmas with a few extra store bought presents for their friends and loved ones. Each of the stores along main street had a special selection of holiday gift suggestions that was different from the everyday necessities that it usually carried.
Toys and Music Rated High on the Gift List in 1923
Every store in Grande Prairie, including stores that mainly sold drugs, or horse tack and harness, got on the prosperity bandwagon and advertized some special Christmas gift giving items in 1923.
J.B. Hook advertized the biggest selection of toys in Grande Prairie. The store next to the big clock was often visited by the young people of the town. There they could dream over;
- mechanical toys, dolls, doll chinaware and furniture, teddy bears, rubber dolls, sleighs, games, animals and children’s' automobiles that came in all sizes.
A.B. Hedman recommended Christmas gifts that would last. On his list of suggestions were;
- Columbia Granfonolas, violins, guitars, mouth organs, ukuleles and accordions.
J.W. Leitgeb, "The Harness Man" increased his stock to include;
- pictures, picture frames, solid oak bookcases, oak writing desks, sleigh bells, imitation Buffalo robes, mitts, gloves, gauntlets, sewing machines, and library tables as well as hand stamped leather collars and hand stamped leather ties.
G.A. James the owner of the Rexall Drug Store had gift suggestions for both men and women;
- For the men he suggested Kodaks and albums, ash trays, folding leather slippers, collar bags or Buxton keytainers.
- For the women he suggested bridge sets, hand painted china, gift books, victrolas and records.
Stewart Confectionary store offered toys and candies as well as;
- children’s' books, Christmas decorations, and fancy boxes of stationary.
Santa Claus Star Attraction at the Co-Op in 1923
Santa himself appeared at the Co-op in Grande Prairie on Christmas Eve. He gave out candies and nuts to all the children in celebration of an unusually prosperous year on the frontier in 1923. It was a time when the hardworking homesteaders could finally take a moment for music and play, feast on well fattened local turkeys and fully enjoy the holiday season.
Sources:
Images were provided by the South Peace Regional Archives. Material was provided by the Isabel Campbell Collection which is housed in the Grande Prairie Public Library.
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