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Christmas around the Square, 1931 December 1931 found much of the world mired in economic depression. In America, a deflationary spiral continued; the money supply, industrial output, and the stock market all seemed headed for the basement as unemployment increased; and property foreclosures occupied more and more column-inches in newspapers across the nation. By JIM But meanwhile, around the Square in Columbia, any number of merchants offered nice lines of Christmas finery for those fortunate enough to have a bit of discretionary jingle-jangle in their pockets. In the fashion of the era, however, no Christmas ads appeared until after Thanksgiving. Lany Bray & Co., in the east corner of the square, offered "a lovely tie, a nice pair of kid gloves, beautiful scarf, silk sox, or one of our new Elder shirts, 98c and $1.50" for the gentleman. A half-page in the December 2nd paper touted a plethora of other tempting Christmas goodies -- and a chance to meet Santa Claus himself in the store on Saturday, December 5th. Near the south corner, Miss Lula Jones reminded her customers that with Christmas gifting in the air, "Hummingbird Full Fashioned Hosiery packed in individual gift boxes makes the ideal present for mother, wife, sister, daughter." Paull Drug in the west corner carried an assortment of eye catching gifts for grown ups as well as "dolls of all kinds" for the wee folk, and Brown Drug in the Jones Block offered a potpourri of tempting items for the adults, dolls in a wide variety of price points, and "trains and other mechanical toys that will fascinate the little ones, both boys and girls." The Royal Cafe, near Miss Lula Jones and Brown Drug, suggested Whitman's Candies as "a delightful, though inexpensive luxury" gift, just right for one's family -- or one's best girl. For those with a lot of discretionary funds, Columbia Motor Co. suggested the gift of a new Ford featuring "syncro mesh -- free wheeling -- 60 horse power -- 65 to 70 miles per hour," prices not given. (Chevrolet prices started at $475, f.o.b. Flint, Mich.) Bennett Motor Co., just off the square on Burkesville Street, invited customers to "please the whole family" for Christmas with a new Plymouth. H.R. Moore, near the west corner of the square, promised "Bountiful gifts for everyone," and Broaddus Grocery, "the store around the corner" (just off the square on the entry side of Burkesville Street), proclaimed having "everything you will be needing for the holiday table," and offered free home delivery for patrons who dialed the store at 132. Barger Bros., in the south corner, also offered tempting foodstuffs, "everything the most particular housekeeper could desire at this time," including mixed nuts, candied fruits, oranges, bananas, grapes, and fancy groceries. Lerman Bros., then located near the north corner, offered a vast array of clothing and accessory gift ideas, including many items for a dollar or less and a free doll with every ten dollar purchase. Insurance agent C.R. Barger gamely suggested a "policy for the growing son or daughter;" Columbia's power supplier, Kentucky Central, offered, for 75 dollars installed, "what mother really wants" -- an electric range; the First National Bank invited readers to open new accounts, "the family gift;" and Davis Hardware at the exit corner of Jamestown Street thriftily suggested utilitarian household articles such as tea pots, coffee pots, frying pans, and double boilers as the way to go. Other merchants, such as Crawford Gatlin in the Russell & Co. Building and the nearby I.G.A. store, simply wished everyone a joyous Christmas season. This story was posted on 2021-12-09 08:34:18
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More articles from topic Jim: History:
An Adair Co. Author: Mary Allen Grissom (1883-1963) Around The Shire, mid-October 1931 Memphis to Big Creek, 1936: Mr. W.L. Grady's wild ride home Four miles to Columbia: a long ago journey recalled August 1961: Sports briefs, and a question of time Bits and pieces from across the county, early August 1931 Late June - early July, 1936: Events around The Shire Spicy news bits from June 1931 1931: Talkies arrive; and the Royal Columbians Orchestra Ads from a bygone era offer insight into turn-of-century lifestyle View even more articles in topic Jim: History |
 
115 Jamestown St. Columbia, KY. 270-384-2496 
  
   
 Provided by the Adair Co Fiscal Court and the Adair Co. Emergency Mgt. Agency 
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