Thanksgiving week 100 years ago was a busy one in Stratford. The Post Office announced that all letter carriers would have the entire Thanksgiving Day as a holiday, but the Post Office itself would be open for regular business transactions from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Special Deliveries would be made as usual. Town Offices and the Town Court were closed for Thanksgiving Day.
A Thanksgiving whist and pinochle was held Tuesday evening in the Odd Fellows Hall, under the auspices of the Oronoque Building Association of the Oronoque Lodge. John Tooth was the chairman of the committee in charge of the affair.
Even though the weather was inclement on Thanksgiving Eve, a number of events were held which were well attended.
The Hollister Heights Improvement Club planned a “smoker” for Thanksgiving Eve, as did the Cupheag Club. The smoker at Hollister Heights was to include four boxing bouts, a wrestling match, and a weight lifting competition. Harold Lovell, owner of Lovell Hardware, was in charge of the Thanksgiving eve luncheon, smoker, and turkey party for the Cupheag Club. Friday night the Cupheag Club scheduled a dinner dance from 8:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. on Saturday.
The Boy Scout troop of Lordship announced they were disbanding due to the fact that too many of their members had moved out of town. T. H. Middleton, Jr., acting scoutmaster, scheduled a “windup” supper for the boy scouts for Friday evening at the Lordship Club. The Lordship Club also planned a card party for Saturday evening, where the card games were to be bridge, whist, and pinochle.
Christ Church, the Congregational Church, and St. James Church all announced special observance services for Thanksgiving Day. Christ Church held a union service where members of Christ Church, the Congregational Church, and members of the Methodist Church were all invited to join in. St. James held a Thanksgiving Day mass.
The schools all held Thanksgiving exercises on Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve, and schools closed for Thanksgiving Day and for Friday following Thanksgiving. Sedgewick School fourth and fifth graders staged a Thanksgiving “playlet” entitled “Patience’s Dream,” considered the best one given in Stratford. The scene of the playlet was Holland. Edna Ross played the role of Gretel, Mable Wicks played the role of Patience, and Ethel Hall played the role of the Wandering Star. Thanksgiving baskets were delivered to needy families in town through the cooperation of the schools.
Many former residents of town returned to celebrate Thanksgiving. Several family reunions were planned for the day. No football game was scheduled in Stratford for Thanksgiving.
Thanks ,David, very informative about Thanksgiving day in Stratford 100years ago. Happy Thanksgiving!
I love these stories.