First U.S. Christmas Tree
Set Up In Ohio In 1851
December 24 this year, the tradi-'
tion of the Christmas tree in Amer
ican church sen tees, will be 98
years old?for it was back in 1851
that a Lutheran minister in Cleve
land, Ohio, lighted the first tree,
at such services.
The minister was the Kev. Hen
ry Schwan, pastor of the Zion
Lutheran church on Cleveland's
York street and his action brought
on a storm of controversy which
lasted several years. This was caus
ed by the fact that Christmas
tree had so long been associated
with pagan observance of the sea
son that many conservatives be
lieved it had no place in Christian
ceremonies.
However, some of Rev. Schwan's
congregation, especially the chil
dren, thought the beautifully-dec
orated tree glowing whh candles,
was just the spirit of the Christmas
season.
But the objectors had their way
and they were determined that
Rev. Schwan's tree was to be the
last of the Christmas trees erected
in America.
Through the years that followed,
the minister did all in his power
to learn of the origins of the
Christmas tree tradition in order
that he might show that the tradi
tion was far from the "heathen"
ceremony it had been called.
He wrote countless letters to
friends and acquantances all over
the world; he questioned strangers
and made long notes of their con
versations. And. when he learned
'I !,
that a particular part of the world t
already had Christmas trees, he i
would mark that place on a large !
map which hung in his study ? 1
a dark green tree where the tradi- <
thin was established, a light green
one where Christmas trees, at least. (
were known.
]
Pastor Schwan made his search
for knowledge of the Christmas '
tree almost a crusade. i
But as Christmas time approach- t
ed in 1852, Rev. Schwan had not <
found enough church support for i
he tradition to light another tree
it his Christmas service that year,
so, with great regret, he resigned
limself to the end of his hope of
,'stablishing the custom.
But on December 24, he received
'rem the pastor of one of Cleve
land's older churches the present
if a new tree, The Kev. Mr. Schwan
calized immediately tiiat the prcs
?nt meant the acceptance of the
?ustom by a churchman far more
nfluential than himself and his
sadness vanished.
There was a Christmas tree in
the York street Z1011 Lutheran
church that year ? and onec ac
cepted in Cleveland, the custom
spread all over the United States.
York street where Pastor
Sc.hwan's church once stood, is
changed how and long ago was re
named Hamilton avenue; and the
first tree, decorated with candles
ar.d a cold star at its top, has giv
en way to trees with brighter, more
colorful decorations.
But the tradition of erecting and
lighting Christmas trees, which is
observed throughout the nation, is
the same tradition which Pastor
Schwan introduced to this country
in the town of Cleveland nearly
100 years ago.
Wool Togs |
Win Vote
Of Women
Ask milady about her suits or
separate skirts for cool weather,
and she'll mention wool ? auto
matically. She's familiar with wool. >
knows its various qualities from 1
experience and prefers it, giving i
as her reasons its warmth, its .
good wearability, the wray it holds
its shape, and the fact that it '
doesn't wrinkle or soil easily.
She also likes wool for its rich !
smart appearance and because it '
cleans well and looks well after '
dry cleaning. 1
This, briefly. Is what the U. S. 1
Department of Agriculture's mar
ket development specialists learn- '
ed from a survey of women's atti- 1
tudes toward wool, which included 1
personal interviews with 2,425 wo- '
men representing the U. S. femin- 1
ine population between 18 and 65
years old.
The aim of the survey was to
learn consumers' opinions as a help
in expanding the market for agri
cultural fibers. Women were asked
about sweaters as well as suits and
skirts?what kind they owned, had
! bought in the past year, had ex
perience with and preferred. The
women reported both their likes
and dislikes for various fibers.
Often the women's preference
was for the fiber they had most ex
perience with. In suits and skirts?
for all seasons except summer?
this "loyalty vote" went to wool.
About 8 out of 10 of those women
having the most experience with
ivool said they preferred it. In
sweaters a little more than half
)f those most experienced with
*ool said they preferred this fiber,
vhile 9 out of 10 most experienced
vith Orion sweaters said Orion was
jest. Warmth, appearance, ease of
:are. and texture were the chief
idvantages of wool for sweaters,
iccording to their wearers; Orion
>vas liked for washability, wear- :
ability and softness. |
Sad Days For Clowns
HILLSDALE, Mich. <AP>?Sad
evcd circus clown Hal i Happy) Kel
lcms wishes his audience would
quit throwing things at him.
"I can't understand," said Happy.
It's getting so we hate*to go on.*'
Kellems said children used to
laugh and applaud when the clowns
put on their acts. "But now," he
said, "kids, and some grownups,
think it's funny to throw peanut
shells or shoot iron staples at us."
Mere than S million of the 23
million bicycles in the United
States are ridden by adults, says
the Bicycle Institute of America.
Mesily
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KILPATRICK
FELMET, Inc.
Phone GL 6-.16.il
A TOTAL OF 28.130 PIECES OF MAIL went
through the cancellation machine at the Waynes
ville postolTice Tuesday?breaking the existing
record (set in 1954) by aproximately 5.000. Here
Mrs. Kenneth Parrott. clerk, and Herman Fran
cis, assistant postmaster, sort throuKh the thous
ands of pieces of mail.
(Mountaineer Photo).
M)
Heartfelt is our wish for
you: have the merriest
^ Christmas you have ever known.
HAZELWOOD
PHILLIPS G6 SERVICE
STATION
101 Main St. Hazelwood
j. >
mv ^
gladness in your heart,
??y 4
in your home and good cheer ^
?wherever you go.,. all th ese we
wish for you, th is holiday season.
May the Yuletide he one you'll
long and happily remember.
A. C. LAWRENCE
LEATHER COMPANY
A DIVISION OF SWIFT AND COMPANY
JUNALUSKA TANNERY ' HAZELWOOD, N. C.
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AGlow
witK |
Good MsKeS
Our w armest wishes
to all far
a bright ?
holiday. ^ *^-^Z
4 , \\ ? I
HAYWOOD PRINT SHOP
Everett Camp
Depot Street Waynesville
/S
^ \J z^4
c^ ? 71 ?
JOYOUS
ru cisTtnns
? ALL
As the joyous songs of Christmastide
, * ?
ring out again, telling the happy
t
story of "Peace on Earth. Good Will
Vv *
to Men" we extend the Season's
greetings to our many friends. May
your Christmas be one of content
ment and good cheer. May the New
"^00 '
Year bring you a full measure of
happiness and good fortune. a
*? ' '
m
I
WE WANT TO THANK OUR MANY FRIENDS FOR *
YOUR PATRONAGE DURING THE PAST YEAR AND
RENEW OUR PLEDGE TO SERVE YOU EVEN BET
TER DURING 1957 ?
ROGERS EfurnitureD COMPANY]
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