Almost every holiday need could be met in Newton 100 years ago

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles about Christmas in Newton a century ago.

Virtually anything you were looking for for Christmas could be found in Newton a century ago. "Watch the advertisements that appear in the Daily News and take notice of the many gifts that the local merchants are offering for sale," the Daily News advised its readers.

A. M. Carl and Forrest T. Patterson sold pianos.

On Dec. 20, Patterson, who was located on the south side of the public square, ran a sizeable ad in the Daily News celebrating The Crown Combinola, "The Player of Many Tones." He also advertised "Player Piano Rolls for Christmas Gifts." (Apparently player pianos were still popular in the early 1900s.)

The firm of McLaughlin & Hilliard, furniture and undertaking, was promoting “The Wonderful New Edison Musical Instrument,” the Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph.

A. J. Decker & Company claimed to have the “Largest Stock of New and Up-to-date Jewelry in Jasper County.”

John O’Leary and Henry Held made and sold cigars. You could even get “Prince Albert in a can” in the old home town.

The Miles and C. S. Weston and Co. Garages sold cars and auto supplies. E. J. Miles & Co. claimed to have sold their first car in 1904. C. S. Weston and C. E. Thrasher were Cadillac-Buick-Oldsmobile dealers.

“Why not buy the boy a new tire for his bicycle. Or get him a Flash Light — Or a new bicycle would make a nice Christmas gift,” C. H. McClean suggested. “Come up and see my display of suitable gifts for boys.” He was located “opposite post office.”

Earl Smith also had a bicycle shop.

There were two candy stores, Clyde Roswell’s and U. S. Townsend’s. Roswell’s sold Davidson’s “Famous Chocolates” in bulk and boxes.

Starting Dec. 22 Hough & Son’s Toyland was selling one pound boxes of assorted Chocolates for 25c. E. E. Duer also stocked Christmas candies.

W. E. “Will” McMurray and S. F. “Frank” Neel operated bakeries. Roy Morrow drove Neel’s Bakery Wagon.

“‘You’ll have to go back’ to the old homestead on the farm to find Pumpkin Pies equal to those our bakers are making,” McMurray’s ad insisted. “They are fine, thick, smooth Pumpkin Pies at 20c each.”

The Miller Grocery Co. sold “Home Bakery Goods. Pies like mother Baked. Fresh Bread Every Day. All other goods baked in our clean, cozy, home kitchen.” This store was four doors east of the Citizens State Bank.

W. F. Behring owned The City Greenhouse.

Vander Linden’s, Horn Bros., Frank P. Gardner, Larimer & Clark, and S. Alter were the shoe dealers.

“Our spread of Christmas Footwear is certainly a grand one,” Horn Bros., on the north side of the square, boasted in an ad in the Dec. 20 Daily News. “This is the verdict of everyone that has seen our display.” They also claimed that their slippers made the “Best Gift” at $1.00 to $2.00 a pair.

Gardner beat Horn Bros.' price for Women's House Slippers by 25 cents. "PEOPLE are buying more Shoes and Slippers for Christmas presents of us this year then [sic] ever before. They want the new styles and KNOW WE HAVE THEM," his Dec. 23 Daily News ad asserted. His advertisement included a list to "look over ... and your Christmas buying will be easy."

Grocers in Newton at this time were E. E. Duer, A. M. Hough & Son, L. S. Lyday (“Newton’s Tea & Coffee Man”), Will McMurray, Geo. Miller, Neel’s Grocery-Frank Neel, Nelson’s Suburban Grocery, People’s Cash Market-Lee T. Griffin, V. C. “Vern” Roberts, E. C. Smith, and David M. “Dave” Tripp.

John Claussen, Will McMurray, Palace Meat Market-I. N. Harp, and Griffin’s Market were the butchers and meat markets. Sam Dugan sold fish and oysters.

E. E. Duer, McFarland-Morris Co., Miller Dry Goods Company, and the Spurgeon Mercantile Co. were the leading dry goods merchants in 1915.

Duer, who had been in business since 1901, advertised “The best Holly in town; lots of berries on it. Christmas trees; nearly all gone. Better hurry.”

“When Xmas Comes,” an ad in the new 1916 City Directory recommended,

“Just go to HOUGH’S VARIETY. It’s All There.”

Spurgeon’s, on the southeast corner of the square, boasted “an exceptionally strong line of Variety and 5 and 10 cent goods.”

Also it was claimed that “Everything in the Variety Line Can Be Found at DeBolt Mercantile Co.” on the west side of the square. “Come in and see the Fine Display of Holiday Goods.”

There were a variety of gifts available at McBride’s Corner Drug Store and Stouder Drug Co., “The Rexall Store.”