Historic Moment: A Christmas story -100 years ago
By Beth Batlle
Skaneateles Town Historian
Kate pulled the door shut to the Jordan Street loft apartment. All her housework was done, so she had decided to walk downtown to do some Christmas shopping for her new husband, Ben and her new mother-in-law. As she stepped onto the sidewalk, she was once again amazed, and grateful, that the Village of Skaneateles pampered its citizens so by keeping all the walks well plowed.
When she walked past the Skaneateles Boat & Canoe company, she could almost smell the sap of the raw lumber that they would turn into sleek sailing boats. Across the street was the new brick fire house that contained the Skaneateles jail.
She shuddered to think that anyone was incarcerated there at this time of the year.
She glanced down Railroad Street and saw the new engine #3 puffing out clouds of gray smoke as it neared the railroad station. On the platform, passengers were huddled together in the cold, ready to board the cars. Although the Stone Mill across the street was closed now, men used to pull carts filled with sacks of flour and other grains and load them aboard the freight cars so they could be taken to market.
As she continued her walk, the livery on the west side of Jordan Street caught her eye. Everyone still called it the Cornell livery, however, since Cornell’s death little over a year ago, it was now run by his son-in-law. She wondered how long the business would last with the coming of those horse-less carriages. Little did she know the livery would some day become the business place of a prominent photographer and a navigation company.
On the same side but south of the livery was the building called the Eckett Block.
Everyone in Skaneateles knew Edward Eckett as the baker who made the finest crackers in the country. He finally sold his famous yeast recipe to the Fleischmann Yeast Company and was retired now.
Reaching the corner of Jordan and Genesee streets, she picked up her skirt as she gingerly stepped into the slushy street and crossed over the trolley tracks to get to the other side. She recalled what fun it was to ride the noisy, clanging trolley to Auburn, and it only cost 25 cents for a round trip ticket!
The first store she entered was that of Wells A. Hardwich. She quickly found what she came for – cocoa, for 15 cents. The carolers would be coming by and she wanted to offer them some hot chocolate. The oranges, at 22 cents a dozen, made her mouth water, however she had previously spent all of her grocery money, so she could not afford them today.
The next she enter was the Brounstein clothing store. Here she browsed among the items for sale – suspenders for 19 cents, work shirts or night shirts for 41 cents each, and wool lined underwear for 81 cents. She finally selected a pair of house slippers for Ben regularly $1.25, but on sale for 89 cents. These would keep his feet warm on the cold nights.
Leaving the Brounsteins, she walked up the street to the store of Williams & Hunt. She wandered around, checking all the items – books, diaries, calendar to rugs, aprons and umbrellas, until she found the one she was searching for. She had seen the newspaper advertisement in the Skaneateles Free Press for hand embroidered handkerchiefs from Belgium and France for 5 cents to $3. She picked out one done in pink. This would be perfect for her mother-in law.
Kate wandered down the aisle ad noticed some crib blankets. She lovingly ran her hand over the soft material and smiled. The best Christmas present for her husband and mother-in-law would be the news she would break to them on Christmas Day.
Her next stop was the window to the Clark Shoe Store where she stopped for a moment to admire the latest styles of footwear. She bundled up the neck of her coat as she braced for the wind blast she would encounter as she passed of the driveway leading down to the lake, then entered the Wallace & Hahn’s Drug Store. After purchasing some hand cream for herself, she left and headed home to prepare supper for Ben. Her steps were light – what a good day this had been.
Korean Veterans – I am collecting information and personal stories about you and your service in the Korean War. If you or the families of Korean veterans want someone to be included, contact me, either by letter (24 Jordan St.) or e-mail ([email protected].). If you could supply a photograph of yourself in uniform, that would be appreciated too.
