Okay, so it’s a day or two earlier than usual to recall what was going on in College Point around Christmas one hundred years ago. Not all news was good news in 1924. Fritz Achelis, 82-year-old-president of the American Hard Rubber Company, died at his home in Brooklyn on December 23rd. Six years earlier he had endowed the Poppenhusen Institute with a gift of $30,000, about $672,000 in today’s money. One hundred years later we don’t have Fritz, who was mentored by Conrad, but the Institute still needs our financial support that I hope and know members will support.
One hundred years ago Christmas was celebrated on a Thursday. In mid-December the Daily Star printed the names of the winners of prizes offered by the paper for the best compositions on the subject “What Christmas Means to Me.” More than 200 persons submitted entries, four of them College Pointers. Three women were given honorable mention, Miss Mamie Stuke, Mrs. Lora H. Fite and Mrs. Charles Metz. Another entry from Corona was made by my aunt, Dorothy Haas. Coming in third place was George Woods, 61. His effort urged good will throughout year. A Daily Star reporter presented him with a $10.00 check in Flushing hospital where two days later, he died from heart disease.
At the same time, “In the Open Air”, a book about nature study for elementary school children written by George W. Dorland, was published. Back then Dorland was the principal of the three College Point Public Schools, 27, 28 and 29. His work, one of a number of others he had authored, was placed on the list of textbooks for the schools of Greater New York.
Christmas trees that had sold for $1.50 to $1.75 apiece in 1923, increased in price to $2.00 to $3.00. Smaller trees could be had for $ .75 to $1.00. Holly wreaths went from $1.50 a dozen to $3.00 per.
Pre-Christmas announcements included Herman Bayerle and Otto Muehlenbrink being put in charge of distributing Christmas baskets for the poor, the Arrow Yacht Club planning a children’s day to be held on the 28th and a concert to be performed that evening by the College Point Maennerchor in Mutschler’s, formerly Witzel’s and then Flessel’s, on 119thstreet and 14th road. The College Point Aerie of Eagles were setting up for their Christmas festival.
Rev. Benjamin Mottram, whose wife Carrie had died from Influenza in 1918, became engaged to Miss Marie Louise Waters of Flushing. They wed on January 27th. The College Point Zither and Mandolin Club held a Christmas Festival and Miss Margaret Harte’s dancing class made up of fifty boys and girls, held a party at the Poppenhusen Institute. Santa Claus was the guest speaker expected to give out the first presents of the Christmas season. Church services were also a mainstay of the reportage 100 years ago.
Merry Christmas to all.
