Downtown Decorations 1947

This 1947 photo shows the Boyden Building on the north side of the 100 block of East 3rd Street. To its right are the Coney Island Lunch Room and the California Cafe. All three buildings still retain their original 19th-century facades. At the time, the Boyden Building housed Gestring’s Drugs, operated by proprietor Leonard J. Walkin, and Dr. Robert R. Geer maintained his office above the drugstore.

The streetlight in front of the Coney Island Lunch Room is decorated with a Christmas wreath featuring a bell at its center. According to an article in the Independent on December 2 (page 4), this was the first year large wreaths with lighted bells were installed downtown, replacing the strings of lights previously hung over the streets. In the left front window of the California Cafe, a decorated Christmas tree can be faintly seen. The California Cafe advertised steaks, chops, fish, and 24-hour, seven-days-a-week service; its interior had been remodeled in January 1947.

Inscribed at the bottom of the photo is: “The 100 block East Third Street (north side of street). The three buildings were erected in the early 1880s.”

Wolbach’s Ford Sleigh – a leschinsky glass plate

Christmas 1928

This Christmas photograph, taken from the family photo album of Anna and George Kister of Adams County, shows the gifts they received in 1928. A small, heavily tinseled tree stands at the back of the table, decorated with an assortment of blown-glass ornaments, including an owl. In front of and beside the tree sits a bowl filled with what appear to be popcorn balls resting on paper, along with a cookie shaped roughly like a person.

The table also displays a variety of gifts: a piece of embroidery work—possibly a kit intended to be made into a rabbit-shaped pillow—along with a candlestick-style phone, which may be a toy version; a napkin or doily set; a decorative teapot; a dresser set with a hairbrush and two perfume bottles; a necktie; a boxed vase with flowers; a Santa figure placed in front of a doll; an embroidered pillow; an unusual figurine of uncertain form; two photographs; and several decorative holiday boxes of unknown contents.

Christmas Display 1937

In December 1937, the Grand Island City Electric Department ran an advertisement in the Independent encouraging residents to brighten their homes for the holidays: “You’ll Want Your Home to Reflect the ‘CHRISTMAS SPIRIT’—Do it the Electrical Way!” This may have been tied to the annual home Christmas lighting contest sponsored that year by the Grand Island Junior Chamber of Commerce, with Carl Lumbard serving as committee chair. The contest rules were printed in the Independent on December 2 (p. 4), and an entry form appeared on December 6. Entries were due by December 20. The city was divided into four zones, each offering prizes of $10 for first place, $5 for second, and $3.25 for third, along with three honorable mentions of $1 each. One zone winner would also receive a grand prize of an additional $15.

On December 28, 1937 (p. 4), the Independent published an article that appears to describe the photograph shown:

“Unique Display At Hurley Home”
The residence of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hurley, 2204 West Fifteenth Street, entered in the Christmas decorating contest, is causing much favorable comment because of its beauty and unique display.
The entire south side of the roof of the house is decorated in Christmas colors. A large fireplace with Santa Claus entering the chimney greets the eyes of spectators first. On the roof, two pictures of Santa Claus help add balance to the decoration, which is topped off by the American flag at the top and center of the roof.
Evergreen and streamers of red, blue, and green lights run along the sides of the house and along the eaves.
Mr. Hurley says the entire cost of the decorations, with the exception of the lights, was $1.80. He says it took him a day and a half to build and set up the display.”