Farmers Weekly Review

By Sandy Vasko

Well, gentle readers, another year will soon go into the history books. And you have to admit, it was one for the record books in many ways, both good and bad. These are trying times when looking to the future may not fill us with hope. But time stops for no one, except for us.

Today, we will go back in time to the 19th century to really celebrate New Year’s Eve 1878/79 style.

Even in good years, New Year’s means different things to different folks in different places. Some want to party, some want to take stock, and some want to make predictions. As 1878 came to a close, Will County was of several minds as well. In Plainfield, a few town swells made the rounds of the eligible young ladies’ home; in Joliet, a Mardi Gras atmosphere prevailed, while in Wilmington, people were taking stock and fearing what the next year might hold.

The Joliet Weekly Sun tells us of the merriment in Plainfield. “Several young gentlemen of this place called on their many lady friends. The first call was made at the home of the Misses Koch, where they received a cordial welcome from Allie and Katie; who have the faculty of making their guests feel perfectly at home. They next proceeded to the home of Miss Birdie Sweetwood, where it is needless to say they enjoyed their call.

The next call was made at the palatial residence of F. R. Tobias, where they received a hearty New Year’s welcome from Gay; it is unnecessary to say this was a pleasant call. We have not space to notice all the calls they made, but suffice it to say, the boys enjoyed it “hugely.” The last, though not least, call was made at the Hess mansion, where they were welcomed by Minnie and Emma; and all passed pleasantly.”

In Joliet, a New Year’s tradition had been established. Sleighs were decked out in the most elaborate way, some being designed for only this occasion. Then the gentlemen of the town, a who’s who of important businessmen, got on the sleighs, drank, played cards, and visited homes along the way, where the ladies met them, wined and dined them, then sent them on to the next home.

Again, from the Sun, “New Year’s Day has come and gone, glimmering among the things that were. It will be long remembered as the gayest and most happy day for many years in Joliet. The number of gentlemen callers was more numerous, and the rigs (sleighs) were more diversified, elaborate and grotesque than on preceding years.”
The Sun goes on to describe a few of the “rigs.” “Two mules covered with gaily decorated cloths, bearing the inscription, “Happy New Year!” and “The boys are coming!” In the sled was the colored footman in charge of beating a large bass drum as the procession passed from one house to another.

“Then came a four-horse sleigh, 25 feet in length and 10 feet wide, the floor of which was nicely carpeted and seats covered with buffalo and wolf robes. In the center of the sleigh was a round table on which was placed several boxes of cigars. The sleigh was elegantly trimmed with evergreens, and from the four corners, and the arches at both ends, were small American flags.

“The log cabin design was certainly one of the best rigs. It was a log cabin on runners. The house was covered with a regular-shaped roof, through which came a chimney. A bay window on each side gave all the light required for the boys as they amused themselves smoking and playing euchre as they moved from one open house to another.
“To complete the procession came the clown, mounted on a sturdy mule from whose neck was suspended a large cowbell. The clown was the life of the whole party, and at whose whistle the party responded as promptly as soldiers do at the command of their captain.”

On that same day, in Wilmington, there was no parade in the street. There were no gay parties or oyster suppers, no rich men with cigars; in fact, looking at the Wilmington paper, you would hardly know that a holiday had just passed. Instead, we read:

“On yesterday morning, the thermometer marked 22 degrees below zero at 6:30 a.m.”

And “Frozen to death – Poor old Jeremy Brennan’s death is at once a practical temperance lecture and a timely warning to all who are addicted to the accursed of God habit of drunkenness.”

My New Year’s suggestion to you: “Party like it was 1879,” whichever style you choose. But please be safe.