In early Idaho newspapers, Christmas was covered with stories and advertisements

“Santa Claus” was the heading on a December 1866 advertisement in the Idaho World of Idaho City. “The holidays are approaching and it is good and kind to let the little folks know of their proximity; to expect the generous visits of their patron saint; and to ensure them against disappointments in his time-honored, world-wide Gift enterprises. There are but few ‘little ones’ in the aggregate of our population; let us make the holidays sweet and glad to them.”

The ad continued: “We can do so by a visit to the store of Clayton Yale & Co., in the Post Office building, where can be found a splendid and pretty assortment of the most choice of the peculiar wares that rare old Santa Claus has ever exercised supervision over, and most cared to dispense among his juvenile fondlings. A timely call will ensure the best selection. Remember the ‘little folks’ and bear in mind also that at Clayton Yale & Co.’s you can select just what they would like.”

Another Idaho City merchant advertised gifts for children: “Candy, Toys, and Fruit Cakes. Fischer & Meydenbauer at the Miners’ Brewery and Bakery, are making grand preparations for Holiday Week. To adorn, and make more inviting in substantial point of view, the tables of our citizens on Christmas and New Year, they have finished up a large number of rich, delicious, fruit and fancy cakes, and confections of various kinds. They have not forgotten preparations for the juveniles, and to enable old Santa Claus most suitably to deck and trim up his Christmas trees, they have on hand a lot of pretty, pure sugar toys, made up in all conceivable attractive forms. Their wines, liquors, lager, cigars and tobacco, are all first quality.”

On Christmas Day 1866, the Idaho Tri-weekly Statesman reported: “The Christmas Trees, hung with all manner of presents for the children, were erected yesterday for the Sabbath schools of both the Baptist and Episcopal congregations, the latter occupying the Episcopal church and the former the hall of the House of Representatives. Both buildings were jammed full of old and young. The singing and distribution of presents afforded the full measure of entertainment usual on such occasions.”

Both houses of the Legislature had adjourned early to allow the Baptist Sunday school to take over the space. It is hard to imagine this happening today.

The Statesman reported on Dec. 27, 1866: “The ball on Christmas night was a grand success. The hall was crowded to overflowing with about an equal number of ladies and gentlemen, who tripped the light fantastic until near the hour for breakfast. We heard a number of epicureans speak concerning the supper, and all agreed in pronouncing it the finest of the season. That idea of introducing songs while waiting for supper is a good one. Boys, you that are songsters, why don’t you organize a quartette or a glee club?”

In December 1867, “Capt. Shulock at the Cornucopia Restaurant, says has enough to feed a thousand on Christmas, and as the day is rapidly approaching, to prove what he says, call at the Cornucopia and feast your eyes upon his turkeys, chickens, pigs, and many other good things which he has prepared for the occasion.”

The Statesman skipped an issue on Dec. 26, 1867, for the first time in three years “to give the boys a chance to celebrate Christmas,” and celebrate they did.

This story was originally published December 27, 2019 at 2:06 PM with the headline "In early Idaho newspapers, Christmas was covered with stories and advertisements."