Tuesday, November 11, 2014
There was a scarcity of turkeys in Kewaunee County in
November 1916 and the price for a Thanksgiving bird was going up. However, that wasn’t enough to put a damper
on the holiday festivities nearly 100 years ago.
While newspapers had threatened a big increase, it turned
out that customers would pay just one cent more per pound than the prior year’s
price when they bought their Thanksgiving Day turkey. Local butchers said that turkeys would sell
for 25 cents per pound up from 24 cents the prior year. ($0.25 in 1916 is worth about $5.66 today
according to an online inflation calculator.)
The gobbler scarcity was not new. The area had experienced a shortage of
turkeys for several years. More
plentiful was the supply of ducks and geese.
Ducks cost 20 cents per pound; geese were 17 cents per pound—dressed
weight.
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| Contrary to the problem experienced in 1916, there is no shortage of turkeys in my back yard this year! |
The finest line of roasting pans “ever brought to (the)
city” was offered for sale by F. W. Lidral’s store, “the home of good hardware,”
to make a turkey that was sweeter and more juicy and tender.
While the ladies planned the holiday meal, local firemen
were busy preparing for the annual dance held on the night before Thanksgiving at
the Perry Opera House. The only person
missing the preparations was Fire Chief Schmeling who had been absent for a
week on a deer hunt. Otherwise, plans
for the dance were coming together beautifully without his direction and a “big
time” was assured to all who would attend.
Meanwhile, C. F. Schubich’s furniture store ran a
Thanksgiving Special. The store
advertised that never before had they offered such a large, up-to-date variety
of dining room furniture, buffets, and china closets.
Thanksgiving, one newspaper ad stated, was “the day of good
fellowship, enjoyable parties, excellent dinners and new clothes” and therefore
the store offered a wide selection of women’s ready-to-wear for the lady who
desired to be correctly dressed for the holiday. Snappy suit and overcoat styles were in stock
for men. After all, “The matter of dress
for the Thanksgiving season is of great importance; the parties call for new
filmy dresses…; the automobile rides call for warm coats, the
Thanksgiving church services call for new suits,” the ad proclaimed.
Regardless which fowl, furniture, or frock customers planned
to enjoy on the holiday, the shoppers had better procure their purchases by the
day before Thanksgiving. By agreement,
the merchants had declared that their stores would be closed on Thanksgiving
Day (as well as all day New Years, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and
Christmas). First, however, they assured their
patrons they would be open the evening before Thanksgiving Day to allow customers
to “secure their needs.”
Despite the price increases, there was plenty to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day in 1916. While war was being waged in Europe at the time, peace and prosperity at home were cause for those in the county to count their blessings. The Algoma newspaper declared that although there were higher prices to consider, the annual Thanksgiving dinner was still "possible" for the people of Kewaunee County.
Shirley
VerBruggen wishes her readers a joyous Thanksgiving Day
filled with good health, happiness, and fun with family and friends. Contact her at sverbruggen@new.rr.com
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