Years Ago in Paulding County
By: MELINDA KRICK
Ringing in the New Year
From the Antwerp Gazette, Jan. 9, 1873:
Festivities were rather mild in town on the 1st. A fisticuff or two, a few fire crackers and the day passed.
Those who could, have been enjoying excellent sleighing for the past week. The roads were never better, and the air was alive with the sound of the merry bells.
Our ice men are busily engaged in reaping the beautiful crop, and storing their [ice] houses for future reference, drawing it from the canal and river. We have seen several loads of beautiful ice coming in, clear and pure as crystal.
The New Year’s ball given by “Uncle Gus” proved to be the grandest social event of the season. The attendance was large, the music was good, and everybody was good natured, and had a good time. From our coign of vantage the beauty of the scene, the brilliantly toileted ladies, and the gallant gentlemen could not be taken in at a glance, or a series of glances. The radiated beauty dispersed all over the ample hall, formed a scene to hold the gaze until time slipped unconsciously away.
And many who came, not to dance, but to admire dancing, were led away from their renunciatory resolves, and almost before they were aware of it were playing the quick rebound heel.
At the hour of eleven, supper was announced, and the dancers chose their partners and repaired to the Exchange Hotel. Two long tables, extending the entire length of the dining hall – spread with all the late viands of the season.
After supper all again assembled at the hall and continued to “trip the light fantastic toe” until the “wee sma” hours.
Paulding Democrat, Dec. 31, 1885:
We are requested to announce that there will be a grand New Year’s ball at the Town Hall in Cecil, Friday evening, Jan. 1st. All are invited.
We notice by bills printed in this office that the Paulding Fire Department will give a grand New Year’s ball at their hall Friday evening, Jan. 1st. Good music will be in attendance. All are invited.
Paulding County Gazette, Jan. 5. 1888:
The young people of Paulding are to have a dance in the third floor of the jail Friday evening.
Paulding Democrat, Dec. 18, 1890:
The members of Paulding Hook and Ladder Co. have arranged to give a grand New Year entertainment at the opera house on Jan. 1.
Antwerp Argus, Dec. 25, 1890:
Jan. 1 occurs the grand supper and contest to be given by the ladies of St. Mary’s church. It will undoubtedly be the great event of the holidays.
Paulding County Republican, Dec. 31, 1891:
There will be a social hop held in H. Stores hall at Broughton Friday evening, Jan. 1st, 1892. This will be a leap year ball.
A select hop will be given at the opera house in Antwerp New Year’s Day. The music will be furnished by Signor Correli’s Italian Orchestra from Fort Wayne. The bill for dance has been placed at $1.
Paulding County Republican, Dec. 26, 1895:
Grand Fox Hunt: There will be given an old fashioned Fox Hunt just north of Paulding on New Year’s Day. The lines will be as follows: North line old Wabash Canal; east line, Paulding and Cecil Road; south line, three miles north of Paulding; west line, two and a half miles west of the east line. The lines will organize and be ready to start promptly at 9 o’clock. The starting signal will be one charge of dynamite. Everyone come bring your hounds, but no guns. A rousing good time is guaranteed.
The annual banquet of the Ladies Literary Society will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. V.V. Pursel, Monday evening, Dec. 31.
At the Bon Ton there will be coffee, doughnuts, cake and ice cream served free to all patrons of the house from 7 to 12 o’clock p.m., New Year’s Eve.
Paulding Democrat, Jan. 4, 1905:
The [Ed] Staley home on north Main Street was the sene of a very pleasant social gathering Saturday evening, when the members of the Just Us Club entertained at a New Year’s watch party. The evening was very pleasantly spent at games, music and a social good time. The Staley residents is well arranged for a social functions. Delicious refreshments were served by Miss Staley assisted by her parents and Miss Bessie Welch. There were about 30 present.
Payne Reflector, Jan. 2, 1913:
The Payne Dancing Club entertained a large number of young folks at their hall New Year’s eve, which was one of the most enjoyable affairs of the season. The feature of the evening was the watch party, at which the guests waited for the New Year to make its appearance.
Paulding Democrat, Dec. 25, 1913:
An event in basketball in Paulding is to be pulled off on New Year’s Day evening, at the new Armory.
Arrangements have been made for a visiting team under the name of the Northern Stars, made of picked players from the cities and colleges of Battle Creek, Lansing and Ypsilanti, Mich. It will include Herbert Moore, a Paulding young man attending college in Ypsilanti. A Paulding team is to be picked to contest with the Michigan huskies.
Paulding County Republican, Dec. 31, 1914:
The 4th division of St. Joseph’s Guild will serve 15 cent meals all day New Year’s Day at the home of M. Finan.
The menu is: escalloped chicken, potatoes, rolls, salad, pickles, gelatin, coffee. Everybody is cordially invited.
Paulding Democrat, Jan. 7, 1915:
Wandering Bullet: An incident which demonstrates what might result from reckless, indiscriminate shooting of firearms, with whatever intent, occurred at the home of A.R. Geyer New Year’s eve and was not discovered until the following morning. On the latter date, when Mrs. Geyer stepped into the bathroom, on the second floor of the house, she noticed bits of broken glass. Investigation followed, when a cartridge bullet of about 32 calibre was found lying upon the floor, and a hole in the window screen and glass. It was probably a bullet from the weapon of some celebrator of the entrance of the New Year.
With the ringing of bells, the blowing of whistles and the usual number of watch parties and other festivities, local citizens welcomed the New Year last Thursday night. While the celebration in some places was rather hilarious, there was no occasion for increasing the local police force.
Paulding County Republican, Jan. 2, 1919:
The sophomore class of the Paulding high school gave a watch party Tuesday night that proved to be a very lively and enjoyable affair. The young folks held the party in one of A.M. Courtright’s vacant houses where all the games and jollity of watching old year go out and the new year come, could be indulged in without bothering anyone else.
Dancing and various games afforded the amusements for the evening. A fine three-course dinner was served at midnight.
