Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

New Ipswich Historical Society

Christmas in New Ipswich

The Society does not have photos taken taken during the Christmas Season. Why not create a collaborative album of our own? If you have some that you would like to share, we have an online album for you. You can upload photos taken in New Ipswich. It would be great to see some older ones. The photos will be viewable by the public.

Eva, Victor and Stella Fournier

Not a Christmas photo, but one from the collection.

On this day - December 25, 1897

William Jurian Kaula diary

25 Dec 1897

The most peaceful Christmas that I ever had.  It was so unlike that day that I knew at home.  Last year I was miserable with a cold and had to keep indoors and went out to a dinner.  This year the boys will not have a dinner - no celebration of any kind.  I had an invitation to go out to luncheon and also another for dinner.  It was enough to make me happy.  Some might envy my position where I did not have to give a single Christmas present - I gave but one and received but one.  There has not been anything of the usual bristle and hurry of shopping, no planning for purchases, no worry about money enough and no empty purse after the holiday is over.  I went to the Café Rouge in the evening to hear the music.  I strolled back by the way of the "Boul Mich" to the Café d'Harcourt to see the life.  There was the usual crowds of students and models having gay times at the little tables on the sidewalks where they drink coffees, beer, cognac, or other liquors.  The boulevard sidewalks are lined with the shanties and booths of the vendors of holiday goods of the cheaper sort like candies, pastries, cheap comic songs, posters, and toys.  These booths extend down to the Grand Boulevard where they become so thick as to obstruct the view of the street.  Around the Café d'Harcourt there is always a scattered band of police ready for any emergency.  They are picked men from the most intelligent of the force - not big burly men who are ready to pound anyone over the head, but very decent men who know how to handle students.  The students may be often noisy and boisterous but they seldom mean to do any harm or damage and they can easily be persuaded to preserve order.  The interior of the café sometimes resembles Bedlam for the turmoil and confusion but it is good natured pleasantry that would only alarm a foreigner on his first visit.  A stranger might think that it seemed like the beginning of a riot or perhaps bloodshed but it is not very often that anyone is hurt.  Frenchmen seldom come to blows; the law is very severe on the one who strikes the first blow no matter who gets the worst of the encounter.  Men will often times get furious at each other and use the most villinous [sic] language toward each other, and keep it up for a half hour, but that is the end of it.  Few Americans could withstand such language and the Frenchmen know that in times of trouble.

On this day - December 25, 1908

James Roger diary entry

25th (Friday)

A little snow very quiet and cold.  Very few teams around.  David went for grain in morning and got bolt straightened at blacksmith’s shop.  Mr. Huckins came over in afternoon with an album they received from Los Angeles.

On this day - December 25, 2015

As I write this on THIS Christmas morning in 2022, it is 4 degrees outside… BRRRR! In 2015, it was a balmy day, short sleeve weather. Remember? New England weather is always a surprise.

Readers, Season Greetings to all of you. Enjoy your time with friends and family. Make some history of your own.