Naughty or Nice by Thomas Viano
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December brings the excitement of Christmas and the promise of a New Year. As we look forward to our Christmas this year, it’s worth a look back to see how Truckee fared during Christmas time. What better way to do that other than checking with Santa Claus? Did he think Truckee residents were naughty or nice?
Santa in Truckee We all have to agree that over the years, Santa Claus has continued to be somewhat elusive. The same has held true for well over 100 years in our beloved Truckee. Reading through the Truckee Republican, you’ll find that Santa Claus is only mentioned 67 times, and most of that in ads for stores. Now it’s well known he shelters-in-place like a champ up in the North Pole, but you’d think he’d be more of a news item in the Truckee Republican. |
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR19021224.2.18.3&srpos=3&e=-------en--20-SSTR-1--txt-txIN-santa+claus-------1
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The first time Santa Claus is mentioned in the Truckee Republican is on December 23, 1874. It was reported he was to appear at the Methodist Episcopal Church on Christmas Eve to meet the little ones. To put things in perspective, this is only nine years after the end of the Civil War and just five years after the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Truckee must have been booming in these days. At least you can deduce that it was booming by referring to some of the advertisements in the Truckee Republican. Just next to Santa’s first mention in the paper archives, a little flavor of our favorite town of the Sierras jumps from the page in two advertisements for saloons. The Eureka Saloon and the grand opening of the Virginia Saloon in Truckee on the south corner of Front Street where “professional female dancers will perform every evening.” Admittance, by the way, was free, so business must have been booming! Note 1.
Santa Claus most likely didn’t stop at the Virginia Saloon in search of good little boys and girls. At least the Truckee Republican didn’t report that he did. In fact the Truckee Republican doesn’t report if he showed up at all that year! But, if you didn’t know what to ask for from Santa Claus, this same issue of the Truckee Republican had plenty of ideas. “Clocks, Guns and Pistols” could be repaired by W. Haller just two doors east of the Keiler House under the Sign of the Golden Eagle where you could also pick up some “Snow Glasses.” If that didn’t help you think of what to get your loved ones for Christmas, you could have headed over to Mr. J. F. Greely’s establishment for toys like “the most diminutive dolls, wagons and sleighs.” To entice you further, Greely had extra copies of McGlashan’s account of the Mountain Meadow Massacre that had happened in 1857 in Utah, but was still big news in 1874. Nothing says Christmas more than an account of a tragic massacre. Truckee certainly had plenty of gift ideas back in 1874!
Santa Claus most likely didn’t stop at the Virginia Saloon in search of good little boys and girls. At least the Truckee Republican didn’t report that he did. In fact the Truckee Republican doesn’t report if he showed up at all that year! But, if you didn’t know what to ask for from Santa Claus, this same issue of the Truckee Republican had plenty of ideas. “Clocks, Guns and Pistols” could be repaired by W. Haller just two doors east of the Keiler House under the Sign of the Golden Eagle where you could also pick up some “Snow Glasses.” If that didn’t help you think of what to get your loved ones for Christmas, you could have headed over to Mr. J. F. Greely’s establishment for toys like “the most diminutive dolls, wagons and sleighs.” To entice you further, Greely had extra copies of McGlashan’s account of the Mountain Meadow Massacre that had happened in 1857 in Utah, but was still big news in 1874. Nothing says Christmas more than an account of a tragic massacre. Truckee certainly had plenty of gift ideas back in 1874!
Nine years later in 1883, Santa Claus is only briefly mentioned as more of a warning than anything else: “Santa Claus is Coming. He will be here on the early train Christmas morning. Look out for him.” Note 2.
When Santa Claus did indeed appear at Hurd’s Hall, he started festivities at 7pm that lasted until nearly the “tap of the midnight bell.” Note 3. According to the Truckee Republican archives, this is the first confirmed report that Santa Claus was actually in Truckee at Christmas. And that was the last reported sighting that century. Santa Claus isn’t mentioned in the Truckee Republican until 19 years later. Had he forgotten Truckee? Were the saloons and pistols too much for Santa Claus to handle? Was Truckee all naughty and not at all nice? It certainly is a mystery.
In 1902, J. L. Lewison and Co. encouraged Truckee residents to leave their children’s names at the store so Santa Claus could presumably do his shopping there, but there’s no mention of Santa actually appearing that year in Truckee. The ad does picture Santa on a tandem bicycle, so either Santa Claus had ditched the sleigh or Lewison was selling bicycles that year. There’s no definitive answer, so that has to remain as another Truckee Christmas mystery. Note 4.
Finally, in 1903, Santa Claus is set to make an appearance at the Methodist church to distribute gifts as part of the “annual visit.” Note 5. Finally! We have proof that Santa Claus had been appearing annually in Truckee. Just a week later, the Truckee Republican reported that “Santa Claus made his appearance amidst the applause of the children.” Note 6. I find it odd that there is so much reporting about Santa Claus’s impending arrival and so few stories of his actual appearance. This same issue of the Truckee Republican also reports that the Wright Brothers created a “Flying Machine that will Fly.” Now, I don’t see how that would be newsworthy at all. If the Truckee Republican reporters would have looked toward the skies every Christmas Eve, they could have reported that Santa Claus had been flying for years!
As Christmas rapidly approaches, I hope that you’ve been nice and that Santa Claus doesn’t forget you this year.
TV
Notes
1. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR18741223.2.15.1&srpos=58&e=-------en--20-SSTR-41--txt-txIN-santa+claus-------1
2. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR18831222.2.40.1&srpos=60&e=-------en--20-SSTR-41--txt-txIN-santa+claus-------1
3. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR18831229.2.34&srpos=6&e=-------en--20-SSTR-1--txt-txIN-midnight+bell-------1
4. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR19021224.2.18.3&srpos=3&e=-------en--20-SSTR-1--txt-txIN-santa+claus-------1
5. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR19031219.2.61&srpos=11&e=-------en--20-SSTR-1--txt-txIN-santa+claus-------1
6. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR19021227.2.31&srpos=25&e=-------en--20-SSTR-21--txt-txIN-santa+claus-------1
When Santa Claus did indeed appear at Hurd’s Hall, he started festivities at 7pm that lasted until nearly the “tap of the midnight bell.” Note 3. According to the Truckee Republican archives, this is the first confirmed report that Santa Claus was actually in Truckee at Christmas. And that was the last reported sighting that century. Santa Claus isn’t mentioned in the Truckee Republican until 19 years later. Had he forgotten Truckee? Were the saloons and pistols too much for Santa Claus to handle? Was Truckee all naughty and not at all nice? It certainly is a mystery.
In 1902, J. L. Lewison and Co. encouraged Truckee residents to leave their children’s names at the store so Santa Claus could presumably do his shopping there, but there’s no mention of Santa actually appearing that year in Truckee. The ad does picture Santa on a tandem bicycle, so either Santa Claus had ditched the sleigh or Lewison was selling bicycles that year. There’s no definitive answer, so that has to remain as another Truckee Christmas mystery. Note 4.
Finally, in 1903, Santa Claus is set to make an appearance at the Methodist church to distribute gifts as part of the “annual visit.” Note 5. Finally! We have proof that Santa Claus had been appearing annually in Truckee. Just a week later, the Truckee Republican reported that “Santa Claus made his appearance amidst the applause of the children.” Note 6. I find it odd that there is so much reporting about Santa Claus’s impending arrival and so few stories of his actual appearance. This same issue of the Truckee Republican also reports that the Wright Brothers created a “Flying Machine that will Fly.” Now, I don’t see how that would be newsworthy at all. If the Truckee Republican reporters would have looked toward the skies every Christmas Eve, they could have reported that Santa Claus had been flying for years!
As Christmas rapidly approaches, I hope that you’ve been nice and that Santa Claus doesn’t forget you this year.
TV
Notes
1. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR18741223.2.15.1&srpos=58&e=-------en--20-SSTR-41--txt-txIN-santa+claus-------1
2. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR18831222.2.40.1&srpos=60&e=-------en--20-SSTR-41--txt-txIN-santa+claus-------1
3. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR18831229.2.34&srpos=6&e=-------en--20-SSTR-1--txt-txIN-midnight+bell-------1
4. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR19021224.2.18.3&srpos=3&e=-------en--20-SSTR-1--txt-txIN-santa+claus-------1
5. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR19031219.2.61&srpos=11&e=-------en--20-SSTR-1--txt-txIN-santa+claus-------1
6. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SSTR19021227.2.31&srpos=25&e=-------en--20-SSTR-21--txt-txIN-santa+claus-------1
