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It’s Christmas Time in the City Written by Susan Parsons “The Holidays are almost here, and we have supplied ourselves with a large stock of Flour, Pork, Fish, Lard, Butter and a general stock of Groceries and Provisions. Besides all the useful and beneficial articles in Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes; everything calculated to comfort and benefit the poor. We do not offer you jim cracks [gimcracks-- showy, gaudy trinkets], rubber frogs or doll babies, but the simple necessities and substantials of every-day life, such as most people can only afford. Please call and see us and we will treat you kindly and do you good. December, 1890. J. B. Chappel.” Fair Haven Register, December, 1890. During the years when the major modes of transportation were by stage coach, train or horse, residents of the Fair Haven area were limited in their Christmas shopping choices. Perhaps they bought a few things through Montgomery Ward’s (began 1872) or Sears, Roebuck (started 1893) mail order catalogs, or wealthier individuals might take the train to Auburn or Oswego to shop. Many shopped locally. Local stores advertised to lure shoppers into area businesses. J. B. Chappel (also Chappell), above, began a general store in the “Mendel Block” in 1877. ---PAGE BREAK--- Chappel Store, first door on left/center, North Main Street, Fair Haven ---PAGE BREAK--- The store that marketed to the public the most was the Robinson and Phillips Store. (In 1912, when E. R. Robinson retired, Irving Silliman became a partner.) Raymond T. Sant, in Trails, Sails and Rails, noted that from 1900-1925, the store advertised heavily in the Fair Haven Register weeks in advance of the Christmas opening and specially decorated the store eagerly exiting the village’s children. “Festoons,” decorated arches and toys such as dolls, skates, mittens, sleds and clothes were all prominently shown. It was the highlight of the season for the children. ---PAGE BREAK--- Robinson and Phillips Store, snow shovels and sleds in front ---PAGE BREAK--- early ad-Robinson and Phillips—1894 ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ad from Phillips and Silliman, during the highlight of their years as “Fair Haven’s Christmas,” 1915 Interior of Robinson and Phillips’ store, “festooned” for Christmas, 1910 ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- The above 1916 ”Shoppers Directory, ”from the Fair Haven Register, advertised almost anything a person could want: C. H. Griggs groceries, who gave free calendars and a gold watch to the “most popular lady…”, Coal, cement, plaster from Turner Coal Company Silverware from J. W. Harrison’s Watches, coffee pots, roasters, etc., from CN Dietel’s Hardware, plus a free calendar, Lumber from F. A. Moss Lumber Co. Rubber footwear from Mendel’s Shoe store A great holiday opening at Robinson and Phillips Choice cuts of meat from Bradley’s market Coal, wood and feed from W. H. Baggs Groceries and coffee from Shackleton’s Clothing, gloves, scarves from Ceppi’s Fresh meat and produce from The People’s Market Some residents mailed out Christmas cards or post cards at the Holidays. The Christmas edition of the Fair Haven Register of 1911 (December 26) a notice appears called the Post Office Directory which explained outgoing mail times: Mails from the Fair Haven Post office close as follows: 7:35 AM—everything going south except Ira Station 11:35 AM—North Fair Haven 3:15 PM—Everything south Thirty years later and 17 days after US involvement began in World War II, a short announcement was placed in the newspaper: the Fair Haven Register stated the Fair Haven Post Office would be closing early, after 9:30 AM on Christmas Day, 1941. Merry Christmas from It’s About Time!