A Look Back: Century Christmas In The 1930’s

December 25, 2013

Here’s a look back at Christmas past for the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company and what is now Century.

In the top photo, Mr. James H. Jones is seen giving out presents to Alger-Sullivan Lumber Co. employee children in the 1930’s. By the 1940’s, this practice had been discontinued, but Mr. Hauss always sent some families a tin of dates from California. The company always seemed to be interested in keeping families together and satisfied, although when it came to the job, it was hard-nosed about making sure the workers gave a day’s work for a day’s pay.

The picture  below depicts a scene in December 1936 from one of the logging camps in the woods where races were mixed on the job, despite the attitude towards segregation. Here you see two of the bosses, Fred Gilmore and Mr. Luke Earl (with glasses), a somewhat beloved woods foreman, and a group of workers and children observing Santa Claus as he holds a little boy at their Christmas gathering. Several of the children are clutching their little bags of goodies, probably candy and some trinkets, that Santa had passed out earlier. It’s not know what purpose the wash pot, if any, played in the festivities.

Photos courtesy the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society (top) and Photo by Fischer (bottom) for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “A Look Back: Century Christmas In The 1930’s”

  1. jackdin on December 25th, 2013 8:33 pm

    Lol they did like us

  2. Ron on December 25th, 2013 1:53 pm

    Congratulations on a great article and pictures. Just think in in less than 10 years many of those young men would be fighting for their lives in places with names like, Iwo Jima, the Lingayen Gulf, Anzio, Bastogne, Ploesti, and Leyte to name a few. At home their families, wives and girlfriends would be doing their part to support the war effort. Imagine hearing “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” on the radio at that time. This was truly a remarkable generation to survive the Great Depression, sacrifice to win a World War and make the United State of America a world leader.

  3. GLENDA R WALSTON on December 25th, 2013 10:41 am

    I REMEMBER IN THE 60′S THEY GAVE OUT TOYS AT CENTURY HIGH SCHOOL.I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.

  4. CW on December 25th, 2013 8:07 am

    That’s a scary looking Santa! LOL

  5. Big Red on December 25th, 2013 7:17 am

    Nice bit of history. But the Santa looks creepy in that bottom photo, I guess that’s why that baby is probably thinking hurry up and put me down. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

  6. Robert S. on December 25th, 2013 6:52 am

    It is called, “Community”……

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News