Dear Santa in 1912 Part 2

Christmas 1912

Hammond, Ind., Dec 13.
Dear Santa Claus: I am a little girl nine years old. I am so glad it is time for you to come again. I hope you will come to our house. I would like a Christmas tree, sweater, auto hood, two story books. My sister wants a set of furs. My brother would like some electric toys and motors. Please do no forget my mamma and papa, grandma and grandpa. Please don’t forget little Wilson Bond at 45 Ease State Street. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
ALLICE MAY DIXON. (1904-1960)
449 East State street.

Hammond, Ind., Dec. 13.
Dear Santa: Yon were so good to me last year and brought me what I wanted so I thought I would tell you what I wanted this year. Please bring me a pair of earmuffs and mittens and some overshoes so I won’t get cold this winter. I also want a sled so Johnnie Murray and I can go coasting. Bring Georgie Race a sled, too, so we can race. I guess this is all ‘cept lots of candy and nuts for me and Johnnie so’s we can treat the bunch. Yours truly,
TOMMIE STARK
193 Indiana avenue.

East Chicago, Ind., Dec 13.
Dear Santa Claus: How are you? I wanted to see you, but my mother said she had no time t take me. Well, Santa, I want a lot of books and some more films and slides for my moving picture machine. Be sure and bring the poor people something, too. If there is not enough give it all to them. I do not care. Because they are in more need than I am. Your friend,
JULIEN COHN. (1903-1971)

Ease Chicago, Ind., Dec 13.
Dear Santa Clause: You come every year, so I do not want much. Now I guess I will tell you what I want this time. Please bring me a little character doll or a baby bumps doll, a pair of shoes for my big doll, a set of dishes with a chafing dish and four spoons, and some new dresses for my big doll. Please do not forget mamma, papa, brother and the poor people. I guess that is all. Your friend.
MAY LOIS CLARK.

Baby Bumps doll

Hammond, Ind., Dec13.
Dear Santa Claus: I have ordered my things from Santa Claus in the Lion Store, but want to tell you what to bring for my little brother who is three years old. Please bring him a cow that says moo, and a small horse on wheels and a red chicken like I was at the Lion Store, and a story book and a Christmas tree. We will leave the front door unlocked for you. You will find some cake and wine on the stand. I am eight years old and go to school every day.
EVELYN THOMEN.
GEORGE THOMEN.

Kaufman and Wolf’s, Lion Store, boasted 200 feet of frontage on Hohman Avenue. It was eventually purchased by Goldblatt Brothers of Chicago, and renamed. Looking southwest, this was the eventual site of the corner Christmas display window later featured in Jean Shepherd’s “Christmas Story,” on Hohman and Sibley. (1911

Hammond, Ind., Dec. 13.
Dear Santa Claus: I would like a magic lantern, a train on tracks, a motor, a story book, a Christmas tree and a bank. I am eight years old. My name is
SIDNEY BARBER. (1904-1963)
339 Pine street.

Hammond, Ind., Dec. 13.
Dear Santa Claus: I would like a doll, go-ca rt, bank, a story book, nuts, dishes and candy and a Christmas tree. I am four years old. My name is
LUCILLE BARBER. (1908-2004)
339 Pine street.

Hammond. Ind., Dec. I3.
Dear Santa Claus: As one more year has passed since I have seen you I would like to tell you what I would like to have for Christmas. Please bring me a third reader and an automobile bonnet, ink tablet with some pencils and also some handkerchiefs, with some candy and nuts. Thanking you for your past favors and hoping to see you Christmas ever. I am yours truly,
ELEANOR GRIMMER
350 Indiana ave.

Hammond, Ind., Dec 12.
Dear Santa Claus: I am 8 years old. I would like a steam engine and a sled. Malcolm wants a cowboy horse and a rocking chair, and “Virginia wants a set of furs and a muff and bracelet. We have a baby (Harry Newlin) one year old. Will you bring him something? Bye-bye, from
VIRGINIA NEWLIN. (1907-1999)
STANLEY NEWLIN. (1904-1984)
MALCOLM NEWLIN. (1908-1985)
HARRY NEWLIN. (1911-1993)

Malcolm Newlin

Hammond, Ind., Dec. 13.
Dear Santa Claus: This letter is from sister and I. We go to the Irving school. I would like a pair of high-top shoes and a new coat. Sister want shoes also. Brother Arthur want a cowboy suit and Ralph wants an Indian suit, and we all want a Christmas tree and candy and nuts. Don’t forget my dear grandma in California. Tis will be all. From your two little girls.
FLORENCE AND DAISY BAN MERE.
458 Hoffman street. P.S. Don’t forget papa and mamma.

Lowell, Ind., Dec. 12.
Dear Santa Claus: I am a little boy five years old but go to school every day. I wish you would bring me a drum, a train, a book, a horn, a popgun, a real live monkey, a cowboy suit. Please don’t forget my little brother Gilbert (1910-1977). Bring him a boat, some blocks and candy and nuts for both of us.
Yours truly,
LAVERNE MCNAY. (1907-1995)
P.S. Santa, if you haven’t the cowboy suit please mark it off. Don’t forget our Christmas tree.

Laverne McNay

Hammond, Ind., Dec. 16.
Dear Santa Claus: As I am the youngest of our family, I am my mamma’s baby. So I must write to you so you will not forget us this year as we have moved into a very large house. Dear Santa, as I would not like to have you come down the chimney as we always keep a large fire in the furnace so please come in the back door and leave our things in the dining room as the sitting room and parlors are polished floors and I would not like to have them marked up. Dear Santa, as I have most everything I need I will not ask you to be liberal with me this year. But please, dear Santa, don’t forget my sister Bernice and my dear mamma and brother Eddie. Don’t forget my dear Aunt Ester and Uncle Will. Aunt Ester has been a cripple and in bed for 21 years. Mamma took me and sister for a visit to the orphan’s home this summer. There were about three hundred children there and I felt awfully sorry for them. So please, dear Santa, don’t forget to visit them, and then if you have anything left leave me some candy and nuts. From your little girl.
FLORENCE KROER.
292 Truman avenue.

East Chicago, Ind., Dec. 16.
Dear Santa: 1 go to St. Mary’s school and 1 am a good little boy, so I don’t want you to forget and not stop at my house. I would like a horn, a teddy bear and a wagon for my teddy bear, and my sister Helen is a good little girl and she wants a pastry set, a doll, folding table, three little chairs and a high chair for her doll. Goodbye, dear Santa, hoping to find you Xmas eve, and don’t forget the candy and nuts and a Christmas tree. Your friends.
HELEN (1907-?) AND MICHAEL GORMAN (1904-1975).
4520 Baring avenue.

Hammond, Ind., Dec. 16.
Dear Santa: I am a little girl nine years old. I go to All Saints school. What I would like for Christmas: I would like a big doll and two story books and two games and some candy and nuts for Christmas and new shoes. My size Is 12. Well, I think that is all. Don’t forget the poor children and don’t forget mamma and papa. Goodbye,
Santa, from
STELLA M’NALLY. (1902-1990)
450 Sibley street

Crown Point, Ind., Dec. 16.
Dear Santa Claus: I would like you to bring me a set of furs, dark brown, and a pair of ball bearing skates and a gold bracelet and a few doll dresses and a pair of pale blue ribbons and some pink ones and some tall kid gloves and a nice handkerchief and some nuts and candy, and that will be enough for this time. I am 8 years old.
Your loving girl,
ILLA BELLE AINSWORTH. (1903-1983)

Hammond, Ind., Dec. 16.
Dear Santa Claus: As all the girls and boys are writing to you I thought that I would like to have a set of black furs and a Christmas tree and a lot of candy and nuts, a big doll with furs, a pair of kid gloves with fur on the top. I will hang my stockings where you can se them. Do not forget my sister. She wants a big doll and a buggy and a piano, a little stove and a Christmas tree and a set of dishes, a set of black furs and a cradle. This is all for this time. Do not forget the poor children. Good-bye with love,
RUTH (1902-1971) AND MILDRED (1907-?) KENNEDY.

Hammond, Ind., Dec. IS.
Dear Santa Claus: As Christmas is coming soon I thought I would write and tell you what I would like for Christmas. I would like a little highchair for my doll, a little cradle, a little doll that goes to sleep. If you have a Christmas tree to spare bring it to my house and a nice story book. That is all. Good-bye Your little girl.
ESTHER PRUGH (1906-1992)

Esther Prugh-Paschen

Saxony, Ind., Dec. 18.
Dear Santa: As all the other children have written their letters, I thought to write my letter. I would like a pair of shoes, a new white silk dress for my doll. Please bring a yard and a half of white silk dress goods. Santa, please do not make it because I can make it. I have a doll pattern and a cape. I would like a dresser. Santa, could you bring me a doll’s hat? Please bring me a nice set of dishes with gold border on It. Please bring my mamma a nice apron and a cap. Please bring my papa a box of cigars. I think this is all for this time. I forgot the nuts and candy and a Xmas tree. Good-bye. From your dearest friend.
MARIA C. KNOERZER. (1904-1939)
P. S. Please bring my dear old grandma something for Xmas.

Whiting. Ind., Dec. 18.
Dear Santa Claus: I want a blackboard and a baby doll and a little stove with some kettles on It and a little dresser and some little chairs and a table and some nuts and candy, and don’t forget my little brother and sister.
Your friend truly,
EDNA GEHRKE. (1905-2002)

Hammond. Ind., Dec. 18.
Dear Santa Claus: I will write and tell you what I want for Xmas. I go to the Riverside school. My teacher is Miss Ward. I am in the fourth grade. I would like a toy piano, a china closet for my dishes, a story book, a highchair for. my dolly, two yards of ribbon for my dress and a big Xmas tree. Please do not forget grandpa. He lives out In the country. Please do not forget mamma and papa. Bring them something, and some nuts and candy. Wishing you a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year. Your little friend.
LUELLA HENRIETTA LUSCHER. (1903-1941)
207 Logan street.

Hammond, Ind., Dec. 18.
Dear Santa Claus: As Xmas is drawing near, I will write and tell you what I want for Xmas. I would like you to bring me a watch or an overcoat, also a story book, whatever you have left. Lots of nuts and candy and oranges and a large Xmas tree. Do not forget mamma and papa. Bring them something, too. Wishing you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. I remain your true friend.
ELMER LUSCHER. (1902-1960)
207 Logan street.

Hammond, Ind., Dec. 18.
Dear Santa Claus: I want a pair of gum boots, a tool box, a pair of gloves, a sweater, story books and I will hang my stocking In the tame old place, and wish you to fill it to the top. Don’t forget our little brother Manfred. He wants some blocks, a horse, not a big horse, and a horn. This will be all for this time. Do not forget the poor, Santa Claus. Your friend.
LAWRENCE GARDNER. (1904-1997)
MANFRED GARDNER. 1911-1986)