A community celebrating the holidays

Published 5:00 pm Monday, November 4, 2019

By Staff Reports

: Christmas shoppers enjoyed the crisp air, holiday decorations and extended store hours as they searched for gifts on a December evening in 1939. The Gamble Store at 116 W. Clark featured a toy sale: a farm tractor set for 59 cents, chemistry set for 79 cents and Play Tone piano for 79 cents. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

: Dr. Clayton Wulff’s window display was ready for the holiday season. Wulff’s shop at 334 S. Broadway featured an eye clinic, jewelry store and camera shop. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

: Lamp posts on Broadway were adored with Christmas wreaths in 1941. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

: Snow enhanced the holiday atmosphere on Broadway. The decorations were made possible by contributions from local businesses in 1931. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

: In 1913, the second public Christmas tree stood at the intersection of Broadway and William Street. Initiated by the Business Men’s League, members, from left, Clint Luce, D.C. Armstrong, Martin Blacklin and Frank Thompson were photographed with the tree. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

: Looking south from the intersection of Broadway and Clark Street, arches of evergreen garland and lights provided a festive canopy for shoppers in 1929. Workers had transformed the business district one cold November night between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

By Linda Evenson

Photos courtesy of the Freeborn County Historical Museum

Members of the Albert Lea Business Men’s League organized the first community Christmas tree celebration. A 15-foot tree, placed at the intersection of Broadway and William Street, was decorated with red, yellow and green lights. On the evening of Dec. 23, 1912, a reported 5,000 people were present for the outdoor celebration. The weather was ideal and fine for sleighing. Many people attended from throughout the county. Fireworks opened the celebration. Next was the arrival of Santa Claus in a white cutter drawn by two white horses. Excited children followed Santa to the Christmas tree, where each child received a bag of candy and an orange.

During the Christmas holiday in 1939, Albert Lea promoted itself as the City of Wreaths. The Chamber of Commerce retail division sponsored the Christmas decorations for the business district. Workers spent several days putting up garlands, streamers, wreaths and lights. Holiday banners adorned the lamp posts on Broadway. On Thanksgiving Day, the decorations were lit for the first time. The Junior Chamber of Commerce held a wreath drive during the holidays. The goal was to have a wreath in the window of every home and business in Albert Lea, to truly make it the City of Wreaths.