Publisher’s Note: The following article, published in the Jan. 4, 1874 edition of The Prairie Schooner, highlights Marshall’s first community Christmas Eve celebration that occurred a few weeks prior. A portion of this article will be featured in the new book: “The Sesquicentennial: Cultivating 150 Years of History in Marshall and Lyon County.” Books can be ordered for $44.95 by calling The Independent or filling out the form included in an advertisement in today’s paper.

(Jan. 4, 1874) — Congregational Hall was crowded last Wednesday evening, young folks, old folks, and the middle aged having assembled to celebrate the anniversary of Christmas Eve. The occasion proved unusually interesting, and was rendered so not only by the general attendance of young and old, the pleasing variety of exercises, and the profusion of presents which adorned the Christmas tree, but by the fact that this was the first public Christmas gathering in the new town of Marshall.

One year ago, nearly all of the persons composing this assemblage were celebrating Christmas Eve in other and different parts of the Union. Many towns of eastern Minnesota, of Wisconsin, of lowa, Michigan, and Illinois, the old Empire State, the Keystone State, and bonny New England, have representatives here tonight, who spent the Christmas of ’72 among other scenes, where voices more familiar met the ear, and the friends of many years gave kindly greeting. But old friends are left behind, and many new friendships have been formed of those who were strangers but a few short months ago.

Their tastes and opinions, political, social, and religious, differ in many respects, but their ideas of Christmas gatherings are wonderfully the same; hence this merry throng of children, and those who would be children if they could — this Christmas tree, too, laden with presents by the hundred, rivaling, we doubt not, in number and variety, the Christmas gifts of many wealthier and more pretending communities.

Glittering among the wax tapers, and arranged with much taste, are beautiful vases, hanging baskets, chromos, pictures, books, greenbacks, shawls, shoes, gloves, sets of fur, scarfs, bed quilts, boxes, toys, cornucopias, and hosts of other presents, some useful, some ornamental, some comic.

These were handed down by Captain Webster and J. P. Watson, and distributed, according to the address, by several young ladies. As is usual on such occasions, this part of the exercises was attended with much fun and merriment, particularly among the younger people.

As a matter of history as also of general notice, we append a kind of program of the evening’s exercises: A little after six o’clock the audience joined in singing “Coronation” — that best of old church tunes which fashionable choirs have not yet succeeded in rendering obsolete. This was followed by a very appropriate scripture quotation by Johnnie Buchanan. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Spalding. Another appropriate hymn was sung by the audience, which was followed with recitations y Bertie Monroe, Clara Groesbeck, Nellie Canfield, Clarence Jewett, George Buchanan, and Zula Whitney.

An “original” letter from Santa Claus was read by Clarence Jewett. Little Carrie Ward, aged three years, favored the audience with a recitation and song which elicited hearty applause for the wee performer. Allie, and Gracie Watson, aged respectively six, and four years, sang a hymn clearly and distinctly, their father singing bass accompaniment with broken time. The piece was rather difficult, but the little songsters sustained their part with credit. W. Wakeman read an appropriate and well written essay, which was followed by “Hits at the Times” in a pithy essay by W. M. Todd. Rev. Mr. Spalding made some remarks upon the origin and design of the Christmas Anniversary.

Next followed an anthem by the choir, with organ accompaniment by Mrs. Upton. After the Christmas tree was relieved of its burden, the audience was dismissed with singing, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” etc.

All present, we believe, pronounced the affair a decided success. Ten years from now, when Marshall can boast nice churches, inhabitants by the thousands, costly silk dresses, and more than two plug hats, our Christmas trees will doubtless be gotten up in much better style, but we don’t believe they will afford more genuine enjoyment than did that of last Wednesday evening. Lay aside this number of the Prairie Schooner, and ten years hence bring it to light and verify our prediction by instituting a comparison.