CHRISTMAS IN ANGOLA 1936

CHRISTMAS SEASON OPENS ON SATURDAY

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Merchants Plan Elaborate Decorations and Entertainment for Yuletide Season
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Stores Are Prepared

Angola's annual holiday trade opening will take place next Saturday, Dec. 5th, and the stores are now busy placing their stocks and are being transformed with Christmas decorations into places of Yuletide attractiveness.  One who makes an investigation will find that the stocks are comparable to those found in the large cities, and the effort made to care for the local trade suggests a response on the part of the purchasing public, especially in consideration of the fine program of decorations and entertainment that have been planned.

Beginning with next Saturday,, free motion picture matinees will be given for children at the Brokaw Theater at 2:00 o'clock.  It is suggested that parents leave their children there as proper chaperonage will be provided while the older folks are shopping.

Santa Claus will be here each Saturday and will have a treat for the children on the last Saturday.

For the older folks, entertainment has been provided as well, as there will be a grand gift distributions to all Christmas shoppers on Saturday Dec. 12, 19, and Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 3:00 P.M.

Christmas Decorations Planned

Angola is known from coast to coast for the elaborateness of its public Christmas decorations.  Angola merchants plan this year to maintain the high standard of former years, and the Angola Garden Club will add to the program its Yuletide Home Decoration Contest.  Large Christmas trees will be placed on the public square this week, and the lamp posts will be decorated with colored stars.  Next week the lamp posts will be transformed into Christmas trees, and many business places will place trees about their store fronts.  With a program of entertaining events Angola should ooze the Christmas spirit freely.

It is not out of place to remind the citizens that mush of this fine work is due to the enterprise of the local merchants and they should be remembered when Christmas purchases are planned.

Steuben Republican  December 2, 1936

CITY ADORNED IN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
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Public Square Ablaze with Many Colored Lights and Christmas Greens
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GIFTS ON SATURDAY

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Angola, known far and wide for its beautiful Christmas Decorations, is again garbed in resplendent lights and yuletide greens.  The Christmas spirit is manifested in the decorations continued into the store windows, and those which are beginning to appear in other parts of the city.

The illumination of the public square, with the strands of colored lights from the tip of the monument to the four light posts, it's festooned circles around the mound. it's four great Christmas trees, all filled with colored lights and mounted with huge stars, causes visitors to stop and comment and travelers will carry visions of the scene far and wide.

The Christmas trading season opened formally last Saturday.  The stores were gaily decorated. Groups of school children sang Christmas carols about the streets during the evening.

No decorations however can compare with the fine stock of Christmas gifts arranged for the convenience of the shoppers.  Many have spoken of the fine selection, of the zeal which the merchants have shown in meeting their customers needs, and the fine community spirit shown in decorating the city all of which, it is suggested, merits patronage at home.

Gift Distribution Next Saturday

Next Saturday afternoon will occur the first of three holiday gift distribution events.  Shoppers are given tickets without charge, which will entitle them to participate in the event.  The gift distribution will take place at 3:00 0'clock.

Free picture shows will be offered at Brokaw's Theatre on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm.  This is doe the children.  Shoppers may leave their children here under chaperonage furnished, and do their Christmas trading.

A cordial greeting awaits all visitors to the local stores.  You are asked to look over the stocks and see what fine offerings are available.

Steuben Republican December 9, 1936

OLD TIME PHOTOS #5

    This photo was taken in 1881                                 Courtesy of Mrs. George Beard

(1) Jennie Gale was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Gale.  She became the wife of Frank Killinger, and some years since moved to Toledo, where she still lives. 

(2) Della Rice was a daughter of the late D. Rice, is now the wife of Judge Emmet A. Bratton, lives in this city and is well known to many of the Herald readers.

(3) Frank B Olmstead, when a young man was a clerk in the Williamson & Coe Hardware store, which was in the room now owned by Milton Brokaw and occupied by James Finch's billiard room. Frank left Angola twenty or more years ago and went to Chicago, where he engaged in the book publishing business.

(4) Vella Gale was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Gale.  She is now Mrs Mrs Newell Lewis and resides in on West Maumee Street.  She has always lived in this county or city.

(4) Alma Coe was a daughter of W. D. Coe, who was for some years engaged with I. N. Williamson in the hardware business in this city, but moved later to Chicago, and from there to California.  Alma married a Mr. Knapp, and that is all we have been able to learn of her.

(6) Ora Rice, another daughter of the late Dr. Rice and sister of Della Bratton, married George Beard and lived in this city most of her life.  Of late years she has several times changed her residence, but now lives in the city of Fort Wayne.  She, too, is well known in this city and county.

(7) Ruth Coe, another daughter of W. D. Coe, went west with family.

(8) Charles Ward, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Ancil Ward, lives on a farm near Coldwater, Mich., and is recognized as a progressive and influential citizen.  He is the brother of Walter Ward.

(9) Elsie Morse Scoville was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. David Scoville and lived with them in this city until she was married to Frank Owen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Owen.  During the summer seasons, Mr. and Mrs. Owen with their two children live on the farm, near Crooked Lake, but spend the winters in their comfortable home on West Broad Street.

(10) Stella Parish, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Parrish, is now the wife of W. G. Cary, the blacksmith, and lives in this city.

(11) Alice Ward was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ancil Ward, and sister of Charles and Walter Ward, and of Mrs. Jacob Mountz.  She is now Mrs. Ira Thomas, of near Edon, Williams County, Ohio.

(12) Mary Carmony was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Carmony.  She married a J. W. Cook and is living in Wilson, Kansas. She was a sister of Perry Carmony, who lives in the south part of this city.

(13)  Orville Goodlae - well, who don't know Orville Goodale.  He has been county clerk, city councilman and is now at the head of Goodale & Goodale Abstract firm.  He is a big bodied, big hearted, whole souled and good natured citizen, but not quite as handsome as when this photo was taken.

Angola Herald Wednesday July 26 1911

GEORGE E. LIBEY OBITUARY

George E. Libey

George E, Libey was born in Richland County, Ohio, January 15, 1838, and died at his home in Hudson, Indiana, April 24, 1902, aged 64 years, 3 months and 9 days.

George E. Libey

In 1847 he moves with his parents to DeKalb County, this state, which was at that time almost a wilderness.  In 1870, he moved to Steuben County, where he has since resided. He was married to Matilda Houser, January 20, 1861.  To this union was born eleven children, eight sons and three daughters.  Four of the children preceded him to the land of rest.  Three died in infancy, and the eldest son, Franklin, about eighteen months ago.  Mr. Libey was converted to God in 1878. uniting with the United Brethren church.  HE was true to the church of his choice and remained faithful until death.  His end was that of the perfect man - a peaceful end.

The church has lost a faithful member, the wife a kind and loving husband and the children a fond father.  But their loss is his eternal.  He leaves a companion, seven children, three sisters, two brothers, sixteen grandchildren and many friends,  Funeral services were held at the U. B. church in Hudson, Sunday April 27, at 10:00 o'clock, conducted by Rev. A. H. Tussing.

SPECIAL RITES UNITE COUPLES IN GYPSY CAMP

Three-Day Festivities Observed Here in Colorful Wedding

Three days of joyous festivities last weekend marked the celebration of a double wedding in the local camp of gypsies, which is under the leadership of Steve Zeko.  The wedding occurred at the gypsy camp at the Round-up near the Ohio state line on US 20.

Sunday morning the festivities began with Marie and Anna Johnson, two sisters, as the brides, and Robert Miller and Steve Peet, who are cousins, the bridegrooms. The Brides were dressed in billowy white gowns, floor length, with white sashes.  Each wore finger-tip length ceils with head dress of lace decorated with flowers and colorful ribbon streamers.

 

At noon a feast was prepared in one of the tents.  The feast commenced with the official announcement of the marriage and was followed by toasts to the tow couples.  a loaf of bread was cut in two and the soft part taken out.  Salt was put into the cavity and then it was passed around the table and each guest at the wedding placed a substantial cash wedding present inside the hollow loaf.

 

A pig and a quarter of beef were barbecued on a long pole spit over a fire and then placed in the center of the table.  Other parts of the dinner included bread, a gypsy salad, special native hot sauce for the meat, relish and celery.

 

Following the feasting and toasting to the couples, the afternoon was spent in dancing in the open field to an orchestra, secured for the occasion. Couples danced in American style with some of the younger ones "jitterbugging."  Frequently the group would gather in a native dance somewhat like the American square dance, with everyone singing and swaying to stirring gypsy airs.  All of the women of the tribe were dressed in their most colorful billowy dresses.

 

Visitors from outside of the group  who attended the celebration were made welcome, and were solicited for fortune telling fees.

 

Shortly before six in the evening the orchestra led a grand procession finally depositing each of the brides at their new homes.

 

The gypsy ceremonies and celebration continued for three full days during which time the brides wore their wedding dresses. Then they discard their wedding veils and place on their head scarfs which indicated that they were then married women.

 

Steve Zeko, head of the tribe, said that they pay taxes in Steuben County and consider this their home and are proud to be citizens of Steuben County and Indiana.  To conform to the civil ceremony customs , he said, a civil marriage ceremony will be performed after the gypsy rites have been completed. 

 

About 100 gypsies from the tribe of more than 100 of which Steve Zeko is the head, were presnt at the ceremony.  The brides and bridegrooms were all members of the tribe,  It was reported that a dowry of between $5,000 and $6,000 was given by the fathers of the two young bridegrooms to the father of the brides.

 

When one guest asked where the couples were going on their honeymoon, a wise old member of the tribes grinned and said, "Every day is a honeymoon.  Tomorrow, or next week, whenever they choose, they may go to California, Florida, or eastern cities as they desire.  The gypsy is free to go when and where he pleases, so every day is a honeymoon to him.