Merry Christmas, 111 years ago

 I'm skeptical this issue of the Loveland Reporter was published or mailed to subscribers after Christmas 1907, as the advertisements indicate there was still time left to shop for gifts.  Most readers are going to lose interest after the first couple entries, but I really don't care.  This is what real digitization looks like, as far as following the five steps to success.  Let's compare other methods with our method:

The other guys routinely stop after step #3, or enlist volunteer crowdsourcing to partially carry out step #4.  I doubt if they have ever attempt step #5, or have any interest in attempting it, because that requires a deeper understanding of the source material than they can muster.

For example, if the source material came from the early 1900s, the identities of married women were "hidden" behind their husband's name, i.e., there were almost always Mrs. John Doe, unless or until they became very famous, divorced, or widowed, but even in these cases their identity didn't generally revert to their maiden surname.  In addition, male identities were "masked" by general usage of a first initial and middle initial, rather than full given name.  This is a tremendous problem when the male's surname was quite common, or even relatively common.  As one example, we recently had great trouble identifying the individual responsible for photographs dated 1919 and signed "J.A. Chapman", because there were too many individuals in the United States running around with that name in the early 20th century.  It was only after we extracted his full first name and middle name from related documents did the story of how he acquired these photographs start to make sense.

So we do what we do, without remuneration or thanks.  And the other guys do what they do, or enlist private donors to pay for doing what they do, without stopping to ask why, since we've already done it better.  I've put the word out already, and I'm putting it out again:  The minute you request taxpayer money to carry this redundant and suboptimal effort, I'm going to take out full-page advertisements in both local newspapers, making it clear what a waste of money that would be, given that we can't even get potholes filled without going to the mattresses.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline and subheads:  Minister Denounces The Loveland Saloon.  Termed as the pest house, but must be endorsed until December 1908.  The mayor and five aldermen who are responsible, scored, and aldermen voting against are complimented.  The licensing of the saloon in Loveland by the city council at its last meeting was the matter of discussion in several of the churches at the Sabbath services.  Pastor Brownson of the Baptist church at the morning service made mention of the saloon opening here and stated that it was a disgrace and backward movement, and had caused humiliation to fall upon the citizens who love to obey law and order.  At the evening service, he likened the saloon as Loveland’s pest house that was located on the corner of Fourth and Railroad Avenue, after which he read the protest that the Loveland Reporter had made against the opening of the saloon and followed it by reading from the Loveland Herald of March 19th last [19 March 1907], the taxpayers platform, the pledge said “to control the liquor question to the satisfaction of our citizens and if any party or parties expect upon our election to office that our city will be transformed into a city of saloons, they will be very much mistaken.”  (This is only part of the quotation and was signed by all of the candidates.)  After which he explained the manner in which the people had been led to vote for several of the aldermen on the taxpayers party.  He also said it was a disgrace to our town to have our people misled in this way, as Loveland had set the pace and was the first town in northern Colorado to vote out the saloon and as the last town had just voted out their saloon, the city of Loveland invites it back.  He stated that the publication in the Loveland Herald which was signed by those office seekers and which now has been fulfilled, which led the people to vote for them, was a direct violation and denial of this council, and that it does not represent the people.  He gave Mr. Swan credit for his manly actions while in the council, and also paid J.W. Leibel a fine complement for the stand he had taken against the saloon and for his faithfulness in keeping his word with the voters, but there was no complement paid to the honorable mayor, who has broken his word with the people and, if reports are true, is not likely to be trusted again by those who have placed him in this honorable office.  He mentioned the sugar factory and stated that the managers deplored the placing of the saloon in Loveland.  The other members of the council were not mentioned by Dr. Brownson who said when he became covered with smut that he did not leave it stay there but proceeded at once to wash it off and this, he said, should be done with the saloon, but at best, we are likely to have this pest house until 7 December 1908.  He also wondered how any man who had signed his name to the saloon petition could look a decent man in the face.  After this, the doctor entered into his regular evening service, and his final prayer was that the Lord would keep the people of Loveland from evil.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline:  Be On The Safe Side.  The marshal has been busy the past few days notifying various residents and business houses in regard to ash pits.  The council at their last meeting decided that it was necessary, and the only safe way, to have ash pits erected on all premises, as the careless handling of ashes is always a source of danger.  Thus far, the marshal has notified about twenty-five (25), and is still on the lookout for others who have failed to abide by the ordinance requiring ash pits.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Mrs. Anna Bollman and son Ben from Coal Valley, Illinois, are visiting with Mrs. Anna Bollman’s sisters, Mrs. McMeekin and Mrs. Warnock.  They expect to spend the holidays in this vicinity.  Mrs. Anna Bollman spent a few days at Boulder and was accompanied to this city by Miss Ella Ferguson, who will spend a few days here.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline:  Desired Acreage Nearly Secured.  The committee, appointed last week by the Fruit Growers Association to solicit acreage for string beans, is having remarkable success, and it will probably be but a few days until the required twenty-five (25) acres will be secured.  Saturday, eighteen (18) acres had been contracted, some contracting for one acre but the majority for one-half acre each, as the company will not allow more than one acre to a family.  A.N. Turney and George Bruce were instructed by the association to bring the matter up before the chamber of commerce, but as this body will not meet until in January, Mr. A.N. Turney has been securing the contracts.  The company will install the machinery for twenty-five (25) acres of beans contracted, and would be pleased to have fifty (50).

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline:  Women Of Woodcraft Officers.  At the meeting of the Loveland Circle Number 104 Women of Woodcraft, the following officers were elected:  Guardian matron Mary Coffman, advisor Jennie McFadden, magician Victoria Johnson, clerk May Derby [likely Anna May Derby], banker Pearl Miller, attendant Carrie Jones, inner sentinel W.F. Schoenberg, captain of guards Mabel Davis, musician Julia Davis, and manager Walter Trindle.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline:  Sugar Factory Campaign.  At the sugar factory Sunday evening, the night shift completed grinding 100,000 tons of beets, an average of about 1200 tons per day.  It is expected that about 70,000 more tons of beets will be ground by the end of the present campaign.  Last campaign, 169,000 tons of beets were made into sugar.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Photograph:  Black-bordered landscape oriented documentary image of Loveland High School football team, posed full face with seven players seated cross-legged on the ground with arms also crossed, most wearing dark tops and lighter knee-length pants with long socks, and five individuals standing directly behind the five central seated individuals, again with crossed arms.  The individual second from the left wears a broad-brimmed hat and dark suit with white-collared shirt, and is likely the coach or advisor.  One football is on the ground in front of the central player seated on the ground, another football is on the ground in front of the player on the far right.  A open field is in the midground, with deciduous trees almost devoid of leaves in the background.  The photograph is uncredited.  Caption:  High School Foot Ball Team 1907

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline:   Windstorm Does Damage.  As the result of the severe sandstorm Sunday evening and Monday morning, much damage has been done to new buildings now in course of erection.  A five room house being built on South Monroe Avenue toppled over early Monday morning, and several other small buildings have suffered severely from the storm.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline:  Sugar Laddies Are Hustling.  The Fort Collins sugar factory broke its own record a few days ago and round 1674 tons of beets in the day shift.  This is good work for a 1200-ton factory.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline:  Loveland Grays Win First Game.  The Loveland Grays played their first professional game of basketball in the new opera house block Friday evening, and were victorious in running up a score of 33 to 12 against the Short Course Club of the Agricultural College [the current Colorado State University (CSU)].  There was an exhibition of good team work on the part of the home team, and it was easy playing for the Grays, who have been practicing continually for the past week.  At the end of the first half, the score stood 15 to 7 in favor of the home team, and the second half closed with total of 33 against 12 [sic redundancy].  For the Grays, Martin made the most baskets, ten in all, with Teft making five and Plourde one.  Following was the lineup:  Loveland Grays – Martin left forward, Teft right forward, Patton left guard, Wright right guard, Plourde center.  Short Course – Mathews left forward, A. Johnson right forward, Boyd left guard, Smith right guard, F. Johnson center.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline:  State Teachers’ Association Meets In Denver.  A directors section has been organized in connection with the State Teachers’ Association, that the directors may deliberate upon their own problems and meet with the teachers.  This is an important step in the history of education in this state, and it is hoped that many school directors of Larimer County will attend the meeting of this section and help to make it a success.  The special meeting of this section will occur at the East Denver High School building, Thursday, 2 January 1908.  The program is given below:  A. Problems of city school directors, Mrs. Margaret True, Denver.  B. Discussion.  C. The problems of the rural directors, James Smith, District 16, Adams County.  D. Discussion.  E. The school directors’ relations to their teachers and superintendent, Nelson Franklin, Cripple Creek.  F. Discussion.  G. The relations of directors and superintendents, Katherine M. Cook, Adams County.  Railroad rates, one fare for round trip.  Tickets on sale 30 December 1907, 31 December 1907, and 1 January 1908, limit 6 January 1908.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – W.C. Moore is in Denver this week on business matters…Miss Dorris Bond [sic, Doris Bond?] left Monday morning to visit the balance of the week with friends in Sterling, Colorado.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline:  Street Cars In Fort Collins.  The Fort Collins street cars began operation Saturday morning and are now giving a daily street car service in that city.  Our sister city has been putting on city airs lately and, although in the second class, feel themselves of very much importance, to occupy a seat in the front row.  Success to Fort Collins.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – A number of friends of Mr. an Mrs. Burt Blair agreeable surprised them at their home on Cleveland Avenue Friday evening, leaving a supply of linens and tinware.  The evening was spent in a social way, and the guests departed wishing Mr. and Mrs. Burt Blair all happiness in their wedded life.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Column title:  Obituary.  Mrs. Minnie Swinegar, after a lingering illness aggravated by the accidental death of her son, Benjamin, which occurred over a year ago, and by poor health, died at her home on North Garfield Avenue Thursday morning.  She has been a resident of Loveland for over twenty-five (25) years.  Funeral services were held Friday afternoon from the Presbyterian church at 2:00 p.m., and interment made in Lakeside Cemetery.  She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. W.B. Sutherland and Mrs. Harley Grewell, who were with her at the time of death…The two-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Johnson died Saturday evening at 9:00 p.m. of diphtheria, and was buried in Lakeside cemetery Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m….The two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Bairback died Sunday evening of measles and pneumonia.  Funeral services were held this afternoon.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline:  High School Entertainment.  The program and farce given by the two literary societies of the high school Friday evening were well attended, and the exercises were among the best ever given by the high school.  The play “An Interrupted Proposal” was the best ever given by high school talent in this city, and the individuals composing the cast are deserving of the highest praise.  The following program was given:  Piano solo by Mary Bell Jamieson.  Recitation by Edith Harmless.  Song by Zora Alford.  Quarrel of Brutus and Cassius from Julius Caesar by Autho Gaines and Ralph Dove.  Duet by Jennie Stoddard and Ethel Angove.  Recitation by Alma Mulvaney.  Trio by Abie Pulliam, Zora Alford, and Eunice Charter.  Farce – An Interrupted Proposal by Arlo Bates.  Cast of characters:  Steve Howard, a practical joker – Wesley Dennis.  Samuel Tracy, his friend – Virgil Laune.  Thomas Stone, a householder – Myron McNeal.  Mrs. Stone, his wife – Mary Grewell.  Helen Stone, their daughter – Mayme Collett, Mrs. Ramsey, their next door neighbor – Anna McMahon.  Betty, a maid – Mildred Bell.  Quartet – Ralph Dove, Mr. Rogers, Quinn McCord, Willard Warnock.

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline:  Coal Dealers Change.  The coal and feed business of T.J. Wakefield has been purchased by Cheesebro and Standley, also dealers in coal and feed, and the new firm will occupy the old stand of Mr. Wakefield’s just south of the office now occupied by Cheesebro and Standley at the corner of Fourth and Railroad Avenue.  George Hunter, who was formerly in the coal business with his father, and sold out to the firm of Cheesebro and Standley over a year ago, will again engage in the same line of business and occupy the old stand about the first of January [1 January 1908].

Thursday, 26 December 1907 Loveland Reporter (weekly) – Headline and subheads:  Christmas Time Favorable For Weddings.  Husband saved by purchasing one present for the two celebrations.  Several prominent young people wed, and prospects for a large number of weddings the coming month.  Subhead:  Jean Banks-Edith Belegona.  Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. at the home of the bride’s parents in Windsor, the marriage of Jean Banks and Miss Edith Belegona was solemnized in the presence of a few relatives.  They came to Loveland Thursday and will reside here, where Mr. Jean Banks is interested in business with his father, W.E. Banks…Subhead:  Charles W. Fox-Emma Eugenia Peterson.  Cards are out announcing the marriage on Thursday, December 12th [Thursday, 12 December 1907], of Charles W. Fox and Miss Emma Eugenia Peterson of Los Angeles, California.  Mr. Charles W. Fox, who is one of the competent motormen on the Los Angeles, California, electric railway system, is well and favorably known in Loveland, having lived here a number of years, and receiving his early education in the Loveland schools.  Mrs. Charles W. Fox is a southern California lady, having formerly come from Kansas.  They will be at home at 227 East 30th Street, Los Angeles, California.  Mr. Charles W. Fox and Byron F. Goodwin, well known in Loveland, have been closely associated in business for the past two years…Subhead:  Luther B. Blair-Ella Waddell.  At the bride’s home on East Third Street Thursday evening occurred the marriage of Mr. Luther B. Blair and Miss Ella Waddell in the presence of only the immediate relatives and friends.  The ceremony was performed under a canopy of ferns in the west end of the parlor at 6:00 p.m. by Dr. A.W. Jamieson, and an elegant supper served afterwards.  Mr. and Mrs. Luther B. Blair immediately left for their new home on North Cleveland Avenue, having secured a cozy furnished house for the winter.  Mrs. Luther B. Blair is the daughter of J.M. Waddell and came with her parents several years ago from Pawnee City, Nebraska, where she completed her high school education.  She is very prominent in church work and has a large circle of friends.  Mr. Luther B. Blair has made Loveland his home nearly all his life, and is well and favorably known.  He now occupies the position of assistant cashier in the Larimer County Bank, having been honored with that position the past week after a number of years of faithful work in that bank.  He is a graduate from the Loveland High School and an alumnus of Monmouth College.  They were the recipients of many beautiful and useful gifts, among which were handsome dishes, articles for the household, and numerous other presents.  Out-of-town guests at the wedding were:  S.L. Waddell of Denver, Mrs. Ada Waddell of Greeley, and Miss Minnie Currie of Greeley.  These returned to their homes Friday.  The Loveland Reporter wishes Mr. and Mrs. Luther B. Blair all happiness in their wedded life.