Christmas in the County - 1914

How was Christmas spent at the House of Refuge, the County Jail, and local hospitals in 1914?

By Liz Dommasch, Archivist

With Christmas soon approaching, I thought it might be interesting to post the following article from the Woodstock Sentinel-Review dated December 28, 1914, that talks about Christmas spent at the House of Refuge, the jail, as well as some of the local hospitals:

"Christmas Cheer was Liberally Dispensed

Various institutions were treated to special feasts and gifts, and the poor of the city were not forgotten.

Woodstock’s poor and needy, her sick and her unfortunate were not forgotten in all the excitement and celebrating on Christmas Day, and the holiday, it is stated, was one of the most enjoyable ever spent by the inmates of the public institutions in this city, the House of Refuge, hospitals, jail, etc.

In the House of Refuge, the inmates never fared better than they did on Christmas Day, 1914. The Sentinel-Review was informed Saturday of course the usual Christmas dinner was served and the old people were treated to a bountiful supply of goose and turkey and the other good things which help to make the day one long to be remembered. In addition, Santa Claus dropped off bag after bag of gifts and presents for the inmates and each person received something which helped to make like within the institution happier and more cheerful.

At the gaol, the prisoners sat down to a fowl dinner which could not be surpassed. They were also treated to other luxuries including oranges, cakes, nuts, and tobacco all of which helped to make this Christmas the biggest ever.

At the General Hospital and at the Hospital for Epileptics the patients are usually remembered by kind friends throughout the city and county and many a ward was made cheerful because of the remembrances sent by those whose thoughts were of the sick and unfortunate.

Throughout the city, the poor and needy were not allowed to pass the day unnoticed and charity workers were busy all day long distributing Christmas cheer to those who needed it. Members of the Vansittart Chapter Daughters of the Empire, distributed ten baskets of groceries, meats, etc. among the needy while many of the church organizations were also busy carrying on the good work."

Today, there are still those that need assistance this holiday season in the county. The Holiday Sharing Guide is a partnership between Oxford County, InformationOxford.ca, 211 Ontario, and United Way Oxford. It offers a comprehensive listing of local donation drives and is a resource for residents looking to either give or get help this season.

For more information please visit: https://www.informationoxford.ca/index.php/sharing

An old Christmas card from the Lindsay Collection at the Oxford County Archives [COA65]

A call for tenders for supplies at the Oxford County Jail, including bread, meat, milk, molasses, oatmeal, soap, and brooms. - 7 December 1914.

Staff posing on the front verandah of the former Epileptic Hospital in Woodstock, Ontario. [J. Gruszka PC 0699]

The former House of Refuge in Woodstock, Ontario, 1910. [J. Gruszka PC 0737]