Thanksgiving in Cambridge 1912

Cambridge was the place to be on the Eastern Shore on Thanksgiving in 1912, because even Governor Phillips Lee Goldsborough was spending the holiday here. But he wasn’t the only one. Captain Richard Insley of Wingate and Miss Laura Thomas of Bishop’s Head were in town. Miss Elizabeth Spedden was visiting her parents on Oakley Street while Mr. and Mrs. Harry Meginnis of Chicago were guests of Mrs. Radcliffe Navy on Choptank Avenue. Everyone was excited for Thursday, November 28th.

The night before, many people had enjoyed the entertainment at the Auditorium: the talented Juggling Parrotts and the Blue Ribbon Trio (“the big laughing show”). For their five cents admission, patrons had also gotten a pair of two-reel photoplay features.

Also, just before the holiday, young George Todd found himself with much to be thankful for, as he was found not guilty of manslaughter in the last important case taken up during the November term of the Circuit Court for Dorchester County. The evidence, as presented by Comptroller Emerson Harrington for the defense, showed that the deceased and his comrades had insulted Todd’s aged grandmother and that his thrashing of them brought about an accidental death. No doubt State’s Attorney Calvin Trice was disappointed at the verdict.

Also disappointed that week was Ernest Tubman, whose new bicycle “Special” had been stolen from him at the oyster house. It had last been seen at Bucktown on Election Day, and the sellers, Slacum Brothers, offered a $3 reward for its return.

But most in Cambridge went into the day with gratitude and joy. Many attended the 11 a.m. service at Zion Church, a special occasion, as representatives from Grace, St. Paul’s, and the Baptist Churches participated in a Union Thanksgiving service officiated by Reverend George W. Wray. It was a fine way to start the holiday.

Then came the big feast. No doubt many families included in their spreads fresh oysters from Mrs. William Price of Water Street (it was the Eastern Shore, after all) and fruits from Dean Bros. Possibly some adventurous cook followed the recipe from 1705 (as reprinted by The Daily Banner) for Queen Anne Mince Pie, which included a large cow’s tongue. The food was likely prepared on a stove purchased from Phillips Hardware Co. or Herbert Hearn’s Hardware, using coal or wood from the Cambridge Manufacturing Company.

So, as the meal began, what was everyone thankful for? Well, lame duck President William Howard Taft offered a suggestion in his “dignified” Thanksgiving proclamation. He said all Americans should feel “strong in the steadfast conservation of the heritage of self-government bequeathed to us by the wisdom of our fathers, and firm to transmit that heritage unimpaired, but rather improved by good use, to our children and our children’s children, for all time to come.”

Furthermore, the Banner editor reminded its readers of the gratitude they should have felt. “How far have we erred from the original Thanksgiving Day, and how much more we have to be thankful for than our pioneer forefathers. We need no guards to protect us from the savage Indians, and no one to fight off the wild beasts.”

He went on to say that “especially should our farmers feel gratified, for this has been an excellent time for the agriculturist, who has been given such bountiful crops. [And] there is plenty of work for energetic and industrious men. The election of a fearless man for President of our country [Woodrow Wilson] gives promise of greater prosperity for 1913, and, lastly, let all the maidens be thankful for Leap Year, and continue to take advantage of it.”

The last, tongue-in-cheek, statement referred to the tradition that, on February 29th, a woman could flip the social rules and ask a man to marry her. He was expected to accept or pay a forfeit (such as gloves, a silk dress, or money) if he refused.

Following the Thanksgiving meal, many men enjoyed a cigar or other kind of tobacco from the Geo. O. Dashiell & Bro. stationery store at the corner of Poplar and Race Streets. During that time, they could reflect on the graces of the past year.

At the same time, they also had to look forward to the next holiday.

“Only one more month before Christmas,” announced the Banner. “Let everyone remember the careworn clerks and . . . aim to complete the shopping early, in order that the ones who are forced to endure rush, may enter upon the holidays devoid of fatigue.” The merchants were then advised: “Advertise early, in order that the public may shop wisely.”

Thanksgiving Day may have felt like a respite for revelers, but the pace never really slowed for the big city of Cambridge in the early part of the 20th century.