Time Capsule
As reported 44 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News, Thursday, Dec. 22, 1960:
Christmas party held
Under Home Demonstration work, the countywide Christmas party was held at Winfield Community Center on Tuesday. Representatives from the clubs in Evans, Martinez, Harlem Winfield and Appling were present.
New chairs have been installed in the building, and the decorations were very attractive. Mrs. Ralph Dozier gave an interesting Christmas story.
Perfect attendance
Faye and Kaye Cook were recipients of awards for perfect Sunday School attendance at Harlem Baptist Church for four years. This is a record of which they can be proud.
Chief gets watch
H.H. Morris, local groceryman and chief of Martinez's volunteer fire department, received a new watch at the organization's first annual Christmas party Wednesday night at the fire headquarters.
Edward Richey, president of the organization, said the watch was presented to Morris, who has been chief since the unit was organized in 1958, for his "efficient leadership."
Albert Cadle, secretary of the group, was speaker. He praised the organization for the part firemen are playing in making Martinez a progressive community.
Cubs hold party
Harlem Cub Scouts, Pack 61, had their first annual Christmas party, sponsored by the Harlem Rotary Club, at the Harlem Woman's Club on Wednesday night.
At the pack meeting preceding the party, Bud Carter, cub master, presented Bobcat pins to the following boys: Phillip W. Davies, Raymond Fulcher, Jimmie Lewis, Robert Reed, Gordon Saggus, Gregg Sullivan, Terry Surgeon and Mark White.
Wolf achievement badges were awarded to Donald McCurdy and Dennis Whitfield. Donald McCurdy also received gold and silver arrow points. Darrell Wells was awarded the gold arrow point.
Farmers OK quotas
Columbia County cotton growers voting in the referendum on Dec. 13 voted in favor of quotas for 1961.
John M. Price Jr., county office manager of the Columbia ASC County Office, said 100 Columbia County farmers participated in the cotton referendum.
All votes cast were in favor of quotas.
First Christmas cards
One hundred and sixteen years ago, the English educator and art patron Henry Cole asked his friend J.C. Horsely, an artist of the Royal Academy in London, to design a card for him.
On it he wrote the now-classic greeting: "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you."
He printed a thousand lithographed copies, which were then hand-tinted by a professional "colorer."
That December, early in the month, Cole posted some of the cards to his friends and offered the remainder for sale in a London stationers shop. These in all probability were the very first Christmas cards ever printed.