Monroe to Erect Big Christmas Tree in Square, Everyone Will Gather to Sing Carols, Santa to Hand Out Gifts to Children, 1919

From The Monroe Journal, Dec. 9, 1919

Donations Coming In for Big Christmas Tree. . . Community Yuletide Cheer for Little Ones Now Assured. . . If There Are Any Destitutes, Give Their Names in to Santa Claus

Up to the time for going to press this afternoon The Journal had received the following contributions toward the fund started by The Journal Friday for the community Christmas Tree for the children of the city:

Monroe Journal, $10

R.A. Morrow, $25

Miss Gertrude Walsh, 50 cents

Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Roberts, $2

Mrs. A.M. Secrest, $1

J.J. Parker, $5

J.V. Kendall, $1

Mrs. Nan Carlile, $1

Monroe Hardware Co., $25

J.A. Stewart, $5

T.P. Dillon, $5

Dr. J.M. Belk, $10

S.L. Rotter, $1

I.H. Blair, $1

Total, $92.50

Let the ball keep rolling and this stone shall gather moss. All are invited to send in their bit to give the little folks a good time. The Journal wants this “gentle and joyous occasion” to be a real community affair in more ways than one. It wants the community to give it as well as enjoy it.

This paper knows full well that there are almost no destitute in our city now, and that is why it feels so good it wasn’t to join with the kiddies and the whole municipality in shouting and singing and having a genuine good old-fashioned Christmas around the big tree on courthouse square, and listen to the best singers in town chime out in glad chorus the sweet old Yuletide carols of its first childhood, and see old Santa Claus in the center of the courthouse hall shout out the glad tidings to each of the little ones as they pass and leave something in every little hand.

Of course, if there should be any, big or little, who can’t have any Christmas cheer of their own, The Journal wants the committee to know of them.