History of Dimestore Christmas Village Houses

This article appeared in The Collector's Weekly and I decided to share. I have sold many of these thru the years and could usually guess age by looking at them but this now confirms. Thats what I love about Antiques and Collectibles, there is always something to learn.
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The American “Five and Dime” and the mail-order catalog had grown into national institutions between the 1880′s and World War I, but the truly “Great Golden Age” of the American Dimestore Christmas occurred between the two Great Wars: World Wars I & II.

Two names are foremost to be credited with the origins of our American Christmas holiday trappings: The Butler Brothers of Chicago, who in the 1860s invented the concept of the low-priced open display counter from which all “dimestores” sprang; and F.W. Woolworth, who went abroad and provided product encouragement and a vast marketplace – first to the German and then to the Japanese holiday and toy industries, enabling both to bloom and thrive.

Prior to WWI, most everything toy and holiday was German. Traveling Europe extensively in the 1890s in search of merchandise for his stores, Woolworth came upon a small glass Christmas ornament cottage industry in the Thuringen Valley region of Germany, sent some home for a trial, and the rest is history. Germany was already famed for cheap and charming toys and cuckoo clocks, but America had not seen the glass Christmas tree ornaments. Demand was instantaneous and insatiable. The words “German” and “Christmas” became synonymous.
WWI changed everything. Even several years before America entered the fray, the supply of German goods became unreliable and then totally dried up. Woolworth again set out for foreign shores, but in the opposite direction – this time to Japan, with whom we were not at war. There he did what he had done in Germany some 20 years before.

It is fascinating to speculate on the obstacles he surely had to overcome, trying to communicate the kinds of things he wanted to a vastly different culture that had had no idea of Christmas whatsoever. Germany was long steeped in Christmas traditions and had practically invented the Holiday, but to the Japanese it was alien and new. History proves F.W. did it, somehow, but the curious aesthetic nature of so many of the Japanese items from those times remains of never-ending fascination to collectors.

In the 1920′s, as inexpensive series lights lit up the average American Christmas tree with blazing color, the middle-class American Christmas came alive with unprecedented electric light and sparkle. Delighted to discover the sheer size of their new marketing opportunities, the Japanese expanded explosively into all holiday product areas and were anxious to sell to anybody. F.W. had no monopoly, and soon Japanese Christmas goods were to be found in every “five-and-dime,” the department stores, and mail-order houses.

Thus, the phrase “Made in Japan” came into the American common vocabulary in the “Roaring Twenties,” and German things began to creep back in again during that decade. The Great Depression, for all its strife, was absolutely rich with Christmas – to say nothing of radio, fabulous cars and electric trains and talking motion pictures. If you had a job and money in the 1930s – and 75% of the workforce did – you had an unprecedented cornucopia of wonderful things to choose from.
Cardboard Village Houses Arrive: The Prewar Period

Sometime around about 1927-28, the ever-innovative Japanese came up with the little cardboard houses – a logical, but brilliant outgrowth of the candy/surprise-box houses they’d been making for some time. Colorful and delightful “eye-candy” on those open counters, they were an immediate sensation, hitting the American Christmas with all the impact that bubble lights enjoyed post-war.

There was such an explosion of creative genius and innovation put into these little dimestore notions that it is hard to comprehend! So many different kinds came out in such a short amount of time! Such creative and imaginative – sometimes even bizarre designs and handwork - produced in staggering quantities by virtual slave labor in conditions of abject misery.
It was unbelievable what you could buy for a quarter or a dime, so blissfully unaware what great suffering lay behind our delight in bright and inexpensive things. But they have forever made a place in the Christmas memories and traditions of so many American families. And like so many things we’ve loved – we did not begin to appreciate them ’till they were gone …or the untold thousands who produced our dimestore reveries in long days of misery and toil.
The End of an Era

The period of the truly finest houses was less than ten years. By 1937, war was looming in minds everywhere. The trend was toward the “realistic,” and one sees it in the toys and model trains. Less the whimsical bright fantasies of earlier that decade, they were becoming models, now, and trending ever more toward scale and accurate detail. We had to be “realistic,” now. Put the childish fantasies away and view the dark clouds burgeoning with the clearest kind of eye.

Through the War and to the present day, Christmas village houses have continued in some form. They make some really nice ones even now, but it is not the same. The innocence and simplicity of those first Golden Days” when they were bright and newly born can never really be again.

Sears Wishbook Catalog 1949

The 1950-1955 Era Houses were made bigger

1955 Sears Wishbook Catalog

The COTTON-TOPPERS
Some of the largest and nicest pieces of the "Last Hurrah" are the COTTON-TOPPERS. These are definitely postwar, but harken back to some of the sizes and earliest structural features of the prewar - and also especially the figures and cotton-batting roofs which were commonly found on '20's candy-boxes. Some of the churches are remarkably large and resplendent and some are of wholly new design. The huge church rear center is 15" tall! The Cotton-Topper group is very heavy on large churches. I am not sure of the exact year, but it's a big part of that "Last Hurrah" of the mid '50s. Right now I'm betting on 1955.
The 1960's:

This is where it ends - in the 60's-
-like one of those rivers that runs out into the desert , growing thinner and thinner- and finally just disappearing into the sand..........
I guess when you think about it, they didn't fit with Eammes and Danish Modern furniture. "MOD" clothes and all that slick, urbane stuff on TV. They were anything but "cool" as it was thought of then.

Also in the 60's you started seeing sets that lit up.

Here is the later version.

In the mid 60's thru 1970's th Italians came out with their version, not called Alpine Village. The Italian village set shown below is remarkable in that the covers are all light cardboard,the tiny buildings quite interesting and well detailed in and of themselves. But the box says "Genuine Italian Novelty "Lights". Though they do make a cute little town under a small table-top tree. The only problem is that the buildings are so light that the stiffness of the wire makes it difficult to set them level and looking right and have them stay that way.

How Does Yours Stand ?

Christmas Tree Stands of Old and current Trends

Retro Metal Decorated Base

Large Crock Mixing Bowl with Tabletop Tree

Turn of the last century thru the 19teens Cast Iron base

Galvanized Tub







Whatever you use,an artificial tree,a live tree,or a replantable tree, there are all kinds of options available as to the base that you use. Currently there is a trend to use the old standbyes,such as an iron base,but many other old antique and retro items are being used as well.
Galvanized,copper,and wood buckets,large sturdy baskets,old garden urns---or if you have small tabletop trees you use smaller versions of items listed and add to the creativity using crock bowls etc.
Recycling/Repurpose thats the trend. Love Love Love that.
I'm sharing these photos not just to try to convince you to purchase old and wonderful items (but why not) but to get your creative juices going.
Enjoy and be different and unique in your holiday decorations.

>Old Garden Urn

Wood Bucket,
Crock Bowl,
and Galvanized Bucket

Another Retro Metal Base

One more example of Garden Urn and
Galvanized Buckets

Christmas Past

Photos of Christmases of the past

Stereoption 1889

Stereopticon 1897

1900 Wilbur&Orville Wright Tree (notice plain paper&ribbon ties)

1902 Broadway-Volunteers Of America Santa on Street

1920's Children at Christmas Tree

1920's Boy at Christmas Toy Window

Another 1920's Store Display Window

1920's Whole Corner Decorated Tree

1920's Tree with elaborate village and train around base

Another 1920's Tree with elaborate base

1931 the 1st Rockefeller Center Tree

1930's Home Tree and Girl

1930's close up Train decor around Tree

1940's Children around Tree

1941 Store Display of Tree&House Lights

1941 Scene in Woolworths

1942 Macys Santa

Another 1940's scene in Woolworths

1950's Tree with Elaborate Details around base and possibly rotating Tree

Advice from Santa Claus ?

You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Cry, You Better not Pout,
I'm Telling You Why.
Santa Claus is coming to Town!!
He's making a list and he's checking it twice. Gonna find out who's naughty or nice.
Santa Claus is coming to Town!!

I HEARD TELL HE ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT YOU

Shift your Shopping is a collaboration of local business networks across North America asking everyone to support Locally Owned and Independent Businesses this Holiday Season. As customers, we are about to collectively spend a large portion of our annual shopping budget between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31

If you join us and Shift Your Shopping to locally owned, independent businesses, we’ll all generate 2-3 times as much economic activity in our community than if we had spent our money at a national chain.

Across North America, that could mean billions of dollars of economic impact.

Holidays

In the Hustle and Bustle of the Holiday Season that we all experience,take a moment or two for yourself.
Of all the things we do or want to do we sometimes become stressed,therefore not able to fully enjoy the fruits of our labors. Sometimes we are disappointed in the end if things do not happen as we had planned or wished.
Know this,we are loved and appreciated by someone even if not told so by those we love. Sometimes we have a profound affect on others by our actions that we do not even realize.
Be sure to show your love and appreciation to those you come in contact with,because if you give freely and from the heart this season you will feel the warmth.

A BIG THANK YOU---EXCITING TIMES

I just want to take a moment to give hugs,kisses,and thanks to all who sponsored,honored,and participated in all of, or even part of, all the things that were happening in downtown New Albany Last night.
In case you missed out here is what all was happening.
Importance of Localism with AMIBA's Jeff Milchen
Jeff Milchen, co-founder of the American Independent Business Alliance
(AMIBA) and a leading advocate for community-based businesses, will
speak at the River City Winery, 321 Pearl Street on Friday and
Saturday, October 28th and 29th in New Albany.

Strength in Numbers Workshop with AMIBA's Jeff Milchen
Milchen will offer a
provocative presentation illustrating the economic and civic
importance of sustaining a strong base of local, independently-owned
business. He’ll provide numerous success stories of programs developed
to support community-based businesses and keep them thriving in the

Enjoy a New Albany Evening of Art, Music, Localism and Sustainability!
*Opening Reception for "Powering Creativity: Air, Fuel, Heat", 6:00-8:00 pm at the Carnegie Center, presented with Ohio Valley Creative Energy

*Deinstallation Celebration for "Brew History: All Bottled Up", 6:00-8:00 pm, New Albanian Brewing Company Bank Street Brewhouse, across Bank St. from the Carnegie Center

*Unveiling of NABC's IX – Ninth Anniversary Ale, an Imperial Smoked Chocolate Port Barrel Stout, in honor of their 9th anniversary of brewing

*New book "Sculpture and Design With Recycled Glass" available, featuring "Brew History: All Bottled Up". For sale courtesy of Destinations Booksellers, which is celebrating 7 years in New Albany in October 2011

*Presentation and Discussion on Localism and Independent Businesses, 7:00 pm, River City Winery, 321 Pearl St.

*After Party in the NABC Parking Lot, Featuring Music by Toledo Bend (courtesy of The Dandy Lion) 8:00 pm


On Oct. 28, you can help NABC say goodbye to Leticia Bajuyo’s “Brew History: All Bottled Up.”


It’s time for NABC to bid a fond farewell to Leticia Bajuyo’s “Brew History: All Bottled Up,” the New Albany Public Art Project Bicentennial Series installation commemorating New Albany’s breweries and taverns.
It’ll be no ordinary wake, because in the process of honoring Leticia and her creation, we’ll be weaving together elements of art, recycling, alternative energy, localism … and plenty of beer.
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I have been a believer in the concepts and beliefs of the benefits of buying local in an individuals local community for just over a year now. I have made many postings on our facebook page and here on this blog about such matters. The posts on this blog are still here to read for any understanding or benefits thereof of this national trend to come back to the importance of our own individual communities for strength and growth. SOOOOO I will not chatter about the benefits of BUY LOCAL today but share what occured and was a successful evening.

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I just recently became a board member of New Albany First but have supported it from the day of conception because I so strongly know and believe in what it is trying to accomplish. Here is a copy of the letter New Albany First's Director Andy Terrell wrote;

Localism
by New Albany First on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 6:30am

New Albany is a city of entrepreneurs. That's the base idea that New Albany First, New Albany's Independent Business Alliance, uses as our foundation. An independent business alliance is not just a "buy local" organization although educating the public on the benefits of supporting locally-owned, independent businesses is a primary goal. An IBA is an organized group of entrepreneurs banding together to raise awareness, promote education and foster an atmosphere of working together to make their community better.

As New Albany First organized, we realized that one way we could help was by hosting seminars and speakers that could promote the importance of localism and encourage prospective independent business owners. In recent weeks, we've started a seminar series with local business owners telling their stories, good and bad, and explaining their passion for what they do. The conversation has been fascinating and we will continue that conversation in the coming months.

We're also bringing in Jeff Milchen, the co-founder of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA). Jeff will be giving a talk on Friday night, October 28th starting at 7 pm at the River City Winery in New Albany. He'll be speaking about the importance of localism with a question and answer session to follow. Then, on Saturday morning the 29th at 10:00 am, Milchen will present his workshop "Strength in Numbers" which will look at how organized IBA's and other groups can work in their community. If you intend to come to the workshop, we urge you to also attend Friday night's talk as both events work in conjunction. Both events are free and open to the public.

On behalf of the board of directors for New Albany First, we're very pleased to be able to bring Jeff to New Albany, especially now when localism has become such a hot topic in our area. We hope to see many of our fellow southern Indiana residents attend. New Albany is a city of entrepreneurs. We at New Albany First urge you to think about that and to "be local.".

Andy Terrell
Director, New Albany First
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For more information please visit their link and go to the info page for details of the mission.

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This is not just about local independent businesses or the growth of downtown New Albany. It is so much more. It is about the Vitality of our Community as a whole. The Richness of being a successful community for all of us who choose to live and prosper here. The Benefits to all of us,
the Businesses,Your Family,Friends,and Neighbors.

Once again a BIG THANK YOU for the businesses involved,the sponsors,and the local community itself for embracing and participating to a successful evening in HISTORIC DOWNTOWN NEW ALBANY!!

This Halloween Don’t Be Afraid of Local Businesses

You may be frightened by how much our nation will spend this Halloween season on costumes, candy and decorations ($6.9 billion*), but what’s really spooky is how little is going back to local economies. Had this money been spent at local grocers, garden centers, candy stores,art supplies stores,costume shops, or on Vintage Halloween from your Local Antique Shop,
$4.7 billion would be reinvested into local economies.
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Lets put to good use the Ghouls,Goblins,and all things scary to the advantage of our own local communities

Spend your hard earned money in a way that benefits your neighbors,friends,and community

Get your spook on, Buy LOCAL , really give the scary creepers to WALL STREET

Galvanized

Another new trend in home use and decoration is any vintage galvanized item.
Most sheet metal galvanized pieces were produced for practical commercial uses, mainly because of its durability and flexibility. Later it was also found as useful for home uses such as buckets,farm equipment,and of course watering cans.

I was a fan long before it became a trend again. I always saw a glow and warmth in the metal after applying paste wax and buffing. If you have not tried that I highly recommend.

Here is some brief history;
Since its conception in the early 1900's, galvanized metal has offered a durability other steels and metals do not, a durability that lasts for decades.
Galvanized metal was named after the Italian scientist, Luigi Galvani. In 1783 he had a dissected frog on the same table he was using while conducting an experiment on static electricity. When he touched the sciatic nerve of the dead frog with his metal scalpel, the frog's leg moved. He called it "animal electricity," but his fellow scientists referred to it as galvanizing. It was in 1923 that the first piece of galvanized metal was used by the Baldwin brothers. They constructed the Gleaner Combine Harvester, the first harvester to be self-propelled. It was also the first time galvanized metal was used in construction.

It has been shown that galvanized metal can be recycled and re-used, even after sixty years or more of prior use.

Galvanized metal goes through a processing which involves a piece of steel or metal being submerged in melted zinc. It is during this process of galvanizing that the zinc chemically reacts to the molecules in the metal, permanently bonding it to the metal. The zinc provides protection against rust and corrosion that the natural elements. Galvanized metal comes in many forms: Sheet metal examples are what are shown in photos and being used in homes as decor today.

Galvanized metal can be painted, but it requires a primer made especially for it. You need to be sure that the surface of the metal is free of alkaline build-up and then add the metal primer. You can then paint it with latex paint. Any oil or alkyd based paints should not be used; they do not mix well with the chemicals found in galvanized metal. Also, any product containing galvanized metal should not be used for any form of food preparation or storage. The acids found in food could dissolve in the zinc, making the person eating the food extremely ill.

Folks are now seeing both practical uses and decorating properties. These items look great mixed with a country,modern,or architectural home decor style.