St. Valentines & Sweetheart Kisses
BY: BG EDITOR
Victorian Valentine
Feb 08, 2020 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
Even in the dusty early days of the Boundary there was no shortage of romance. The local papers kept up a steady heartthrob of stories on budding romances, unusual connections between lonely hearts, and a host of social items on celebrations of St. Valentine's Day.
Personals ads were popular at the turn of the century, being a practical way of connecting with those having a sense of adventure and seeking romance across the long miles. One such match was made between a couple from Midway and St. Louis:[1]
MATRIMONIAL ROMANCE
Midway Merchant and St. Louis Lady Meet Through Matrimonial Paper
"Mr. Matthes felt lonely in the quiet village of Midway, and believing that it is not good for man to live alone, sought a wife through a matrimonial paper published in Chicago. Mrs. Hillman felt very much as did Mr Matthes, and seeing the advertisement a correspondence was started, which culminated in the arrival of Mrs. Hillman yesterday. The final act in the matrimonial drama will be played tomorrow, when the two are to be made man and wife. Who says that advertising does not pay?"
Midway Merchant and St. Louis Lady Meet Through Matrimonial Paper
"Mr. Matthes felt lonely in the quiet village of Midway, and believing that it is not good for man to live alone, sought a wife through a matrimonial paper published in Chicago. Mrs. Hillman felt very much as did Mr Matthes, and seeing the advertisement a correspondence was started, which culminated in the arrival of Mrs. Hillman yesterday. The final act in the matrimonial drama will be played tomorrow, when the two are to be made man and wife. Who says that advertising does not pay?"
Another tale involved the transmission of 'Sweetheart Kisses', tucked inside a Pennsylvania candy box. The letter lit the heart's fire of a fellow in Grand Forks:[2]
Grand Forks Romance
"A despatch from York, Pa., says: "Stories of romances growing out of notes put in bottles and cigar boxes have been told and printed numerously lately, but it has remained for a York candy factory girl to select a more appropriate vehicle for opening correspondence with the man who now declares he is her affinity.
She is Miss Daisy Armpriester, who sent her message in a box of confections known as "Sweetheart Kisses." It was in the midst of the busy season at the American Carmel company's factory here preceding the Christmas holidays that Miss Armpriester, in a spirit of fun, wrote her name and address upon a card, with the request that if the finder be a gentlemen to make himself known to her by letter.
She placed the cards in the box, which as it now develops, found its way to Grand Forks, British Columbia, where the missive, nestling among the sweet, fell into the hands of Aaron Sweezey, a prosperous bachelor 28 years old.
The writer of the note had forgotten the box of "Sweetheart Kisses" and the missive it bore, until she received a letter from Sweezey, who asked her to open a correspondence with him, Letters have since passed between the two and Sweezey proposed marriage, and in his last letter expressed his intention of coming to York to visit the girl who puts the final touches to "Sweetheat Kisses".
If there be no parental objection — Miss Atmpriester is but 18 years old — the romance which had its beginning in the candy factory may yet end at the altar."
"A despatch from York, Pa., says: "Stories of romances growing out of notes put in bottles and cigar boxes have been told and printed numerously lately, but it has remained for a York candy factory girl to select a more appropriate vehicle for opening correspondence with the man who now declares he is her affinity.
She is Miss Daisy Armpriester, who sent her message in a box of confections known as "Sweetheart Kisses." It was in the midst of the busy season at the American Carmel company's factory here preceding the Christmas holidays that Miss Armpriester, in a spirit of fun, wrote her name and address upon a card, with the request that if the finder be a gentlemen to make himself known to her by letter.
She placed the cards in the box, which as it now develops, found its way to Grand Forks, British Columbia, where the missive, nestling among the sweet, fell into the hands of Aaron Sweezey, a prosperous bachelor 28 years old.
The writer of the note had forgotten the box of "Sweetheart Kisses" and the missive it bore, until she received a letter from Sweezey, who asked her to open a correspondence with him, Letters have since passed between the two and Sweezey proposed marriage, and in his last letter expressed his intention of coming to York to visit the girl who puts the final touches to "Sweetheat Kisses".
If there be no parental objection — Miss Atmpriester is but 18 years old — the romance which had its beginning in the candy factory may yet end at the altar."
No time of year is more popular for love than February, with the arrival of St. Valentine's Day on February 14th. Boundary residents celebrated the day as early as 1898, bringing the Victorian tradition of lace hearts and romantic socials to Greenwood and surrounding area.
In February 1898, young members of the Christian Endeavor in Midway held a Valentine social. Games of all kinds were played, and a post office was set-up for the distribution of valentines. The party went on until midnight. Here in Greenwood, the Volunteer Fire Department gave a "hard times ball" in Barrett's hall to celebrate St. Valentine's Day.[3]
The firemen's Valentine's Day dance was a success, and was held again the following year. There was a large attendance at the dance, and the Times reported that "very pretty costumes were worn by the dancers."
By the start of the 1900s, many other social organizations in Greenwood were also taking advantage of Saint Valentine, as a good excuse for a get-together. In 1901, the ladies of the Presbyterian church gave a St. Valentine's social with refreshments, for 25 cents admission. A masque carnival was held that year at the skating rink, with Miss Maude Butler taking the prize for best ladies' costume, having outfitted herself as a Valentine.
The exchanging of Valentine cards was popular in early Greenwood. Like celebration of the day itself, the tradition of exchanging cards came west with the merry England-ers. A 1902 advertisement from Smith & McRae on Copper Street enticed customers to shop for the latest in Valentine fashion:[4]
"You cannot fail to be interested in our superb display of comic, lace and novelty valentines. The novelties are unusually attractive this year, the lace are just as dainty as it is possible to make them — while the comics are funnier than ever. Then we have a very fine line of card mount Valentines, printed on decorated parchment, that are splendid value."
Prices ranged from 5 cents to $2.50
Greenwood Weekly Times — February 1901
Just as the Victorian English had a taste for bizarre humour in their Christmas and Easter cards, they were also attracted to celebrating the odd & snob on their Valentines. As Smith & McRae said about their Comic Valentines:
"Every common occupation is represented, both male and female; every imaginable personal peculiarity or trait of character, that can be made the subject of satire, receives a home thrust."
A Victorian Valentine:
"Tis said you share your love with many,
But I believe you have not any
At least enough to give away.
You keep it for yourself they say."
During the first decade of the 1900s we find mention of many Valentines events in Greenwood.
The Eagles held their 1st Annual St. Valentine's Day ball in the Masonic Hall in February 1905. According to the Times, the ball was one of the most successful and enjoyable events ever held in the city of Greenwood. There were some 80 couples in attendance, including a number from Midway, Deadwood, Boundary Falls and Phoenix. The ballroom was very artistically decorated, with excellent music by the J. Bush Orchestra, and an elegant supper was served at midnight.
The event was held again the following year, as was the Presbyterian's Valentine Tea. They offered a dainty supper, many decorations and a pretty candy table fitted up with sweets for sale.
In the early 1900s, "hard times" dances were quite popular in towns and villages in the Boundary. But as one Valentine's event promotion put it, "As there's no hard times in Greenwood the people are forced to enjoy the good times dance."
Valentines socials were put on by the Ladies' Aid of the Methodist church and by various secret societies, including the Ladies of the Maccabees and the gentlemen of the I.O.O.F. In 1910, the Odd Fellows Valentine's ball drew high marks in the local news. The masquerade dance saw many original and attractive costumes. Among the top winners were costume depictions of the Mother Lode mine, a Spanish fortune teller, a Topsy, a French Marquis, and a goat. The evening of dance and romance went on till 4 a.m., with excellent suppers served by both the Pacific and Windsor hotels.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Greenwood Weekly Times — Jun 30, 1900, p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172797
[2] Boundary Creek Times — Mar 18, 1904, p. 1
href="https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170857
[3] Boundary Creek Times — Feb 8 1899, p. 1 & 3
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170315
[4] Boundary Creek Times — Feb 07, 1902, p. 1
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170951
