Christmas Eve At The Iowa Training School For Boys At Eldora

 

The Elves with Santa Claus and Jack Frost

The Des Moines Register said Christmas Eve 1919 rang with shouts of glee and merry-making at the Iowa Training School for Boys in Eldora.

 

The big hall was dressed with fir trees, tinsel, and lights, while the boys presented a Christmas cantata in the chapel.

 

Every boy had a part. Some played girls’ roles as Sunburst Fairies. One was Jack Frost. Another was Santa Claus. Six were elves. Others appeared as Dream Men. The school orchestra supplied the music.

The Sunburst Fairies

Howard Johnson played Santa Claus. Francis Donahue was Jack Frost, and Emil Greiner starred as the Fairy Queen.

 

The elves were James Frame, Forest Lake, Charles Shay, Leon Lynch, Donald Munson, and Leroy Stanley.

 

The Sunburst Fairies were Edward Hansen, Tom Pasmar, William Arnett, James Shay, and Cecil Snodgrass.

Letters went out to parents in early December urging them to send presents. W. L. Kuser, the superintendent, provided presents for the boys whose parents did not send any.

Santa's Work Men and Dream Men

Christmas dinner featured stew, chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes, dressing, cabbage salad, cranberry sauce, sweet pickles, bread and butter, mince pie, apples, and coffee.

(Pictures from the Des Moines Register. December 18, 1919)

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