31 Dec 2024 What’s new with you?

Posted at 6:56 PMh in Features by

By Vivian Lawson Hogue

There are some special days that come and go, and we seldom think about their histories. We know, or should know, the reason for Christmas celebration, but may not know that the church of the Middle Ages originally called it Christ’s Mass. And by the way, the season is not really over until Jan. 6, the twelfth day of Christmas. By that time, it is discovered that the new bike owner needs training wheels and Band-Aids. And those are just for Dad.

Many locals remember long ago when the only decoration in town was a Nativity scene on the courthouse grounds and a Christmas tree with a few strings of C-9 colored bulbs. We thought it was magnificent! Downtown streets were festooned with zigzagged strings of colored lights overhead. Then suddenly the Nativity scene was moved to the edge of the grounds and only the tree remained as the new focus. Eventually Jesus and his family disappeared, but you might say that millions of us have found him!

Now, New Year’s Day is a horse of a different color. As usual, it was the Greeks who first celebrated in 600 B.C. to honor various gods of dubious reputations. Thankfully, things settled down and mankind survived to see the day become a federal holiday in 1870. My take gains a different perspective when I realize that one of my grandfathers was born in 1871, another in 1874. My parents were born in 1900 and 1901, so I am honored to have a connection with the turn of the century through people, writings and stories!

I should introduce you to the late Mr. John P. Townsend, born at Caddo Gap in 1902 as a descendant of a Faulkner County pioneer family. He later moved to Conway and lived on Washington Avenue. In his book “As I Remember,” he described a form of celebration carried out in 1918 at the end of World War I. It was also used for New Year’s Day and Independence Day revelry in many rural towns across southern states during that era.

In Mr. Townsend’s description, he gives the recipe for a noisy town gathering. Lacking fireworks, there had to be a substitution! Casper Dum, who had one of the first bakeries in Conway (now the location of Mike’s Place), organized a brass band and they played on every street corner. “Up and down the streets people were shooting firearms – pistols, rifles, shotguns and one muzzle loader,” Townsend wrote.

The main event was firing off four anvils using black gunpowder. Anvils are large blocks of iron with steel work surfaces, best known for use by farriers (blacksmiths) in forging horseshoes. These anvils were placed in the center of town where the Roberts Municipal Court is currently located. Firewood and wooden crates were hauled in and a bonfire was lit.

One anvil bottom was placed upward on the ground. A depression in the center held nearly a half-pint of gunpowder. Another anvil was placed upright over the first one. To fire off the anvils, they first placed a 13-foot iron rod in the fire until red hot. The hot end of the rod was touched to a residual trail of powder, which detonated the charge. “When it went off, it blew the top anvil about two feet into the air and made a noise that jarred the whole town!” Townsend said. But that was Old Conway with a population of 2,000.

Beginning in 1907, the image of Baby New Year with a sash and top hat began to appear in magazines. Alongside the baby was often Old Man Time holding an hourglass signifying passage of time and a scythe suggesting his year had passed and he would move aside and give the new one to Baby New Year. Some people make New Year resolutions to add or subtract behaviors, things or habits from their lives to better themselves. These normally last about as long as it takes a firecracker to pop.

As we advance a year in the blink of an eye, we see that only one second is the difference between our birth moment and the next, and between one year and the next. Our bodies begin to age at conception, and suddenly, we’re applying for Medicare! You started out so flawless, and now you have mended bones and scars from missing or adjusted body parts.

My advice for your New Year resolutions is to tell someone you love them; provide proper parental guidance for your children and pets; acquire a hobby; throw away/give away what you don’t need or use; take your children and yourself to church; cherish and listen to old folks and record their memories.

Then sing it loud – “We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for the days of Auld Lang Syne!”

Vivian Lawson Hogue
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