Christmas 1898 (According to Wilfrid Jury) Submitted by Middlesex Centre Archives
Every family celebrates holidays based on tradition and what is currently in vogue. Often, those traditions have roots in the “Old Country” and transition to meet the needs of the environment and times. It is insightful to remember how things used to be, to see what has changed, been modified or kept the same. In an article titled A Farm Boy’s Christmas 1898 , Wilfrid Jury described the events that made up the Christmas season in rural Middlesex Centre. The Christmas season started in November with practices for the Sunday School Christmas concert. Some- times transportation involved a buggy ride, if one was lucky, or walking. Once the Christmas concert was over, the home took on preparations for the big event – making plum pudding, mincemeat, shelling nuts, polishing silver and cleaning the house. On the Saturday previous to Christmas, the family headed to the farmers’ market and a day of shopping in the city. After chores, the family dressed up, put the warmed bricks on the floor of the cutter, wrapped up a sheep-skin rug and started the two-hour journey to London. By the time they reached the Cameron Sideroad (now Wonderland Road), Wilfrid’s fingers and toes were tingling and he was cold “to the pit of his stomach”. Finally arriving at the market, and with a warning from his parents, Wilfrid was told to be back at the hotel by 3 pm for the trip home, and hopefully, the roads would not have drifted in. Wilfrid had saved enough money to buy presents for his parents and his sister. As he set off in his quest, Wilfrid described his wanderings through downtown London. To read his description of places back then is a lesson in history. Most of those businesses no longer exist and many buildings are no longer there, or have been re-purposed. Wilfrid also stopped at the dentist’s office, Dr. Woolverton’s, to see his collection of Indigenous relics. Dr. Woolverton’s collection and his knowledge of the relics inspired Wilfrid to have a good collection of his own. Wilfrid eventually accomplished his goals and even got a haircut for 15 cents. At lunch, he met his family at the hotel for a roast beef dinner and pie, all for 35 cents for adults and at half price for children. At 3:15 pm, the family headed for home. Once they arrived, daily farm chores and routines commenced. On Monday, Wilfrid and his sister, Irene, with a horse and sleigh, headed to the cedar swamp to chop down the family Christmas tree. Back at home, popcorn was popped, strung and dyed red to hang on the tree along with a large red paper bell. On Christmas Day, present-opening had to wait until Grandfather’s arrival and dinner was completed. What excitement! The afternoon was spent playing crokinole and cracking nuts – hazelnuts preferred. About 4 pm, Wilfrid went home with Uncle John from Melrose to help him with chores, then returned to a supper of oyster soup, cold turkey and mincemeat pie. Crokinole, the real game according to Wilfrid, was played until everyone gathered around the organ to sing, followed by prayers at 10:00 pm, with everyone on their knees. Everyone helped wash dishes afterward. Thus ended another Christmas celebration at the Jury home.
traditions may have changed. Your children and grandchildren will cherish these traditions for years to come. That is why they are traditions – happy family memories. To read more about Christmases of the past, visit the Middlesex Centre Archives at 2652 Gideon Drive, London, by appointment, or on Wednesdays, 10 am to 3 pm (closed noon to 1 pm), and browse our many scrapbooks. They are filled with gems from the past. Visit middlesexcentrearchive.ca or follow them on Facebook. Amos and Julia Jury with their children Irene and Wilfrid in front of their home in Lobo Township, 1899. Photo courtesy London and Middlesex Heritage Museum Archives.
Wilfrid Jury (1890 – 1981), left, was an archaeologist and the founding curator of the Museum of Indian Archaeology, now the Ontario Museum of Archaeology (MOA). Below, his home at Fanshawe Pioneer Village. It was relocated there in 1973. Photo left and below courtesy of the MOA.
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Make your money work harder. Wherever you are in life, strengthening your retirement plans today can help give you and your family a brighter tomorrow. Are you ready to start? Your finances change as your life changes, be it marriage, a new job or a baby. I’m here to help navigate life’s changes. Your finances change as your life changes, be it marriage, a new job or a baby. I’m here to help navigate life’s changes. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sarah Judd*, CHS™, CFP® Financial Planner, Sun Life Tel: (519) 438-5433 sarah.judd@sunlife.com Your finances change as your life changes, be it marriage, a new job or a baby. I’m here to help navigate life’s changes.
Hyde Park – Oakridge Villager • December 2025 • Page 7 Wherever you are in life, strengthening your retirement pla today can help give you and your family a brighter tomorro Are you ready to start? Sarah Judd*, CHS™, CFP® Financial Planner, Sun Life Are your finances on track? Make your money work harder. Wherever you are in life, strengthening your retirement plans today can help give you and your family a brighter tomorrow. Are you ready to start? Make your money work harder. Wherever you are in life, strengthening your retirement plans today can help give you and your family a brighter tomorrow. Are you ready to start? Make your money work harder. Wherever you are in life, strengthening your retirement plans today can help give you and your family a brighter tomorrow Are you ready to start? Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sarah Judd*, CHS™, CFP® Financial Planner, Sun Life Tel: (519) 438-5433 sarah.judd@sunlife.com Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2023. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the insurer and is a member of the Sun Life group of companies. *Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Sarah Judd*, CHS™, CFP® Financial Planner, Sun Life Tel: (519) 438-5433 sarah.judd@sunlife.com Sarah Judd*, CHS™, CFP® Financial Planner, Sun Life Tel: (519) 438-5433 sarah.judd@sunlife.com Sarah Judd*, CHS™, CFP® Financial Planner, Sun Life Tel: (519) 438-5433 sarah.judd@sunlife.com Make your money work harder. Sarah Judd*, CHS™, CFP® Financial Planner, Sun Life Tel: (519) 438-5433 sarah.judd@sunlife.com
Make your money work harder. Wherever you are in life, strengthening your retirement plans today can help give you and your family a brighter tomorrow. Are you ready to start?
Sarah Judd*, CHS™, CFP® Financial Planner, Sun Life Tel: (519) 438-5433 sarah.judd@sunlife.com As we ponder the Jury family’s 1898 Christmas, elements of our own family traditions can be seen. The shopping in hopes of the perfect gift, the Christmas tree, the family gathering, the big dinner, gift opening, playing games, etc. Whatever your family traditions, think about how they came about and how those To advertise here, please contact Debbie@VillagerPublications.com
Sarah Judd*, CHS™, CFP® Financial Planner, Sun Life Tel: (519) 438-5433 sarah.judd@sunlife.com
*Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life
*Advisors and their corporations conduct insurance business through Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. Mutual fund business is done with your advisor through Sun Life
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