TAKE A BREAK
THE HISTORY OF STRING LIGHTS MERRY AND BRIGHT
No matter which holidays you celebrate this season, many folks in and around West Hartford love to decorate their homes, trees, and other displays with string lights. They’re an essential part of the holidays, and they come with a rich history. String lights have come a long way since their invention in the 19th century. In 1880, after Thomas Edison developed a type of incandescent lightbulb that was easier to manufacture, he wanted to find a way to get it to the masses. As the holiday season of 1880 approached, Edison strung together a series of bulbs and draped them around his lab in Menlo Park, New Jersey, so people on passing trains could admire this new, vibrant wonder. The idea was slow to take off. Two years later, Edward Hibberd Johnson, a close associate of Edison, took the idea further. In his New York City home, Johnson decorated a Christmas tree with electric lights, making it the first electrically lit tree in history. Insurance companies were a major force behind the electric light craze. At the beginning of the 20th century, many families still decorated their trees and homes with candles. Insurance companies decided that if your home caught fire and an open flame was the culprit, you were not covered and would not receive compensation. The most popular decorations of the time were garlands and ornaments. Only the wealthy made the early transition to electric string lights. According to History Matters and Appalachian State University, a string of Edison miniature lamps cost $12 in 1900, or about $300 today. It was also in 1900 that the first advertisement for the string lights went to print. The ad was published in Scientific American Magazine and suggested that you rent a string of lights rather than buy. That way, more people could afford the lights and wouldn’t have to worry about storage after the holiday season. Over the decades, more people bought (and rented) electric tree lights. By 1925, there were 15 companies in the electric tree light business. They even got together to form the NOMA Electric Corporation, which may have helped these companies survive the Great Depression and World War II. Since then, the lights we use to decorate our homes and trees have taken many shapes and sizes. Today, energy-efficient LED lights are among the most common varieties.
Festive Apple Cider
Inspired by BoulderLocavore.com
Ingredients
• 1 lemon • 1 gallon pure apple cider • 1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise • 2 tsp whole cloves • 2 tsp allspice berries • 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced • 2 tbsp honey • 3 cinnamon sticks
Directions
1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe. 2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours. 3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!
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