Need help planning a special New Year’s Eve party to bring in 2016? Davidson students a century or so ago had plenty of ideas.
In 1891 some students and townspeople celebrated by attending a wedding. The Davidson Monthly reported that “Mr. Chas. F. Dickenson of Bainbridge, Georgia, was married to Miss Lena Query in the Presbyterian Church on New Year’s day. The church was handsomely decorated for the occasion. Many of the bride’s friends and relatives of Charlotte and elsewhere came up at the event. The marriage rite was administered by Dr. Shearer. Mr. Dickerson left with his bride immediately after the ceremony for their distant home. The MONTHLY wishes them a long life of prosperity.”
Miss Query grew up in Davidson. Her father served on the town commission and the family home was on the south side of the college cemetery.
Original Davidson College Presbyterian Church building — site of the 1891 New Year’s wedding.
More examples of New Year’s fun from the Monthly:
January 1893 -Saturday. -Went calling. Skated. Played authors. Night. Went to Col. Martin’s. Made an extempore speech. Oh, my! Never felt so much like going through the floor. Can’t the girls chat! Lingle got the prize for the best speech. Miss Lucy Martin for the best conversation. Superb!
Miss Lucy Martin of the best conversation.
1896 – Monday night, December 30, a domino party was given by Dr. Harding, and on New Year’s Eve Mrs. Vinson threw wide open her hospitable doors to a Symposium. Lists of questions, whose answers depended upon one’s knowledge of flowers and “common cents,” were handed from table to table.
Vinson lived here at time of the 1896 New Year’s party. The family would build a new home and boarding house on N. Main street within a few years.
January 1898 – On the evening of the 31st the students felt that it was their turn to entertain, and accordingly organized themselves into a club known as the “Feiertag Club,” and decided to give a “New Year’s Party” in the YMCA Hall. Cards were immediately issued, and at 9 o’clock every member of the club was present, bringing with him his lady friend. For some time, games were participated in, and as the bell was bidding farewell to the Old Year and welcoming the New, the party was partaking of a dainty luncheon. The chaperones for the evening were Mr. And Mrs. Graham, Dr. and Mrs. Harding, and Mrs. Paisley.
Mrs. Sallie Stirewalt Paisley
January 1916 – On New Year’s Eve the usual “celebration” was held on the cupola by the students, using a diminutive cannon and a Chinese cymbal as the noise-making implements. The college bell rang the Old Year out and the New Year in. The dormitories were closed, with the exception of Georgia, and most of the boys moved there for the holiday period. A chess tournament lasted throughout the time.
Cupola on old Chambers – site of the revels welcoming 1916.
Georgia Dormitory (built 1909, demolished 1956)
January 1917 – On New Year’s night the boys gave a masquerade party to the young ladies at the Social Center. About sixty attended the party was chaperoned by Dr. and Mrs. Fulton.
Morrison Hall aka YMCA building aka Social Center.
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