I am trying to update and put more interesting information in a book I wrote several years ago.

The book is a collection of some local ghost stories. In reading more about the local area, I’ve come across more ghost stories. However, what I have also enjoyed were the just plain old strange stories. I want to include them in a better updated book.

Also why not include some fun past history? I was having great fun reading a 1925 suggestion list of gifts for Christmas. While the list includes things such as cars, and musical instruments, there were other suggestions I was unsure of what were many of the gifts.

I left out a lot of the suggestions and picked on the ones that I imagine would make a very interesting gift today, such as a barrel of flour. Plus I included ones I was not able to identify off the top of my head.

I want to share this bit from the soon to be updated book. It’s not a ghost story, but it is a ghost list. A list that shows what would have been an appropriate gift in 1925.

Mystery Items!

From “The Repertory”

1925 “Christmas Gift Selections”

How many of these gifts do you recognize, and which would you give as a gift to someone today?

*Furs

*Boudoir Cap

*Kimona

*Dress Patterns

*Handkerchiefs

*Bloomers

*Slip-ins (?)

*Capes(!)

*Sewing Machine

*Cedar Chest

*Napkins

*Bureau Scarf

*Curtains

*Stamped Goods(?)

*Linoleums(?)

*Smelling Salts

*Art Squares(?)

*Toilet Waters(?)

*Evening Slippers, Boudoir Slippers, Comfort Slippers

*Rubbers(?)

*Calling Cards

*Book Ends

*Xmas Cards (?)

*Andirons

*Thermometers

*Hot Water Bottles

*Reading Glasses

*Waste Baskets

*Book Cases

*Crockery(?)

*Bread and Cake Boxes

*Bathroom Fixtures (?)

*Tea Wagon (?)

*Kitchen Range (?)

*Ton of Coal (?)

*Load of Wood

*Mottoes(?)

*Diamonds

*Chaffing Dishes

*Lingerie Pins(?)

*Stickpins

*Talking Machine and Records (!)

*Fancy Knit Vests

*Sheep Lined Coats

*Mackinaws(?)

*Puttees(?)

*Ever Sharp Pencils

*Pencil Sharpeners

*Cigar and Cigarette Holders

*Humidors

*Whisk Broom (!)

*Insurance Policy(!)

*Radio Tubes

*Radio Batteries

*Talking Tapes(?)

*Electric Flat Irons, Electric Hair Curlers, ElectricToasters, Electric Washing Machines

*Sporting Goods, Skiis, Skates, Snow Shoes, Hockey Sticks, Sleds

*Auto Robes(?)

*Barrel of Flour(!)

*Five Pounds Coffee

*Five Pounds Tea

*Maple Sugar

*Pimento Cheese(?)

*Edam cheese

*Ducks and Turkeys

?-Indicates I have some questions about this gift suggestion, often I don’t know what the gift actually can be, such as a “Mackinaw”

!-Indicates I might like the suggestion or be confused about the suggestion as a gift. I would like a cape, but perhaps not a barrel of flour.