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Neighbor News

Mother's Day in Naugatuck in the 1920s

As we gear up for Mother's Day on Sunday, Patch columnist Terri Takacs takes us to the holiday in 1925.

Join me as we look back on Mother’s Day in Naugatuck in the 1920s and uncover the story behind this special day.

On May 2, 1925, there was an announcement in the Naugatuck Daily News reminding citizens that Sunday May 10 was Mother’s Day. All were encouraged to display American flags, as would be the case for all public buildings. A white carnation was the accepted flower to be worn in memory of mothers who had passed away. Sending specially designed greeting cards was encouraged as well.

According to the newspaper, Carlson Furniture Company on Church Street posted the following ad offering these suggestions for all of the beloved mothers in the borough:

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“A suggestion: Flowers, a letter, a telegram, or a visit to your mother are splendid means by which to carry out the beautiful spirit of the day. Some, however, have gone still further, remembering that she still has the burdens of housekeeping, by sending her a Hoover Suction Sweeper. Other suggestions: an A.B.C. Electric Washer, an Aerobell Electric Vacuum Washer or a Brunswick Phonograph so that she can enjoy the best in music, or one of our splendid Cedar Chest. We have hundreds of other suitable gifts which we will be glad to show, all of which may be bought on easy terms.”

The local Naugatuck Eagles No. 640 F.O.E. announced that a special program had been arranged in honor of Mother’s Day on Sunday evening at 8 p.m. The American Legion, Legion Auxiliary, War Mothers and the general public were invited to attend. Frank E. Herring past worthy president of the F.O.E. was scheduled to give the address at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. Every one of Eagles in the United States would observe this day with fitting exercises.

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There is, however, a greater story to tell behind this happy and patriotic celebration of Mother’s Day. Since the Egyptians, there had been some form of celebration for mothers. The English called it Mothering Day but when the first settlers came to America, they discontinued the tradition of Mothering Day on this side of the Atlantic. Possibly this celebration seemed frivolous considering the harsh conditions and long hours of work they were forced to do in order to survive.

In the 1850’s, a woman by the name of Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis organized several Mother’s Day clubs with the purpose of aiding the needy in West Virginia where she resided.

They also helped the Union and Confederate soldiers, treating wounds and bringing great relief to their suffering. She worked tirelessly in spite of losing eight of her own 12 children before they reached adulthood. When Ann died on May 9, 1905, her daughter Anna dedicated her life to establishing a nationally recognized Mother’s Day in honor of her mother.

In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed it into national observance, declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. Since white carnations were her Mother’s favorite flower, they became the official symbol to honor deceased mothers, while pink or red carnations paid tribute to mothers who where still alive.

Despite this amazing victory, Anna quickly became irritated at the commercialism that was taking place on this occasion in honor of her mother. She had incorporated Mother's Day in 1912 to prevent flower shops, candy shops and telegraph companies from using her patented trademark for commercial purposes. Despite this precaution, the floral industry met with Anna’s International Mother’s Day Association to see how they could promote the occasion.

On April 5, 1922, The Naugatuck Daily News reported a story from the International Mother’s Day Association asking all people to have a “flowerless Mother’s Day.” They requested that no flowers be worn on the second Sunday in May because of the vast number of complaints from people wishing to wear carnations but unable to pay the price. Florist across the country had raised the price of carnations during the holiday because of the high demand.

This request seemed to go unnoticed in the borough and by May 1923, The Naugatuck Daily News reported “Thousand upon thousands of tender love emblems in the form of flowers will be purchased today in national observance of Mother’s Day tomorrow. In memory of those who have gone and those still living, flowers will be worn, while the hearts of countless mothers will be gladdened by love tokens from the flowery kingdom sent by their children.”

In spite of Anna’s efforts, Flower sales continued to grow nationwide as well. Anna Jarvis became quite bitter and in 1948 died at a sanitarium in Pennsylvania, blind, poor and childless. She would never know that it was The Florist Exchange, a large distributor of flowers nationwide that anonymously paid for her care.

In Naugatuck, citizens continued to celebrate Mother’s Day with great exuberance. On May 9, 1927, the Rev. Joseph H. Seiferman from St Francis Church delivered a stirring Mother's Day sermon titled “Honor Thy Mother and Thy Father.” He deplored the fact that many young people today do not give their parents the honor and respect, which God has commanded they be given. Some members of the younger sect were causing their parents a great deal of grief staying out late at night while fathers and mothers sat up and waited for them. Father Seiferman underscored those who call their parents “old man” or “old woman.” Such disrespect was shameful he declared. He warned parents about being over indulgent toward their children by granting their every whim and was certain such indulgence would result in the wreaking of the parents power of discipline.

While it is well to govern children with love, there are times stern discipline is necessary. Father Seiferman appealed to sons and daughters to bear in mind the many sacrifices their parents have made and to be respectful, considerate and kind to them. With the mutual love of parents and children and compliance with God’s commandment, the families abiding place will be one of happiness, a home in every sense of the word, Father Seiferman stated with great passion.

Though we pride ourselves in being greatly advanced in the year 2011, it strikes me how true it is that there is truly nothing new under the sun. And so as Father Seiferman suggested, to find mutual love among parents and children is still a goal worth achieving. In addition, may I add forgiveness, to the mothers and fathers that may have missed the mark. The fact that we were granted life from them is worth our grateful heart.

If you listen carefully, you may hear this tune playing on the old Brunswick Phonograph bought for a cherished Mom way back when, on Mother’s Day.

The moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of that wonderful mother of mine;
The birds never sing but a message they bring
Of that wonderful mother of mine. "That Wonderful Mother of Mine”

-Walter Goodwin, music, and Clyde Hager, lyrics,1918

Credits ~ Time magazine archives; Society of American Florist; West Virginia Culture (wvculture.org); The Library of Congress; The Naugatuck Daily News archives

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