Jingle Bells and A New Year's Resolution

Sleighing in Bedford, Massachusetts. Circa. 1883 (Courtesy of the Medford Historical Society)

In 1850, James Pierpont of Medford, Massachusetts wrote a song entitled “Jingle Bells” about the frequent occurrence of sleigh racing on Salem Street, the main thoroughfare in his town.  Thirty-three years later, in 1883, the song likely rang out throughout the week in Frederick, Maryland between Christmas and New Years Eve. Beneath the famed "Clustered Spires," the principal street was filled with sleighs and revelers.

An ice covering on Market Street made for perfect conditions.  However, local newspapers warned pedestrians to use particular care when crossing streets, especially at night. Another problem existed for those people walking on sidewalks as rooftop “snow slides” had been prevalent all week. The Daily News of Tuesday, January 1, 1884 reported:
"The snow board on the Central Bank building broke yesterday, precipitating a large quantity of snow and ice to the pavement. Several persons who were passing at the time narrowly escaped being crushed."

The Daily News (Frederick, MD), December 29, 1883

Luckily, there were no major injuries to speak of—that is, of the human variety. The Daily News of New Year’s Day (1884) relayed the sad story  that Dick, a popular, tame squirrel inhabiting the Court Square vicinity, had met his demise thanks to a neighborhood feline. Perhaps this was a New Year's Resolution of the latter?.... knowing how some cats can be, regardless of the holidays.

---

The Daily News (Frederick, MD), January 1, 1884