The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-12-24
LambsrtviIIe's Santa Claus.

hS ipiioNlHS SlOIN WIS puullSutll
last week in the Trenton True Amel J.
can and was written by Mr.. Harry ID.
Conover, who is a regular member of
the reportorial staff of that journal.
Mr.. Conover was born In this city and
lived here several years. Heisanephew
of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles l.. Crimson, of
Delaware avenue, and grandson of
the late John b. Conine, who was n
well known resident of Lambertville :
Lambertville, n. j., some years ago
could boast of as unique Santa Claus
as probably any community ever pos
sessed. "Uncle Finney" he was call
ed. He was known to every person in
the town and every man, woman and
child in the place was his sworn friend.
Uncle Finney's right name was j.
Fennimore Boozer and he owned u
block of buildings on one of the main
corners in town in which he kept a
large hardware store. The corner was
known as " Boozer's Cornern and was
the greatest rendezvous of an evening
for the young men of the town.
Uncle Finney was a bachelor, and
having no family to claim his attention,
his greatest delight was to use his
money in making the children happy.
Kindness and a benign spirit beamed
from Uncle Finney's face and not a
child in town but was In raptures when
he could bein Uncle Finney's company.
Uncle Finney always kept one coat
pocket filled with peppermint drops
and the children knew 1t, so whenever
the children came where he was, which
was often, they were sure to dive into
that pocket for the sweetmeats, which
they were perfectly welcome TO take.
Uncle Finney used his influence over
the children to help them, and his chief
instruction always was, "Children,
obey your parents"
But II was at Christmas time that
this unique Santa Claus was the chill
dren's special delight.
Beginning in 1858 and continuing
each year thereafter-except during the
civil WARRIOR many years, 1t was the
custom of this remarkable man to give
to every child who would come to his
store on Christmas morning present.
No child In the town was barred from
share In the gift distributing. All,
rich or poor, white or black, were well
come.
u
fixed In the minds of the children of
the community and was looked forward
to for weeks beforehand as one of the
pleasantest events of the holiday time.
About three weeks before Christmas
1t was Uncle Finney's custom to place
In his store window late some night n
large model of full-rigged ship loaded
with bright new pennies bearing date
of the coming year.
Next morning the ship would be seen
aud quickly would the report spread
through town that Uncle Finney's ship
had come in and the presents would be
ready Christmas morning. Then in
every home where there were children
would there be great dancing for joy.
Christmas morning about 8 o'clock
the distribution of the gifts began ut
Mr. Boozer's hardware store, and long
before the time the streets converging
at tho corner would be filled with hun
dreds of eager children waiting for their
presents.
The store was always decorated with
evergreens, and over the portal would
be the notices, Merry Christmas
and Children, Obey Your Parents
The crowd of children filed through
the store and made their exit Mt the
side door, each receiving present en-
route. Uncle Finney would permit no
one to hand out the presents but him
self.
The gifts were all exactly alike and
consisted of a bag containing raisins,
nuts, candy and cakes, and with each
bag went two of the new pennies. The
bags were printed in red and blue ink,
one side containing picture of the
store, and the ship, and the words,
"Merry Christmas Bless the Chill
dren,n while the other side contained
picture of Santa Claus, list of the
number of children receiving gifts in
former years, and these inscriptions:
children, obey your parents"
IT'S Christmas morning-what city full OF Joy
Overflows from the heart OF every girl and boy.
The number of children given pres
ents each year from 1855, when the
count was first taken, was as follows :