THE CHICAGO HISTORY JOURNAL: November 2011

Isaac Woolf and The Newsboys: A Thanksgiving Tradition

November 24, 2011

Isaac Woolf knew how to celebrate Thanksgiving. For twenty-five years Woolf, president of Woolf's Clothing House ("the store with a horseshoe over the door and the Palmer House across the way")hosted a Thanksgiving "Newsboys' Dinner." In 1882, when Woolf began the yearly tradition, 100 "ragged and hungry little guests" were served. By 1905, the year before Woolf unexpectedly died at the age of 54, over 10,000 of Chicago's hungry poor were enjoying the feast.

Like just about everyone else in Chicago, Isaac Woolf came from somewhere else. He was born in London, England on January 3, 1853, but when Isaac was quite young, his father brought the family to America. They first settled in Lafayette, Indiana but it was difficult going and the family struggled. Isaac wanted to help so he landed his first job - as a newsboy. He had other jobs, but never forgot his studies. He was even able to eventually attend business college. There were several years in Cincinatti learning the clothing business before he came to Chicago where in 1880 Isaac, along with his brothers Edward, Benjamin and Harry - opened their own store on Madison Street. Ten years later the store on State Street and Monroe was launched.

But, Isaac Woolf never forgot his roots and the newsboys' dinner became his favorite philanthropic effort. It cost him about $5000 a year for the turkey and all the trimmings that went with it, but Woolf considered it money well spent. The Chicago Tribune described the November 27, 1895 event (click on for readable image):

There is no question that Isaac Woolf was a good man, but he was also a businessman. Every year the newsboys' Thanksgiving dinner was featured in his clothing ads:

On October 22, 1906, Isaac Woolf was found dead in his home at 3431 Michigan Avenue. He was buried in Rosehill Cemetery. Of the funeral service the Chicago Tribune noted that, "It is probable that newsboys will turn out in large numbers."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING from THE CHICAGO HISTORY JOURNAL!

On Chicago: Isaac Woolf and his Thanksgiving Day Guests

November 22, 2011

To the adult American citizen Thanksgiving day means a festival memorial of our early fathers, and their courageous battle against the hardships of a new country.

To the Chicago newsboy it means just one thing—Isaac Woolf's turkey dinner, where every one of the thousands of "newsies" can eat his fill, and carry a drum stick away as a souvenir. Isaac Woolf has earned his own immortality. He will live as long as a Chicago newsboy is alive to tell, in future years, his children and grandchildren of that great yearly feast, prepared by the kindhearted philanthropist, to which every hungry ragged little urchin yelling papers was most cordially invited. And many of these newsboys will tell this story about their own wide hearths in their own homes of stone or brick, to children enjoying all the luxuries of wealth and high station. For very often it happens that the right material is in these little street arabs for the making of men, — men the nation is more than proud to claim.

Isaac Woolf, millionaire merchant prince of Chicago, whose pleasure it is every Thanksgiving day to invite all the Chicago newsboys to dine with him, was once a London newsboy, harking his papers morning and night, in good and bad weather, selling to gentlemen and coachmen, to ladies and servant girls, quick to see the prospective customer, quick to reach him first, that the pennies he should carry home might be sufficient to keep hunger and cold from his two younger brothers. A poor little cold, wet, homeless, uncared for child, making his way in the world in the only way he knew, trying his best to keep alive, governed by that sense of self preservation which controls even the motherless babes. Little did he dream of the future his energy was to earn for him.

He early showed a desire to better his condition. When still a small child he came to America, and took up his old business—the only one he knew, the selling of papers.

He was a cheery little chap, but there were times when he looked wistfully toward the comfortable side of life and wished with the wistful longing of childhood, for some of life's joys. Thanksgiving Day he felt most forlorn,—when every one feasted and was merry. He watched the people shopping.he saw wagon loads of turkeys carted to homes, and sometimes he peeped in at windows and saw happy families sitting about heavily laden tables, and oh, how he did want some of the turkey and cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie! Only a boy can do full justice to a real old fashioned Thanksgiving dinner, and this boy had never had one in his life.

Year followed year, and finally he went to Chicago. Here he quit the newspaper business and went into a largeclothing store. From that day he entered the store, it was a steady climb, promotion following promotion, until he came to be considered the most valuable employee in the house. The firm branched out and opened up astore on the West side of the city with Isaac Woolf as manager. Here he became so popular and his individuality was such a potent factor in the firm's success that he decided a share in the business was due him. His request, however, was met with flat refusal. And then it was that Isaac Woolf showed of what kind of material he was made. He withdrew from the concern to which he had given such valuable service and opened up a store of his own across the street. His customers of years, who had known him but not his employers, now flocked to the new store, and in a short time he had all the trade, putting the other store completely out of business. He started on borrowed capital buthis fine management, and his personal popularity brought him such rapid returns that he soon owned the entire store, without i cent of debt. From this beginning his rise to wealth and high position among Chicago's most substantial business men, was a matter of rapid growth, of which the opening of his present large store on State street was the climax.

When the sun of prosperity began to shine on Isaac Woolf, he did not forget that there was a world upon which the same sun did not shine in any noticeable degree. He celebrated his first real Thanksgiving day by inviting one hundred and twenty little west side newsboys to dine with him.

He has kept up the practice each year, until now, the guests number 10,000, but if there were 50,000 it would be all the same to Isaac Woolf.

There is used at one of these annual feasts: 520 turkeys, 10 barrels of mashed potatoes, 25 barrels of apples, 4 barrels of cranberry sauce, 1,500 gallons of milk, 2,000 loaves of bread, 50 boxes of grapes, 250 bunches of bananas, 25 boxes of oranges, 20,000 cakes, 1,800 pies.

Isaac Woolf deserves every penny he possesses. His liberality is not confined merely to newsboys. Every employee, every business man who has dealings with him, is ready to pronounce him the most genial, liberal, kind hearted, just and generous of men, as totally unsecured by hardship and denial, as he is unspoiled by wealth and position.

Image courtesy of the Oregon State Library.

By Anne Shannon Monroe (1877-1942)

Common-Sense, November, 1904

Chicago's First Thanksgiving

November 21, 2011

The recurrence of Thanksgiving Day recalls to the mind of an "old settler" the first day set aside in Chicago for the formal giving of thanks.

It was November 25, 1841, just forty years ago, when the population was five thousand, seven hundred and fifty-two. Why the inhabitants of this city had not previously expressed their gratitude to God for blessings bestowed, the old settler was unable to tell; but he knew that in the fore part of November, 1841, some of the religious people circulated a petition asking Mayor Sherman to set aside a day for thanksgiving.

The document was submitted to the city council and November 22, on motion of Alderman Ira Miltamore, who represented the first ward, his honor was directed to grant the prayer. Accordingly, he issued the following proclamation (published in the American of November 23, 1841), which is chiefly interesting on account of the change that lapse of time has brought about with reference to the notice of observance:

PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

Whereas, in accordance with the petition of several good citizens, it hath been unanimously resolved, by the common council of the city of Chicago, that the mayor appoint Thursday, the 25th day of November inst., as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.

And whereas it has pleased Almighty God to crown the outgoing year with the abundance of His Providence, and to have continued to the people of our city, as well as of our state and nation, those dispensations of His Goodness, whereby the anticipations of seedtime and the golden promises of an unusually prosperous harvest have been realized and gathered in; and as the Pilgrim fathers, in the wilderness, set apart days of fasting and prayer, in honor of the Divine Goodness in supplying them with the means of subsistence, but more particularly for the freedom they enjoyed in the exercise of every social and religious privilege, so the hearts of their descendants must feel a deeper gratitude that the blessings secured by the toil of their ancestors have descended to them, and that every returning year brings with it additional assurances that the fabric, founded in their wisdom and example, is now adequate to perpetuate similar blessings to their children.

Now, therefore, in view of our many blessings, and in pursuance of the resolution aforesaid, I do hereby appoint and set apart Thursday, the 25th inst., as a day of public thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God.

Given under my hand and the seal of the city, this 23d day of November, Anno Domini, One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty-one.

Francis C. Sherman, (Attest) Mayor. Thomas Hoyne, Clerk.

A TRADITION.

There is a tradition that a Thanksgiving Day had been previously observed pretty generally throughout Illinois. During Governor [Joseph] Duncan's administration (1834-38) a proclamation signed by him was circulated, calling upon the people to was attending read it from the pulpit. Nearly everybody kept the day, however, only a few being aware that the document was bogus. Peter Borin, who preached in a Methodist church, was the only minister in Chicago who did not fall into the trap which was set, according to the story, by "Long" John Wentworth. As stated, however, November 25, 1841, was the first Thanksgiving Day generally observed in Chicago. Since that time the day has been regarded as a holiday by the ungodly and kept religiously by the Christians.

FROM:

Chicago: Its History and Its Builders by Josiah Seymour Currey, 1912

Photo Credit: Executive House Thanksgiving Menu, 1961. Chuckman's Nostalgia and Memorabilia

Temporarily Out of Order

November 6, 2011

What can I say? Life has just gotten in the way lately.

No, The Journal has not been abandoned. Facebook and Twitter posts are still appearing regularly, but there has obviously been a deafening silence on the other sites. Not to worry. I shall return! Having a bit of surgery in a couple weeks (just in time for Thanksgiving) and a bit more "maintenance" work after the first of the year. But, by March I'll be up and running (literally) and better than ever - both me AND The Chicago History Journal. I have put too much time and love into this project to give it up. See the picture above? That's my library. It used to be the living room and there are five more bookshelves that you can't see. Many of those shelves are filled with books on Chicago history. Yep, I have some serious bucks invested in this project! No way will I give it up!

For the next few months I will do what I can to update some of the pages, but it won't be easy. As always, guest posts will be welcome, and I will make a herculean effort to publish them in a timely manner. So, if you have an idea or an article that you would like to see included on these pages, now is the time. I would greatly appreciate the help.

In the meantime, I hope you will stay with me. The library may be temporarily closed, so to speak, but I'm not going anywhere. At least until next year - when I can once again emerge from the Van Buren Street South Shore station and happily declare, "Hello, Gorgeous! I'm Baaaack!""