By 1812Blockhouse
Local New Year’s Eve revelers may have a dry evening — once they make it inside, that is.
One hundred and six years ago, on December 31, 1918, the scene was somewhat similar in Mansfield. According to news coverage of the era, “Mansfield kicked off a year and a half of war restraint in giving 1919 a noisy welcome. New Year’s Eve was celebrated with more than ordinary noise and joyousness.
Although there was a steady downpour of rain during the evening, the streets in the business section were filled and the revelers were gay and happy despite the fact that many of them were drenched.”
In at least one aspect, however, celebrations were quite different. Later in the same story, the paper reported that across town could be heard bells, whistles, and “shooting of firearms, small cannon and bombs.”
It is doubtful that the same type of celebration would be condoned in 2023.
Photo: DALL-E 3
