Editor’s note: The below column features a number of short selections relating to New Year’s Day that were culled from one of St. Cloud, Minnesota’s weekly newspapers in 1876. We took the editorial liberty of reordering these selections.

St. Cloud Journal

The Centennial year was ushered in amid the ringing of bells and firing of cannon. Nearly all the principal cities of the Union extended a hearty and boisterous welcome to “seventy-six.”

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The new year was ushered in at mid night with the firing of cannon. There was a general suspension of business during Saturday, but no calling was done. Why has this pleasant custom been allowed to fall into disuse here?

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New Year’s Day of 1776, the Union flag of thirteen States was flung out for the first time at Washington’s headquarters. This was not the flag of independence which came later, but a combination of the British ensign, with thirteen red and white stripes, one for each State.

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In accordance with the announcement made in last week’s Journal, the race between the St. Cloud and the Sauk Rapids boats, on the Mississippi, came off New Year’s afternoon. The former craft was manned by J. L. Wilson and Levi Geer, F. Raymond captain, the latter by the Griffin Bros, A St. Cyr Capt. They were started from the Lowry flats by ex-Mayor Boyd at 2 o’clock. Sometimes one boat was ahead and sometimes the other, but when they reached the goal, the railroad bridge, they were side by side, and the result was declared a tie.

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One feature of the observance of New-Year’s Day in Chicago deserves public notice and approval. This was the general absence of wine from the parlors and dining-rooms. Few, if any, people of good taste found it necessary to entertain their callers by stealing away their brains, and, when wine was offered at all, it was generally accompanied with an apology, which showed a consciousness of the impropriety of the act. The truth is, the custom of ushering in the New Year with a polite spree has fallen into disrepute. It is now a custom more honored in the breach than in the observance. — Chicago Tribune

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The Hon. Edward Everett has been selected for Centennial orator. — Mankato Union

As Mr. Everett has been dead for several years, the Centennial managers are exhibiting an unexpected degree of enterprise in securing his return to deliver an oration at the exhibition.

(Originally published in The St. Cloud Journal, St. Cloud, Minnesota, January 6, 1876)