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Box socials, necktie socials, and even rag carpet socials were a tradition of the early 1900s. These social events were often fundraisers for a school, church or civic project. They were held at the town hall, school, church or someone’s home.
For a box social, young ladies would submit decorated boxes filled with a dinner or lunch for two to be auctioned off. The young men would bid on the boxes for the prize of a meal with the owner of the box. Generally, the boxes were anonymous, so the men didn't know which box belonged to whom. They also didn’t know what the box contained, and the mystery and sometimes humorous results created a lot of fun. The auctioneer would use teasing, joking, and competition to get the highest bid. If a lady was interested in a certain man, she would drop hints to him on which box to bid, maybe by tying on a special ribbon or flower for him to watch for.
In 1902, Spring Grove School held a rag carpet social. The ladies were instructed to “bring a ball of carpet rags with her name inside – the bigger the better.” And the men were to, “bring their purses and a good strong voice”. For the cost of 25 cents, the men would unwind a ball of rags to find the name of the lady inside who he would accompany for supper. This must have been hilarious watching as the men labored to unwind some very large rag balls. This particular social event also included songs, instrumentals, recitations, a harmonica duo and even a whistling solo. Selim Pierce entertained with a bass solo, and also violin music.
The necktie social was also very popular. In this version, the young woman would sew an apron and necktie out of the same fabric and wear the apron to the social. The necktie would be tied somewhere on her box or basket to be auctioned off. In 1903 a clothes pin social was held at the Town Hall on Main Street. Ladies again brought a lunch for two, together with two clothes pins decorated alike. One clothespin would be sold to the highest bidder and the other kept by the lady for comparison with the one sold. Prizes were given to the highest and lowest bidders to much entertainment.
In 1907 a box social was held at the home of James Westlake, owner of the creamery, who lived at 8103 Blivin Street, probably as a fundraiser for the Methodist Church across the street, of which he was a member. A large crowd was in attendance and the boxes sold as high as $2.65 (almost $60 in today’s dollars). They raised over $20 which is over $500 today!
Story by Laura Frumet
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