If you’re looking for a unique Christmas present that’s purely local, you need go no further than the Dixon Historical Society’s 2014 historical calendar (or just get one for yourself). It’s just off the press.
The calendar has 13 historical photographs taken from local archives or personal collections. The photos were improved and enhanced and give a fascinating look at life in the Dixon area as far back as 100 years or more. Captions accompanying the photographs provide some historical background.
Several of the photos accompany this blog.
Find out what's happening in Dixonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This is the society’s first calendar in 15 years (previous calendars were published in 1988, 1997 and 1998). The calendars are available for a donation of $7.50 at Ace hardware, Dixon Florist and the Chamber of Commerce offices in the railway station. Only 200 were printed and the head of the project, Bill Schroeder, says if past calendar projects are any indication, they’ll sell out fast. Proceeds will go to the Historical Society.
The calendar measures 11” x 17” when open and has a high-quality spiral binding.
Find out what's happening in Dixonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In order, the photos are:
Cover: looking south along North First Street into the business district, circa 1915
January: Dixon’s fire department shows off four of its vehicles in 1928
February: The Schroeder family poses in front of their attractive home in 1890
March: A crowd showed up for the arrival of the first electric train to serve Dixon in 1913
April: Dixon’s imposing high school, built in 1915 and demolished in 1939
May: Harness racing at Dixon’s fairgrounds in 1890
June: A 1920 hay ride for a group of young people
July: Many of Dixon’s young ladies in 1947’s Holy Ghost parade in the downtown
August: Members of the Pedrick family on a deer hunt
September: The Horigans and McElwaines pose outside their home
October: A farm scene with some of the Schroeder ranch’s horses, circa 1890
November: Relatives of Dixon’s founder out for a motorized carriage ride in 1904
December: Service station owner Tige Thomsen throws a snowball in 1937 after a rare snowfall