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Advocate Archives
This week’s look back into the Advocate archives takes us to 1936 when all agreed that business looked bright; to 1949 when mild weather ushered in the holiday season; and to 1963 when native son Joe Gaspa was reported doing well as a toymaker in Utica.
Dec. 31, 1936
Bright Outlook for 1937 Business on Cape
The 1937 outlook for all types of Cape Cod business is brighter than it has been for years, according to Captain Oscar C. Nickerson of Chatham, president of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
In a New Year’s message issued early this week, Captain Nickerson predicted that all Cape towns will enjoy the best summer season they have “ever had.”
“There are many signs pointing to the fulfillment of my prediction. Rentals had begun to increase in many sections early last fall and improvement has continued in this important field since then. Increased rentals, however slight, affect businesses all along the line.
“From January 1935 to January 1936 more than a half million dollars in new building and repair work was undertaken in nine of our towns. When we secure the figures for the past year I am confident that the total will be a great deal higher.”
“Another extremely interesting factor that may make for future improvement in this region is the new interest in the subject of zoning in the towns that do not have zoning ordinances. Property owners and business people are beginning to realize the great importance of our planned and orderly growth in connection with our chief business, summer recreation. We have got to keep our unique atmosphere, which is the big thing we have to sell.”
Dec. 29, 1949
The Advocate Was Saying — Seventy-Five Years Ago Christmas....
‘Weather of almost unprecedented mildness ushered in the time-honored holiday — as pleasant a day as could be wished for, for the enjoyment of giving and receiving.
The Congregational Society had its Tree with its crop of goodies Christmas eve. There was, of course, much merry making over the presents and nought but good cheer prevailed.
The little folks at the Universalist Vestry had a Fair, which was a success, Christmas eve.
Christmas night was commemorated at the vestries of the other churches by speaking, singing, the distribution of presents from the Trees and a general good time.
Some families at their own residences had their trees laden with good things, and these gatherings were quite as enjoyable as at the more crowded places.
There was a midnight mass celebrated at St. Peter’s R.C. Church Christmas eve, which was well attended.
The poor were not forgotten, we are glad to record, and the benevolent who had means were active in providing for the comfort and enjoyment of the less fortunate.’
Dec. 26, 1963
Transplanted Cape Ender Finds Joy as Toymaker
A little profit in money and a lot in love rewards Joseph Gaspa, well-known toymaker of Utica, New York who is a Provincetown native, and left an impressive army of relatives here when he went to seek his fortune in Utica about forty years ago. Mr. Gaspa’s grand nephew, Jimmy Santos, Francis (Flyer) Santos’ son, visited his uncle during the week after Labor Day this year, and reports enthusiastically of the hand-made miniature buildings, fire stations, houses, barns, mangers and gas stations, with telephone switchboard jack cords for gasoline hoses — all painstakingly constructed by Uncle Joe, using his talent and about $2000 of woodworking machinery and tools. Jimmy says there were also knick-knack shelves, rocking chairs, little dinette sets, toy boxes, cradles of all sizes, wheelbarrows, carts, step stools, toy animals on wheels, including rabbits and ducks for Easter.
Interviewed by the Utica Observer-Dispatch recently, Mr. Gaspa, known to all as “Pal,” particularly wanted it known that he hailed from Provincetown on Cape Cod and was captain of a fishing boat named after his wife, the “Nellie G.”
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Dec 27th, 2007