"From the Land of Holly: Milton's Wreath-Making Industry" Presentation at the Lewes Historical Society
11/14/2014 at 12:00 PM
Location: Lewes Historical Society
Address: 142 Second Street
Lewes, DE 19958
Allison Schell, the Director of the Milton Historical Society, will deliver a lecture on the impact of Milton’s Wreath-making Industry from 1920-1950. In 1939, holly was named the state tree of Delaware and two men could pick enough holly each day to make 450 wreaths. In 1940, a family could make up to 10,000 holly wreaths during the holiday season and earning up to $500. In 1951, the Jones the Holly Wreath Man company made an 11 ½ foot wide wreath that hung in Rockefeller Center in NYC for the holiday season. With the implementation of industrialized production of Christmas paraphernalia the handmade holly wreath production faded. Learn about the rise and fall of this fascinating mid-twentieth century industry and the lasting effect it had on the Coastal Delaware region. To close the lecture Milton Historical Society volunteer, Mike Wajda, will present a wreath making demonstration.