If you weren't sure whether May Day was a big deal in New Westminster, the April 28, 1916 edition of the Pacific Canadian left no doubt.
The newspaper's ads enticed citizens with all manner of offerings designed to ensure only the finest May Day.
The T.H. Smith Co. beckoned the womenfolk of New Westminster with an ad proclaiming: "Mothers, we are prepared to help you solve the May Day Dress Problem."
If offered up the latest in "beautiful little May Day frocks," promising to fit girls aged two to 15, for the "moderate sum" of $1 to $4 apiece. The well-dressed kiddie could also sport a smart new hat, if her mother was enticed by the promise of such accessories for the price of 50 cents to $2, plus hosiery for 15, 20 or 25 cents.
W.S. Collister & Co., meanwhile, offered up an array of boys' and girls' hats, with prices at 35, 50 and 75 cents for cotton wash hats, and 25 cents to $1.50 for straw sailors and other popular styles.
Children's hose were available at 25 cents per pair, parasols starting at 20 cents, hair ribbons starting at 15 cents per yard and more — plus, of course, ready-made dress outfits for boys and girls, including boys' wash suits, girls' middy suits, middy waists and skirts, and children's rompers.
And, to ensure none of the day's excitement would be forgotten, T.J. Trapp & Co., Ltd., advertised photographic equipment.
"Many interesting scenes can be snapped on May Day with one of our cameras," their ad said, listing prices from $2 to $25.
It's hard to know, 107 years later, just how much impact those advertisements may have had on New Westminster families.
But a little delve into the New Westminster Archives' online database shows a finely attired array of young people at the 1916 festivities. Evelyn Dawe, by the way, was named May Queen that year. Check out the photos in the carousel above.
New Westminster is a city full of history — and that history includes a variety of community newspapers over its many decades.
In this weekly series, we're taking a look back at the headlines from some of those newspapers, shining a spotlight each week on a notable news story, person or moment from this week in New West history.
Watch for it online every Thursday.
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