Carpet Rag Box Social, Spring Hill House, Jeffersonville, Indiana, Feb. 26, 1904

A box social was a fundraising event as well as a social occasion. In this case, I believe that the guys had to bid on one of the "carpet rag balls," which they'd then have to unwrap in order to discover whose name was inside.

Once a fellow was able to determine which girl's name was inside the rag ball, he could dine with her and partake of the "box of eatables" she brought along. Of course, if a guy had a steady girlfriend, he had darn well better figure out ahead of time which rag ball to bid on!

Box Social

A Carpet Rag Box Social will be held at the Spring Hill House on Friday eve., Feb. 26, 1904.

Proceeds for the benefit of the Spring House School.

Every girl bring a carpet rag ball with her name in the center. Also a box of eatables.

Similar events held at different times and places:

"Monticello [located in Kansas] was well represented at the 'carpet-rag' box social at Round Prairie school house last Wednesday evening."
--Olathe Mirror (Olathe, Kansas), Jan. 20, 1898, p. 2.

"Hallowe'en Rag Ball. A Hallowe'en Carpet-rag Ball will be held at the Trout Creek hall Saturday evening, November 3. Ladies should bring a carpet rag ball with name inside and a box supper for two. A price limit of $1.50 per ball has been set and the proceeds will be used for the purchase of playground apparatus for the Flat school."
--Sanders County Ledger (Thompson Falls, Montana), Oct. 25, 1917, p. 1.