Invitations

A vintage Halloween party invitation. "Yooooo are invited to a party at my house on Nov. 7 at 7:30 o'clock. Laura Wakley, Y.C.S. Pal."

A vintage Halloween party invitation. "Come to a Hallowe'en party at the home of Alma Groff on Tues. eve., Oct. 31, from 8:30 to xxxx o'clock."

A unique invitation for a Halloween party that probably took place in Reading, Pennsylvania, on Friday, October 25, 1929. The bat at left unfolds to reveal the witch at right opening her arms to invite potential partygoers to "see what fate holds through the year for you." For separate views of the bat and witch, see This Bat Comes from the Witches' Den to Summon You! and Come Take a Stir at the Witches' Brew .

"This bat comes from the witches' den to summon you!" A wide-eyed bat that reveals a Halloween party invitation when unfolded. For the complete invitation, see Halloween Party Invitation with Bat and Witch .

"Come take a stir at the witches brew / And see what fate holds through the year for you." "At the stroke of 8. On Fri., Oct. 25th. Place 548 S. 19th St. Edna Gerber. 'MASK.'" A beckoning witch invites potential partygoers to come stir the witches' brew. For the complete invitation, see Halloween Party Invitation with Bat and Witch .

"Fifteenth Annual Ball of the Reliance Fire Co., January 1st, 1879, Lady's Invitation."

A poetic invitation to a church fundraising event featuring pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day. The card is not dated, and I have not been able to determine the city or state where James P. Wolff's residence on South Broad Street may have been located. A Google search turned up a brief mention of a similar gathering in 1896: "A Pumpkin Social at Thanksgiving was a novelty, the proceeds furnishing eleven baskets of food for our poorest families" ( Sixteenth Annual Report of the General Board of Managers of the Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the Year 1896-97 , Cincinnati: Western Methodist Book Concern Press, 1897, p. 115). -------- Pumpkin Social Thanksgiving Day Evening Residence Mr. J. P. Wolff, South Broad St. A pumpkin seed in my garden fell, And it grew, and grew. And it said to the Rose of Sharon blossoms "A Thanksgiving pumpkin I'll be to you. Let me be of use to get, Money on the new church debt. My heart when freed form all its eyes, Makes delicious pumpkin pies. Call your friends and make a feast. Give each one a great big piece, Accompanied by a glass of milk. Soon over town, 'twill be the talk. Some wax candles you must put, In the arm holes of my coat, For a jack o'lantern fine, On the gathering throng to shine. In my pocket there is room for a lot of silver coin. Even my seeds may be of use, While concealed they're hard to guess." Now have the roses of Sharon agreed, To the plan of Thansgiv'g pumpkin seed So we've come to invite you to the treat, At the home of Jas. Wolff, South Broad St. Remember the time, Thanksgiving day, Don't anyone think of remaining away. Bring all your friends, don't let the time pass Without lending your aid to our S.S. class.

"Social Party. Yourself and lady are respectfully invited to attend a social party at the Lansingville Hotel, Friday evening, February 22, 1884 . Music by Jacob's Full Band. Bill, $1.50. W. DeCamp, proprietor."

"Basket. Yourself and friend are cordially invited to attend an evening sociable, complimentary to Mr. Clayton W. Souders, on Saturday evening, October 12, '95. Meet at his home, near Maytown, at 7 o'clock. Committee: Mary K. Felker, Lizzie H. Farmer. Should the weather be unfavorable the sociable will be held the following Wednesday evening."

Church groups and other organizations used variations of this poem to invite members to "Birthday Party" gatherings that were both social get-togethers and fundraising events. See additional examples from 1910 and 1912 (below). Birthday Party, in the Methodist Church, Parryville, Tuesday evening, February 18, 1896, at seven o'clock. Invitation. This "Birthday Party" is given for you, 'tis something novel, something new. We send to you a little sack--please either send or bring it back With as many cents as you're years old, we vow the number will ne'er be told. Methodist people with greetings hearty, fell sure you'll attend your own birthday party. Benefit of the Ladies' Aid Society of the Methodist Church. Cake and coffee free.

Church groups and other organizations used variations of this poem to invite members to "Birthday Party" gatherings that were both social get-togethers and fundraising events. See additional examples from 1896 and 1912 (below). The Mite Society will give a Birthday Party, Thursday evening, Sept. 15th, 1910, in the Nantmeal M. E. Church, Rev. J. S Tomlinson, pastor. This birthday party Is given to you; We hope you will come, And propose if you do, An agreeable time. Some good things to eat And besides many others A musical treat. As we could not secure The number of candles To let your light shine, We send this fandangle; Put safely within it As many round pennies As years you are old. Your light will be bright. If you send it or bring it. While we will keep dark, If you wish, what's within it. The Mite Society With greetings most hearty, Feel sure you will come To your own birthday party.

Church groups and other organizations used variations of this poem to invite members to "Birthday Party" gatherings that were both social get-togethers and fundraising events. See additional examples from 1896 and 1910 (below). Birthday Offering, will be held in the Social Hall of Cookman M. E. Church, October 15, 1912, by the Epworth League in honor of the 45th birthday of George W. Young. Upon this card, a little sack, We give to you with pleasure; Please either send or bring it back, Having filled it from your treasure. To put in pennies were are told, As many years as you are old; And if your name in public be read, We promise the number will never be said. Refreshments will be served to all, and we kinly invite you to make a call; And earnestly pray that the Lord will bless And crown the work with abundant success. The proceeds are for the benefit of the society. If not convenient to attend, please forward sack with your offering.

Notice! On account of bad weather and roads the New Year's Party at Hotel Curtis, Barnes Corners, N.Y., was postponed until Friday evening, Jan. 10th, 1896. All are cordially invited to attend. G. S. Curtis, prop'r.

Visit our Sunday-School Air Port; come on a glorious flight Far to the lands of the Bible, shining in radiant light. Straight through the heaven of beauty bathed in the sunshine of love, Come on a tour of the Bible all other journeys above! Airships are waiting and ready, the pilots are steady and true; Off we are starting next Sunday, and here is a ticket for you! Handwritten at the bottom: "Zion Lutheran Sunday School, E. Petersburg, Penna., October 27, 1929." Printed on the other side: "Here's your pass for the take-off next Sunday!" Handwritten address on the other side: "Misses Stella and Martha Weaver, R.D. #1, Manheim, Penna." Postmarked: East Petersburg, Pa., Oct 23, 1929.

Spring Opening on Saturday, April 22d, 1871. On the above day the subscriber will have her Spring Opening, when she will display a large variety of bonnets, hats, flowers, ribbons, silk, guipure and cotton laces, crapes, veils, nets, collars, cuffs, &c. Ladies are cordially invited to call and examine her assortment, whether they purchase or not. Mrs. M. A. Zinn, Main Street, West of Penn, Shippensburg, Pa.

"Witches Watch - Oct. 31st, '14. 8:00 p.m. - Masks! 2439 No. Eleventh Street. Admission - 25¢. ea. Guess you know who all!" Handwritten note on the back of the invitation: "George: Let me know if you come and how --singles or doubles! Marg. Hunsicker, 2852 N. Orkney St." A hundred-year-old Halloween party invitation! The flustered jack-o'-lanterns appear to be printed die-cut pumpkin shapes, but I'm not certain whether the witch silhouette was cut by hand or from a die. After using Google to search for the addresses (2439 N. Eleventh Street and 2852 N. Orkney Street), I believe that the location is probably Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I was surprised to discover that I couldn't find any precedent for the term "Witches Watch." I assumed that watching for the appearance of witches would be a common activity--and party theme--during the Halloween season, but the only reference to a similarly named event that I was able to locate came from the Spokane Daily Chronicle , Oct. 21, 1937, p. 3: "'Witches' Watch Halloween Ball. Chewelah, Wash., Oct. 21--(Special.)--Witches and pumpkins of paper decorated the Masonic hall Wednesday night when the Eastern Star held its invitational dance. Refreshments were served." Or perhaps I have it all wrong--maybe the witches are the ones who are doing the watching. Or--on a sillier note--could it refer to a timepiece worn by witches? Any other sightings of "Witches Watch" out there?

Autumn Sociable. Social Twelve cordially request the pleasure of your company and that of your friend on Saturday evening, Oct. 10th, 1896, at 7:15 o'clock, to join a social party at the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Ressler at Aberdeen. Committee: Social Twelve. Should the weather prove unfavorable the party will be held the following Saturd'y. Refreshments required.

"Kaiser-Frazer presents your invitation to see the new car. DeCola Motor Sales, Newark, Circleville." The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation manufactured automobiles in the 1940s and 1950s. I believe that the car pictured on this real photo postcard is probably a Henry J , a compact car produced in the early 1950s. DeCola Motor Sales was a car dealership located in Ohio.