Baby Announcements

Did I get your attention? I just wanted to share something fun. My grandmother has been working on a history project and scanning old newspapers by the thousands. She enjoyed the old birth announcements with their unique wording, and was kind enough to copy them and send them my way for me to enjoy! One very interesting thing I observed was the amount of babies born measuring 9, 10 or more pounds! These turn of the century Montana women were pretty amazing! These date from circa 1885 to 1915.

"The stork visited the Phil Sappington home this week, leaving a 13 1/2 # baby boy." (Youch!)

"Born to Mr. & Mrs. Catrell, a daughter. Mr. Catrell came to the office wearing a $10.00 smile and announcing 'She's a dandy and looks just like me.'"

"A fine girl came into the residence of Bert Knox on Wednesday. Mrs. Knox is doing finely and Mr. Knox is already beginning to figure problems of 'it takes half a yard to make a dress for my daughter now, how much will it take in fifteen years, and how much will her bonnets cost?' He says he doesn't care"

"A little Miss Gleed has come to gladden the home of Mr. & Mrs. Edward Gleed. The mother is doing nicely, but the father is in a precarious (perhaps hilarious is the better word) condition. Congratulations are extended by all their friends."

"Mr. H.R. Foster is wearing a smile that just won't rub off-- the cause being a nine pound baby boy who arrived at his house last week."

"The Vene Patterson family have another member added in the person of baby boy Patterson. Mrs. Martin is kindly helping with the household duties while the family cultivates his acquaintance."

Isn't the language fun!? There's dozens more, but that gives you an idea.