The tradition of lighting trees and homes with festive lights for the holiday season was not always a conventional practice. It was not until 1925 and the encouragement of the electric company (the Rocky Mountain Cooperative) and many valuable prizes offered by the Salt Lake Telegram that electric decorations became the norm outside of the home.
The contest was named “Christmas City Beautiful” and was part of a national trend to place Christmas decorations outside of the home. Prior to the electric companies sponsoring these contests, the majority of households in Salt Lake only decorated the interior of their homes with lights.
Salt Lake was divided into three zones for the purpose of judging with each zone eligible for valuable prizes: the west side (west of Main Street), the northeast side (north of 100 South), and the southeast side (south of 100 South).
Prizes were offered for the best outdoor electric light display. Prizes for the winners in each section include a variety of electrical appliances including an electric coffee set, electric floor lamps, electric waffle irons, electric toasters, electric radian heaters, and electric curling irons.
Suggestions for outdoor displays include lighting evergreen trees located in residential front yard. An resident of the Avenues told the Salt Lake Telegram that he intended to edge his fence with a string of red and green lights while a Sugar House man stated he would display an electric sign on the front porch.
Sources and External Links
- Salt Lake Telegram 1925-12-06
- Salt Lake Telegram 1925-12-08
- Salt Lake Telegram 1925-12-12
- Salt Lake Telegram 1925-12-20
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