DelMar History: HOLLY WREATH MAN

HOLLY WREATH MAN

In the late 1800's wreath making was a cottage industry with Sussex county farmers

for the Christmas season. Holly trees were native to southern Delaware . Wreaths were used

as barter near the holiday season and were of good value.

In 1903 , Charles Jones, a fertilizer salesman in the farm section, had an idea. He first

upset his wife when he came home with $50 worth of 2 cent postage stamps. With the stamps

he sent advertizing fliers to prospective customers in northers cities, then set about organizing

wreath makers around Milton and neighboring towns. The first year he turned a $350 profit.

Not bad for six weeks work.

The southern Delaware farmer realized making holly wreaths in the fall would be a

profitable sideline. The holly tree was everywhere to be harvester branch by branch into a

32 inch switches that made a 14 inch wreath. The makers looked for and used branches with

red berries. Green and red were traditional Christmas colors. During the years that the holly

tree did not produce berries, artificial red berries became in use. The wreaths brought good

money to the county.. A farmer, or his wife and children, could bank $20 a day.

Besides Jones, other dealers got in the swing at Millsboro, Laurel and Seaford but

Jones was the most prominent and shipped large orders to big city department stores and

government offices.

Charles Gerald Jones became the “Holly Wreath Man” and his wife was known

to be satisfied with his $50 postage stamp purchase. Milton became known as the “Land of

Holly” and in 1939 holly tree was named the state tree of Delaware.

Abstract by Harrison H. 06/30/18, of Delaware Diary by Michael Morgan

DelMar History