Christmas shopping can be challenging, but back in the first half of the 20th century, North Carolinians got a helpful hint from a most unlikely source: the Carolina Power & Light Company. The tip? “Give Her a Hoover.”
Raleigh-based CP&L unveiled its not-so-catchy slogan in an otherwise festive holiday window display — with an actual Hoover vacuum cleaner as the centerpiece — tempting men to buy their significant others an apparatus for doing household chores. Hey, nothing says romance like a vacuum cleaner, right?
Actually, CP&L’s Hoover display was part of a nationwide “Give Something Electrical” promotion that began in the 1910s and lasted several decades as a conscious effort to give the economy — and electric power companies in particular — a jolt. The campaign must have worked, because electric utilities across the country developed similar promotions.
Of course, the “Give Her a Hoover” and “Give Something Electrical” campaigns seem antiquated these days, but the assurance of a warm, light-filled home on Christmas morning? Well, that’s a gift that should never be taken for granted.
All aboard! This magic-filled train ride through a Montgomery County wonderland includes seasonal sweets, plenty of cheer, and a few extra-special passengers.
Communities across the state celebrate the holiday season with sparkling lights, vibrant displays, and festive events that bring joy to the world.
North Carolina’s celebrated homes and historic districts are never more beautiful than by candlelight at Christmastime.
The thrill of the hunt takes on new fervor during the holidays. Seek and find in Randolph County, where the bounty of antiques can tempt a picker to abandon her list.
