The Bucks County Times sponsored a baby contest in August 1937 for which photos of children under the age of 6 could be entered free of charge. A total of $450 in prizes was advertised: the “first grand award $250 cash and a silver loving cup,” second award $100, third award $50, fourth award $25, fifth award $15, sixth award $10. Citizens could vote for their favorite baby photo by obtaining baby coupons from any of 28 Doylestown merchants, “one coupon with each fifty cent cash purchase.” Twenty-six single photos plus one of a set of twins were submitted for a total of 28 babies entered in the “Dollars to You — Popular Baby Contest.” Entries came from Doylestown, Bristol, Ivyland, Perkasie, Dublin and numerous other Bucks County towns.
On Sept. 7, 1937, “the big ballot box was opened at the contest headquarters in the Lehman Building.” (The Lehman Building was razed when the Bucks County Courthouse was constructed in 1962.) When the coupons were counted, Lee Steller, the curly blond-haired son of Mr. and Mrs. George Steller of Point Pleasant, was the winner of the first award.
Little Joan Chubb, with her hair bows and toothy grin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Chubb of Doylestown, was the winner of the second award. Third through sixth prizes were then awarded. “A gathering of over 100 people witnessed the presentation and photographs were taken of the winners.”
Source: Thanks to Joan Chubb Arrowood of Doylestown (the second award winner) who provided the newspaper clippings from the Bucks County Times on which this article is based.
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