(This article was written by George and Margaret Rupprecht on information gleaned from public records and private sources including the files of the
Johnsonburg Press.) 

Instanter was a lively little town and enjoyed a high degree of friendship and hospitality.  The cornet band furnished music for all occasions and the glee club was very much in demand for public and private functions.  A literary society with a membership of forty-five persons met weekly on Friday evenings with programs varied and interesting, young ladies organized a Junior Guild and another group established a girl's secret society.  The Ancient Order of Gobblers sponsored many social activities.  dances were frequently held in Howe's Hotel hall and the hall of Yonker's Instanter hotel, and these were also attended by young people from the surrounding towns.  Many of the younger element also traveled to neighboring towns to enjoy the light fantastic exercise.  Dinner and dance parties were also held by local and out of town guests at the hotels by groups from Wilcox, Johnsonburg and other towns. 

The following is the menu served at the Howe Hotel dining room on Christmas day of 1910, for the price of forty cents -- celery and olives; cream of chicken soup; roast goose, stewed chicken and dumplings, roast turkey with cranberry sauce, or spare ribs with brown gravy; mashed potatoes, boiled rice, apple sauce and stewed tomatoes; Christmas plum pudding, grape jelly; mince pie, vanilla ice cream, delicate cake, fruit, confections and coffee.