History of the Kettle
- The kettle first appeared on the streets of San Francisco in the early 1890s. Brainchild of Captain (or Major) Joseph McFee, the kettles were used in a campaign to raise funds for a shelter in the waterfront district. Captain McFee suspended a large cooking pot from a tripod and place a sign above it that read: Keep the pot boiling. Shortly thereafter, Christmas kettles began appearing in communities across the United States and are now an indispensable part of the holiday season.
