Many sights and sounds at this time of the year remind us of happy childhood memories. One of those memories was the traditional window unveiling that occurred the Friday after Thanksgiving.
It was such an enchantment to see all of the windows full of merchandise, sparkling Christmas decorations and one very large Santa.
How many of you remember the big Santa in the Montgomery Bell Dry Goods window, at 511 Court St., each Christmas? His dial phone sat on a table which included a long paper list of children's names. His right hand was poised holding a very large pencil as to write down another name on the list.
The phone would ring and Santa's left arm would rise with the receiver. His greeting was, "Have you been a good girl/boy this year?"
When the dry goods business was moved into a new building up the street to the corner of 7th and Court streets, the old Santa was delegated to the much smaller window on the 7th Street side of the building. It was such a disappointment to many of us.
In 1968, James St. George and Virginia Tucker purchased the figure from Mr. Keeling to replace an old Santa they placed on their second-story balcony for the previous 15 years. The owners of the home, at 1 E. 10th St., continued the tradition of placing the old Santa on their balcony after the Christmas parade so he could continue to make sure the young boys and girls are doing their best to be on his Christmas list.
John Atkinson was in the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Museum last week to inquire what we knew about the old Santa. It seems his grandfather, Jack Atkinson, was the one who made the recording of his voice at the music department at William Woods University, to go along with the Santa in the window. John would very much love to listen to the recording of his grandfather he barely remembers. Much time has passed, and we fear the old record, after so many years of use, has probably been discarded.
As you busy yourself with the many tasks and events during this holiday season, we hope you will take the time to share a favorite Christmas memory with your children and grandchildren.