"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus!"
--From an Editorial by Francis Pharcellus Church that appeared in the New York Sun, Sep. 21, 1897. See Is There a Santa Claus?, New York Sun, Sep. 21, 1897, p. 6, col. 3 (written in response to a letter from Virginia O'Hanlon, 115 West Ninety-Fifth Street, New York City). To read more about the famous editorial, see "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" in WIKIPEDIA - The Free Encyclopedia (visited Dec. 20, 2015).
Francis Pharcellus Church, Author of the Famous
Editorial "Is There a Santa Claus?" Source:
The Free Encyclopedia (visited Dec. 20, 2015).
NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.
Christmas Eve is a magical time in the Town of Pelham. Many Pelham youngsters eagerly anticipate the arrival of dear old Santa Claus and his bundle of joy.
In this regard, times were no different on Christmas Eve in 1935 and 1936. Though the nation's economy remained ravaged by, and in the grip of, the Great Depression, every single Pelham youngster throughout the entire Town sat at a window with his or her face pressed against cold panes of glass eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve both those years eighty and seventy-nine years ago, respectively. Really! Every . . . single . . . child . . . in . . . town. Santa, you see, actually visited every single home, apartment, and household in the Town of Pelham shortly after dark on December 24, 1935 and December 24, 1936.
In the spirit of Christmas, over one hundred volunteer Pelhamites dressed as Santa on those two Christmas Eves and loaded children's gifts into their sacks. The event was known as "Community Santa Claus." Both years the event was led by three chairpeople -- one for each of the three Villages of the Pelhams. The Pelham Santas traversed the streets of the town stopping in each home or apartment to deliver gifts to children and wishes of good cheer to adults. In 1935, each Santa was dressed in suits made by Pelham women and carried a sack filled with candy and "Yo Yo tops" for the children. (There is no known record of what was given in 1936, although you can be certain it included "candy.") As one might expect during the depths of the Great Depression, one report stated that "[i]n some instances of dire circumstances it is reported that the Community Santa Claus was the only expression of Christmas."
The Community Santa Claus events were not without their difficulties. One report noted that although all the children of the town were ready for the event and awaited Santa's appearance breathlessly, the dogs of Pelham were not ready. Pelham's canines repeatedly had to be fended off in the fine tradition of the delivery persons associated with the United States Postal Service. There were also some mishaps. In 1935, one of the Santas stepped on a nail that pierced his foot. He hobbled along happily until he completed his rounds and then treated his wound. Another Santa that year wore a fedora over his Santa cap for warmth in between stops. He lost that fedora on Linden Avenue. Another Santa found it and turned it over to the local newspaper that encouraged the Santa with initials "E.D.O." to come forward and reclaim his hat.
When volunteers faltered, others stepped into the breach. For example, two of the volunteer Santas were unable to participate as scheduled on Christmas Eve in 1936. Another volunteer, Dominic Amato (Mayor of the Village of North Pelham), took on not only his own gift delivery responsibilities, but also the gift delivery responsibilities of the other two volunteers.
It turns out, however, that Santa's map of the Town of Pelham may have been defective. For two years in a row the poor little tykes of Ancon Avenue in the Village of Pelham Heights were left off Santa's list and did not receive their promised visits. It seems as though it was not because the little urchins of Ancon Avenue had been naughty. Rather, it seems as though there had been a genuine error. The week after Christmas Eve, the local newspaper printed a letter to the editor from a distraught grandfather whose initials were "S.K.N." who painted a sad picture regarding Santa's failure to visit his little grandson on Ancon Avenue. The letter read:
"I read the notice in your paper about Santa Claus coming to every child. I read the article to my little grandson. He watched from 5 o'clock until 8:30 o'clock. Santa Claus came down Eastland avenue, went down Second street, before 6 o'clock, and never came on Ancon avenue. He did the same last year. I feel our children are entitled to the same attention as other children. You know what it means to a child to have and see Santa Claus come to see them. I hope another year Santa will not forget Ancon avenue."
The newspaper replied saying that Santa had been alerted and if the grandfather would call and provide his address, Santa would visit the child on New Year's Eve!
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It is Christmas Eve 2015, dear Pelham. As is apparent regarding the Santa visits on Christmas Eves in Pelham in 1935 and 1936, the Spirit of Christmas long has been part of Pelham life. Here is hoping that Santa is good to each and every one of you tonight, young and old. Happy Holidays!
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Below is the text of a number of articles that reference the events described in today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog. Each is followed by a citation and link to its source.
"EVERY HOME IN PELHAM VISITED BY SANTA CLAUS
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Community Goodwill Demonstration on Christmas Eve Meets With Popular Favor.
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Santa Claus was a busy man in Pelham on Tuesday night, Christmas Eve. With the assistance of about 100 men the Community Santa Claus, garbed in the conventional attire for Santa Claus, visited every house and apartment, extended a cheery Christmas greeting to the adults and distributed candy and toys to the children. In some instances of dire circumstances it is reported that the Community Santa Claus was the only expression of Christmas.
It is difficult to determine who got the greatest benefit out of the Community Santa Claus program, those who impersonated old Kris Kringle or those whom he visited. At any rate it is certain that many children who may have been on the verge of disbelieving the old story about the Christmas Eve visitor were convinced again that there is a true Santa Claus, and many adults who welcomed hi on Tuesday night report that their Christmas was made happier by the townwide demonstration of good will stabed by the committee in charge of the program.
Mrs. Roger B. Hull, president of the Parent-Teacher Association directed the program of Santa Claus in Pelham Manor. Village Attorney George w. Hinckley was chairman for Pelham Heights and Village Clerk Walter H. McIlroy in North Pelham. The costumes were prepared by a group of women."
Source: EVERY HOME IN PELHAM VISITED BY SANTA CLAUS -- Community Goodwill Demonstration on Christmas Eve Meets With Popular Favor, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 27, 1935, Vol. 26, No. 38, p. 1, col. 5.
"Santa Had To Make Friends.
When Santa Claus made his rounds on Christmas Eve, he found that although the children and grownups were expecting him, the dogs were not, and there were reports that many of the aides of Santa Claus had difficulty in convincing household pets that they were on friendly missions.
'Nice doggie,' was as much a part of Santa's story as 'Merry Christmas.'"
Source: Santa Had To Make Friends, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 27, 1935, Vol. 26, No. 38, p. 2, col. 3.
"SUNBEAMS
NOT ALL BRIGHT. . .
Santa Claus did his work under severe difficulties in one section of Pelham. Herman Clauson, who acted as an aide on Fifth avenue, ran a nail in his foot early on Christmas Eve, but he hobbled around his route and did his work with a smile."
Source: SUNBEAMS NOT ALL BRIGHT, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 27, 1935, Vol. 26, No. 38, p. 2, col. 4.
"Santa Claus Lost His Hat
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Santa Claus lost his hat. He was one of the many aides to the real Santa Claus who trooped through Pelham on Christmas Eve distributing candy and a Yo Yo top to Pelham children and community members.
He apparently was mindful of his own health and wore a conventional brown fedora over his Santa hood in between house visits.
But he need look for it no longer. It was found by another Santa Claus on Linden avenue and is in safe keeping 'til its owner identifies the headgear. So if you were a Santa Claus and your initials are 'E. D. O.' telephone the Pelham Sun Office Pelham 1112."
Source: Santa Claus Lost His Hat, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 27, 1935, Vol. 26, No. 38, p. 5, col. 4.
"WATCH FOR SANTA CLAUS ON CHRISTMAS EVE
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Santa Claus will visit every home in Pelham on Christmas Eve. Watch for him. He will have his pack filled with good things for the children and to the grown-ups he will extend the Community Christmas Greeting from the residents of the Pelhams. The annual visit of Santa Clause is a picturesque function of Pelham's observance of Christmas that has received wide recognition. It is presented through the generosity of a group of citizens with the real Christmas spirit. About one hundred will play Santa Claus in the three Pelham villages. In North Pelham, Walter H. McIlroy is chairman, George W. Hinckley in Pelham Heights and William J. Mackay in Pelham Manor.
Sant Claus is coming to your house on Christmas Eve. So that all the children will be able to see him, Santa plans to begin his work shortly after dark. Watch for him."
Source: WATCH FOR SANTA CLAUS ON CHRISTMAS EVE, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 22, 1936, Vol. 27, No. 38, p. 1, cols. 4-5.
"Batting For Three.
Mayor Amato of North Pelham donned his Christmas robes and went out to do the Santa Claus act on Christmas Eve. Two of his helpers fell down on the job so the Mayor took over the duties of all three, and distributed more than two hundred presents."
Source: Batting For Three, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 29, 1936, p. 2, col. 4.
"Santa Slipped Up.
To the Editor, Pelham Sun.
Sir -- I read the notice in your paper about Santa Claus coming to every child. I read the article to my little grandson. He watched from 5 o'clock until 8:30 o'clock. Santa Claus came down Eastland avenue, went down Second street, before 6 o'clock, and never came on Ancon avenue. He did the same last year.
I feel our children are entitled to the same attention as other children. You know what it means to a child to have and see Santa Claus come to see them. I hope another year Santa will not forget Ancon avenue.
S.K.N.
(Ed. Note -- We called Santie-land on the phone today. His number is Getin 1-4-U and he says that because of the lack of snow it was difficult to get his reindeers up the hill. However, if you will send your address to him at Pelham 1112 he'll call around on New Year's Eve and personally deliver the package which he has for grandson.)"
Source: Santa Slipped Up, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 29, 1936, p. 2, cols. 7-8.
Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Labels: 1935, 1936, Celebration, Celebrations, Christmas, Christmas Eve, George W. Hinckley, Santa Claus, Walter H. McIlroy, William J. Mackay
