Charles Howard’s family adds geraniums to Santa site in Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Jane Holland, left, and her sister-in-law Carol Bergeman were in Albion this afternoon, delivering geraniums at Waterman Park where there is a bronze statue in the likeness of Charles Howard in a Santa suit.

Holland of Williamsville is Howard’s granddaughter. Carol of Lewiston is the wife of Holland’s late brother, Charles Bergeman.

Holland said her grandfather, who ran a school for Santas in Albion from 1937 to 1966, loved having red geraniums around his Albion home.

Holland and Bergeman wanted to bring the flowers today in memory of Charles Howard and also Charles Bergeman. The younger Charles was in Albion on June 10 last year when the bronze statue was dedicated in honor of Charles Howard. Bergeman was a model for artist Brian Porter to create the cheeks for the face of the statue.

Bergeman later that month was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away at age 64 on Oct. 31.

Carol Bergeman chats with Gary Derwick of the Albion Betterment Committee while they planting geraniums at the park with a Santa theme on Main Street in Albion.

“We wanted to add some color and help make it pretty for the summer months,” Bergeman said. “The elves left the flowers.”

Albion Betterment Committee directors, from left, Gary Kent, Joe Gehl and Gary Derwick helped Holland and Bergeman get the flowers ready today.

The site includes a large mural of Santa in sleigh flying over downtown Albion and the Courthouse Square. Stacey Kirby Steward created that 24-foot-long mural in 2018.