Plaque added to bronze statue of Santa in downtown Albion

Group has ideas to build on Santa theme for Albion

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A plaque has been added next to the bronze statue of a Santa Claus in downtown Albion at Waterman Park. (This photo makes it look bigger than reality. It doesn’t quite go waist high.)

The statue was dedicated during the Strawberry Festival on June 10. It was created by sculptor Brian Porter.

The project was led by the Albion Betterment Committee as a tribute to the late Charles Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion beginning in 1937. He remains revered by the Santa community for helping to shape the look of Santa and how people should act while interacting with children.

The group wanted a plaque to provide a snapshot of Howard’s life and impact.

This photo shows Charles W. Howard with a Santa at Christmas Park in Albion. Howard operated the Park and a school for Santa Claus in Albion until his death on May 1, 1966.

The plaque reads:

CHARLES W. HOWARD (1896-1966)

“Charles W. Howard first portrayed Santa as a boy in a classroom play. As an adult he played Santa in a  store front window in downtown Albion and then, Rochester and Buffalo. This experience encouraged him to perfect the role of Santa Claus.

“Charles was disheartened by the quality of Santa being portrayed in stores. He created a ‘school’ to teach the proper appearance and demeanor of Santa. He established the world’s first Santa Claus School in the fall of 1937. His school became so popular that it was eventually recognized world-wide.

“Charles converted his farm in Albion into Christmas Park with a Christmas and Santa theme. The park provided Santa’s Castle where he trained Santas in the off-season.

“He became the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa and retained that distinction for 18 years – until his death in 1966.

“One of Charles’s most famous quotes was ‘He errs who thinks Santa enters through the chimney. He enters through the heart.’

Albion Lions Club member

Santa Claus Hall of Fame Charter Member – December, 2010”

Other community members are trying to build on the Santa theme. Lori Laine put a post on Facebook and wrote a letter to the editor, encouraging people to attend a meeting on Monday evening to brainstorm Santa ideas.

The group has four projects for now, including a lighted holiday parade on Dec. 9.

“We need lots of  floats, cars, wagons, golf carts all lit up!” Laine posted today on Facebook. “Don’t have a vehicle to light up? We can have marchers this year!”

Susan Oschmann is coordinating the effort and has applications for participants.

“The more the merrier, let’s light up the night!” Laine said.

The group also would like to adopt a light pole with Christmas decorations. Maureen Bennett is the person to reach out to for more information.

Laine also would like to see a tour of the churches in the historic Courthouse Square. “Many folks have never see the inner beauty of these historic churches,” she said.

The group also is planning weekly Christmas caroling in the community in an effort headed up by Karen Conn, an Albion music teacher and owner of a real estate business.

Some other ideas to promote the Christmas spirit: a 5K Santa run, sledding at Bullard Park with hot cocoa, and a “Santa Shanty” for people to meet Santa.

The group will next meet at 7 p.m. on Nov. 15 at Hoag Library to discuss the projects.