Charlie Howard helped bring magic to Christmas
Photo courtesy of Albert Scalzo
ALBION – Albert Scalzo was 4 years old when he sat on Santa’s lap and shared his wish list for Chrstmas. That was in 1955 when Scalzo visited Santa at Christmas Park in Albion.
Charlie Howard developed the site on Phipps Road. He is pictured portraying Santa. Howard ran the world’s first Santa School in Albion from 1937 until 1966. After his death in 1966, the school was moved to Michigan. The school continues to bear his name.
Scalzo now lives on Porter Road in Medina. He sent in the photo.
“It was Christmas 60 years ago that I had the opportunity to sit on Charlie Howard’s knee,” Scalzo wrote in an email. “It was a great time to be part of our local history.”
