Reflections: Santa Claus comes to town |
Listowel's Chamber of Commerce organized a visit with Santa as part of the 1925 festive season
Christmas will soon be upon us. Hopefully, you’ve made your arrangements for the big day — and perhaps even managed to visit Santa. Back in 1925, Santa made a special trip to Perth County before Christmas Eve to visit all of the children of the town of Listowel and surrounding area.
The first report of his upcoming visit appeared in the Listowel Banner on Dec. 10, 1925, which announced that Santa had sent a telegram message from the North Pole to the town via the Chamber of Commerce. That telegram stated he was coming for a visit on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 2:30 p.m.
In the telegram, Santa said he would like “to meet all the boys and girls of Listowel and for miles around. I’ll have a gift for them.” The news article commented on how great it was “that Santa can find time at this busy season to pay a visit to our town, and bring a treat for all the children of this district. He wants to meet all, not only the boys and girls of Listowel, but all from the neighbouring townships. He expects to see about 1,500 children. The tree is up on the square and before Saturday the decoration will be complete. Then, too, the Listowel Brass Band will be out, and the high school cadets all ready to receive and welcome Santa on his arrival.”
A week later, on Dec. 17, 1925, a follow-up article in the Listowel Banner described all the excitement........