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Searching for Santa

Claire Porter

Updated: 3 days ago

Every Christmas season, Santa makes appearances in pretty predictable places. Those on the nice list can typically spot Jolly St. Nick waving to crowds from parade floats, handing out toys at holiday parties, and posing for the camera at shopping malls. But sometimes Ol’ Kris Kringle shows up where you least expect him! 


In the Springfield–Greene County Library Local History & Genealogy Department, we set out to find the jolly fellow hiding in our archives. Here’s what our Santa Sleuths found: 


Santa and a firefighter stand in the bucket of a cherry picker wand wave to a crowd of people in a full parking lot. The night sky is black behind them.
Photo by Tim Mullikin

Making an Entrance

We’re used to seeing Santa at the mall for holiday photo-ops. But have you ever wondered how he gets there? In typical Santa fashion, he arrives on the roof, of course! And on November 18, 1978, Santa alighted upon the Battlefield Mall to an adoring crowd. We spotted him and firefighter Lonnie Jump from Station No. 1 peering out of a fire truck’s basket as he made his descent. 



A man and woman dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus lay on their backs on two perpendicular tables. Their arms are outstretched, and blood collection IVs dangle from them.
Photo by Jerry Henkel

The Gift of Life

Sometimes Santa’s presents don’t fit in a stocking. We found Santa and Mrs. Claus (Ted and Jane Bourbon) giving blood at the Springfield Regional Red Cross Blood Center on December 22, 1981. According to the Springfield Leader & Press, the jolly pair took time out of their busy holiday schedule to remind people to donate blood before leaving town for the holidays. 



A fluffy poodle with a pointy nose is dressed in a Santa hat, a triangle felt beard, a cloth Santa coat, and black boots with buckles.
News and Leader Staff Photo

Here Comes Good Old Santa… Paws?

Something doesn’t seem right about this Santa Claus, but we can’t quite sniff out what it is. This furry Santa was in the pages of the Springfield Leader & Press on December 23, 1962. If we didn’t know better, we’d say that this howl-iday figure bears a striking resemblance to Mimi, the 3-month-old poodle owned by brothers Terry and Bobby Boswell. 



A young person holds a corded telephone to the ear of an older person sitting in a wheelchair and dressed in a Santa hat, wig, and coat. Christmas cutouts, a Noel banner, and stockings hang on the wall and fireplace behind them.
Photo by Sandy Watson

Phone Lines Ring, Are You Listening? 

Ready for something more modern than the Polar Postal Service, Santa adapts to the 20th century. We spotted him in 1987 when he hopped on the Ho Ho Hotline to chat with children about what they want for Christmas. The hotline was staffed by residents of Hillhaven Convalescent Center, who attend Ho Ho Academy before fielding about 20 calls an hour dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus.



A small young boy is dressed as Santa Claus with a hat, beard, belt, and boots. He stands in front of a large tinsel-decorated tree and holds a wrapped present in front of him.
News and Leader Staff Photo

An Elf in Santa’s Clothing 

Based on his youthful appearance, we suspect this Santa is a pint-sized imposter. Perhaps an elf escaping from the North Pole? Our Santa Sleuths investigated and discovered that it’s actually 7-year-old Rodney King Dishman. Originally made for a school play, Dishman’s festive red suit has come in handy as he doled out gifts to family and friends in 1958. 



A group of young children stand near a bowling alley lane as a man dressed as Santa squats down to hug one of them.
Photo by Sandy Watson

Bowled Over

Landing mid-lane, Santa surprised families at Sherm Lollar Lanes bowling alley on December 16, 1991. Showering guests with toys, $10 bills, brand-new bikes, and holiday hugs, Santa (night manager John Ashley) ensured all the kids made it on the nice list, even if they threw nothing but gutter balls



A man dressed as Santa and holding a bulging bag of gifts grabs the handles of a bicycle that is leaning against a stone wall.
Photo by Kevin Manning

It’s Lovely Weather for a Schwinn Ride Together with You

On December 18, 1980, Santa (Frank Polston) was sighted trading in horsepower — er, reindeer power? — for pedal power as he boarded a bike to deliver presents. 



A woman in a striped sweater holds a book up as she reads from it. Next to her, a man dressed as Santa signs the story in American Sign Language (ASL).
Photo by Lonnie Overstreet

Christmas for All

Santa’s fingers stay warm all winter thanks to his American Sign Language (ASL) skills. In partnership with the Western Temporary Services, Santa (Randy Luna) stopped by the North Town Mall in 1983 to sign “The Night Before Christmas” and to listen to Christmas lists from hearing-impaired children. 



A group of children and adults using a range of mobility devices gather in front of a one-story building and look up as a man dressed as Santa stands on the roof and waves to them.
Photo by Jerry Buckner

A Rooftop Ruckus 

Up on the housetops, reindeer pause, but on December 22, 1977, Santa’s stop was a little longer than planned. According to the Springfield News-Leader, Santa and his reindeer arrived at the Cerebral Palsy Center for a visit but didn’t have a chimney to shimmy down! Fortunately, the Springfield Fire Department arrived to escort Santa and his gifts safely to the ground where crowds of children eagerly awaited. 



A mannequin dressed as Santa stands in a front yard at night, dramatically lit. He is holding a plow and stands in front of a sign that says "Happy New Year, Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Hello Folks, Ho! Ho! Ho!" Another sign says "Phillips, Eugene, Justine"
Leader and Press Staff Photo

Workin’ Up a Sweat

Well, that’s one way to burn off the cookie calories! The Phillips family put Santa to work. He’s seen here in 1954 plowing Eugene and Justine Phillips’ front yard in an elaborate Christmas display at their Broadmoor Drive home. 



A man dressed in a Santa beard, Hawaiian shirt, and shorts sits in a rattan chair next to a woman wearing a bikini and grass skirt in a storefront window. Artificial flowers and a calendar are behind them along with a sign that says "Twas the day after Christmas and Santa takes a vacay"
Photo by Gregg Coonrod

Surf’s Up, Santa

We found Santa taking a well deserved vacation after traversing the globe for Christmas, 1984. As part of Lebanon’s holiday living window displays, Leslie Bradley and Santa (C.E. Willard) evoked a tropical scene in the windows of Eddie’s for Men. 

 


Our Santa Sleuths have been on the ho-ho-hunt, but our archives are deep, and we’re sure there are more Santas hiding among the 35,000+ images in our From the Darkroom collection. If you’d really like to make the nice list this year, dive in and see if you can find what we missed! 




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