About
SANTA’S CABIN
John R. McGrew
The basic facts on Hanover’s Santa’s Cabin are that over the years there
have been only two. The very first one appeared in1936 and the second in
1937. The second one is still going strong. And THAT is what “Christmas
2012 – 75 years of Hanover’s Santa Cabin” is celebrating!
The sequence of events that lead up to the cabin appears to have begun
about 1929 when the Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Gas &
Electric System, also known as Met Ed, teamed up “to the end that
Hanover might present a more attractive Christmas appearance than in
precious years.” The prize of a Westinghouse electric range was offered
for originality in lighting the exterior of a home. The judges had
difficulty in selecting from among the entries. In 1930, the contest was
repeated with entries accepted not only from Hanover residents, but also
the surrounding area, so long as served by Met Ed. First prize was again
a Westinghouse range with several extra prizes for honorable mentions
offered by four local electrical contractors, C.E. Bechtel, E. J.J.
Gobrecht, Murphy Electric Co.; and R.E.S. Swam Co. Met Ed, than at 29
Baltimore Street, showed the way to do it by festooning some 1500 some
electric lights on their building, as well as having an electrically
illuminated tree in the lobby.
Perhaps in response to the Great Depression, the down-town merchants
teamed up with the Borough in 1932 to attract customers by decorating
the Center Square. The Borough also contributed one of its employees,
John Fuhrman, as Santa, according to his daughter, Mrs. Feeser. At some
point a new feature began, the scheduled arrival of Santa in the
down-town area.
In 1934 for example, Santa arrived by airplane at Hanover’s first landing field, Forney Airport on Boundary Avenue, and was escorted to the Square by the kids and the Junior High band. Once in the Square, he distributed oranges and candy and then set up shop at Wards. One can imagine that the other contributing downtown merchants, like Sears, might not fully appreciate this.
1935
saw the merchants and Borough setting up laurel
arches over the first blocks of Baltimore and Carlisle Street
illuminated by 1,100 bulbs plus a 30 foot tall illuminated evergreen
tree with 170 multicolored bulbs in the Oval. There was no mention of a
Santa involved with this year’s festivities, although some of the
downtown merchants advertised he would be in their shops to receive
requests from kids.
1936
It was the astute and inventive Borough Manager,
Chester A. Eckbert, who came up with the idea of, shall we say, a
“non-denominational” Santa’s Cabin. In 1936, he and his employees cut
and fitted by hand some of the standing blight-killed chestnut trees
from the Borough owned watershed in the Pigeon Hills. They just set up
the cabin on the oval in Center Square facing Frederick Street, just in
front of the Picket statue. Part of the project was a Santa Clause
Letter Box. Santa arrived Saturday, November 5, in mid afternoon, again
by air, but this time landing at Ray Devener’s new airfield out
Broadway. Santa was greeted by most of the Borough politicians, many
kids and one band. Goats (30 crates of oranges and tangerines) were
distributed and a schedule posted of hours to receive kids. Between the
hours of 7 and 9 each evening, Santa planned to circulate among the
several downtown stores.
The Borough Council meeting of December 17, 1936, as reported in the Evening Sun, offered high praise that this year’s community Christmas project was one of the finest things of its kind ever undertaken here. They gave credit for the success to the Borough Manager for suggesting the idea and putting it into effect. It noted that “Santa’s log cabin” had received wide acclaim, especially from out-of-town visitors. Already hundreds of letters to Santa had been posted which were to be delivered; although details of who would reply were not given.
It also reported the Mr. Eckbert had thought of the cabin as a one time phenomenon and that he had already received some three dozen queries from people wishing to purchase it as soon as Santa vacated. Eckbert planned to put it up at auction with any profits to remain with the borough as the cabin had been built by borough labor and materials, rather than returning the monies to the local merchants.
The 1936 cabin was sold to James Malcolm who set it up
in his backyard on Stock Street as a play house for his 5 year old
grand-daughter. Lois McClaren Revi. I asked Lois recently what
eventually happened to it and she told me sadly that the termites got to
it. (SIDE NOTE: Lois has been contacted and will be involved in the 2012
celebration!)
1937
The success of the first cabin was such that it was decided to continue
the Santa’s cabin. Based on the first year’s experience, the second one
was to be larger and would beheld over for future years. This second and
still active cabin took more of the old chestnut trees and was built on
skids for easier transport, In 1937, Santa arrived by air at 2:00pm and
was escorted by car to the Square and his cabin which was placed on the
Oval facing Frederick Street. The Hanover Junior High band was on hand
in the Square to serenade St. Nick’s arrival.
1938
One of the changes for 1938 was that the cabin was painted “fresh green”
with white trim. Because Santa was not scheduled to arrive until after
dark, there was more use of electric lights to brighten his way. Two
large hemlocks were installed and decorated on the Oval behind the
cabin.
1939
In 1939, the P.O.S. of A. band serenaded the crowds estimated at 1,000
on the Square before Santa’s arrival at 7pm.in an antique Russian sleigh
mounted on small wheels, painted red, orange and black and drawn by a
sleek pair of horses. This sleigh was in use for some 20 years,
eventually painted white and retired in favor of a motorized conveyance
only because a team was no longer available. There was the usual
distribution of citrus and candy. A single tall pine was decorated on
the Oval for Santa’s arrival. The tree was moved to Wirt Park the day
after the welcoming ceremony.
According to Sam Therit, the sleigh was owned by Henry E. “Henner”
Bechtel whose farm was at 1160 Broadway, fairly handy to the airport.
Henner also provided the team and on a clear photo his initials in brass
letters can be seen on the harness.
1940
In 1940, Santa arrived at the Square on a Friday evening, December 9, to
a serenade by the Eichelberger Senior High band. Because of the crush of
previous years, he did not attempt to distribute oranges and candy
directly to the crowd. However, when he arrived at his cabin, the door
was locked. A key was produced, which failed to work for Santa or
several "experts." Finally, Chief of Police Keeney was able to remove
the lock with a screwdriver. Santa had wandered away greeting the
youngsters. After he realized to door had been sprung, he returned to
the cabin only to have the door slammed in his face. The police inside
had thought it was kids trying to crash the cabin. All was soon
straightened out and the usual stream of youngsters presented their
wants to Santa and received their goodies.
1941
The annual preparations went smoothly in 1941 with Santa due to arrive
the evening of December 8. He may have done so, but it never made the
paper. The attack on Pearl Harbor took precedence over all else in the
newspaper.
1942-1943
There appears to have been no arrival in 1942. By 1943 the cabin was
back, decorated with greens, but no electrical illumination. The
war-time black-out was very much in effect. Also, it was placed facing
out Carlisle Street. The Frederick Street side of the oval had been
pre-empted by the military Roll of Honor.
1944
In 1944, according to spokesman Chester Eckbert, Santa "preferred to
slip into Hanover quietly" the evening of December 15 without benefit of
a parade. Again, the cabin was placed facing Carlisle Street, but the
lights were back on.
1945
There was again no parade in 1945 and decorations were limited to
spending what funds were left in the Christmas decoration treasury. One
noted change was that the Cabin was freshly repainted red and green.
This seems to have been the third and last time the cabin faced towards
Carlisle Street.
1946
A different problem arose in 1946. All was fine except John L. Lewis had
taken his coal miners out on strike. The government decreed a dim-out,
including no electrical Christmas decorations. R.H. Sheppard Co.
volunteered several diesel generators which were all set to light up the
downtown decorations on December 9. The coal strike was settled on the
8th. While there was no organized parade, there was a band scheduled to
serenade Santa when he arrived at the Square on the evening of December
13.
1947
In 1947, based on stories in the paper, down-town merchants seem to have
hired a commercial-package parade, with balloon figures, mechanical
floats plus 6 local bands to escort Santa to his Cabin. Things were
finally returning to normal after the war.
1948-1949
The next year, 1948, the Junior Chamber of Commerce got into the act and
arranged for an evening parade with bands and 20 local floats. Bigger
and better parades were arranged for 1949 and 1950.
1950
However, in 1950 a conflict arose between Eckbert and the Junior Chamber
of Commerce. Eckbert pulled Santa out of the parade as it went through
Center Square the first time, before the kids on the second circuit
could see him. There are columns of recrimination in the papers. Santa
did eventually come down the aerial fire ladder from the roof of the
Square Commercial Bldg. (Toor Bldg, BonTon). This one-time event was
sufficiently recent and memorable that it was the sole confirmed item in
the 1978 cabin “history” article.
1951
In 1951, so far as I can tell, without the help of the Chamber, there
was no parade. However, the Cabin was set up on the Oval, St. Nick was
in residence and Letters to Santa were received. This year the secret of
who answered the letters was finally revealed. Mr. and Mrs. Grover C.
Gouker Jr., were, for the third year, serving as Santa's correspondence
secretaries. During 1949 through 1951, they read and answered an average
of more than 900 letters each year.
1952
In 1952, the Cabin was set up in front of the former Peoples Bank in the
southwest corner of the Square, where it is still placed. This resulted
from a Borough ordinance that foot traffic was no longer permitted in
the Oval on Center Square. Getting masses of youngsters out to the Oval
across traffic impeded traffic flow and endangered the kids. A
thirty-foot tall evergreen tree and green garlands decorated the Oval.
The cabin was moved from storage on November 25 and the community Retail
Merchants associated with the Hanover Chamber of Commerce and the
Borough manager announced the arrival on November 29 by air of Santa
Claus at Devener Airport. The parade included three school bands and
Santa in the Russian sleigh, driven as usual by Mr. Bechtel in a top
hat. Santa was expected to distribute many cases of oranges and one-half
ton of candy.
1953
In 1953, Santa arrived at Devener Airport at 9 in the morning on
Saturday, November 28, with a crowd of about 300 on hand to welcome him
there. He rode his horse-drawn sleigh, now painted white, in Broadway.
At McKinley Street his parade was augmented by six school bands and they
proceeded to the Square where about a thousand kids welcomed him. From
about Fulton Street, there were spectators lining both sides of
Broadway. The sky had been overcast and threatening all morning, but the
sun broke through just as he arrived at the Square. The now vacated Oval
was decorated with two large evergreen trees that towered over the
Picket statue.
1954
Santa's 1954 Saturday arrival was scheduled for 8:45 AM at Devener
Airport. Ten bands joined the parade in Broadway at McKinley Avenue. A
new feature which remained in effect for several years was free movies
for Hoffman Orphanage and Paradise School youngsters at the State
Theater on Frederick Street, compliments of the down-town merchants.
Santa's busy schedule at the Cabin was reported in the paper.
1955
The 1955 events were a carbon copy of the previous year. However, this
year Santa rated a front page photo in the December 23 newspaper
listening to the Christmas requests from Tommy and Cindy Smith.
1956
Santa was welcomed at Devener Airport in 1956 by the town Burgess and a
representative of the retail merchants of the Chamber of Commerce. The
cold morning kept the crowd at the airport to about 250, including
parents. Santa, in his Russian sleigh now drawn by a single horse, came
in Broadway and was joined at McKinley Avenue by nine area school bands
and various dignitaries in new vehicles provided by local dealers.
Another several hundred kids greeted his arrival in the Square. Again,
there were free movies at the State movie house.
1956 may have seen the first appearance of the fiber-glass Bells hanging
from the laurel swags strung across the approaches to the Square. These
illuminated bells, three and four feet high, can be seen in photos at
least through 1975.
1957
The 1957 program had a couple of innovations. First was a two page ad by
the downtown merchants in the paper announcing Santa's arrival. Second
was a merry-go-round set up in the Square with free rides for the
younger kids. The 9:00 AM parade to the Square was attracting school
bands from further away, Reisterstown, Westminster and Taneytown. The
first snow flakes of the season welcomed Santa's arrival, but there was
no accumulation and, except for a light rain, all went according to
plans.
An update on the activities of Santa's corresponding secretaries, Mr. &
Mrs. Grover Gouker Jr., noted some 600 letters had already been received
by mid-December with another 2 or 3 hundred expected. All were to be
answered, so long as there was an address for Santa's reply. The running
total since 1949 was now about 6000 letters.
1958
The flight to the suburbs had begun to have an effect on old St. Nick.
There may have been some stress on those kids who still believed in
Santa in 1958. Along with the usual "official" Santa in Santa's Cabin on
the Square, he was scheduled to arrive by helicopter at the new
Clearview Shopping Center, sponsored by the 20 merchants there. However,
winter weather prevented the helicopter from flying, so that Santa
arrived there by automobile.
The 1958 down-town Santa arrived at Devener airport on November 22 and
with his usual parade, now at 11 bands, proceeded to his residence at
his Cabin on the Square. This year he rode in a convertible rather than
his old Russian sleigh. A new door had been cut into the side of the
cabin to permit better traffic flow for his visitors. He still handed
out fruit and candy to his visitors and the merry-go-round was again set
up near the cabin..
1959
In 1959, Santa arrived at Devener Airport at 9:00 AM on Saturday,
November 21 and, riding in a convertible, was escorted to his Cabin by a
dozen school bands. This year there was a spectacular innovation
provided by the Downtown Merchants, a 40 foot high Tinsel (Glitter,
aluminum) Tree which made its first appearance in the center of the
Oval, erected over and hiding The Picket statue. It was also held in
place by the statue. The tree was dedicated the evening of the 28th by
three local pastors and Christmas music was provided by massed choirs
and the Lyric Band. The Tinsel Tree reappeared each year through 1966
when the Picket was moved to the northeast corner of the Square and the
Oval removed..
The celebration of the Clearview Shopping Center Santa's arrival a week
later was marred by bad weather.
1960
In 1960, there were 15 bands. However, this year Santa arrived by
helicopter at Moul Field and was escorted to his Cabin by way of East
Middle and York Streets. He is reported to have ridden in a wheeled
sleigh, but no photo of it has been found. The Tinsel Tree was still a
major attraction appearing in two front page photos in the paper and
again the focus of massed chorus and musicians from the Lyric Band.
The Clearview Santa swept into town in a convertible serenaded by the
Eichelberger Senior High School band one day before the downtown Santa.
1961
In 1961 the downtown ceremonies started on Friday evening, November 24,
with the lighting of the Tinsel Tree and other decorations, along with a
Christmas concert presented by massed choruses and the brass ensemble of
the Lyric Band. Santa's arrival was the next morning at Devener Airport,
but this year the route to the Square was by way of the more commodious
Moul Field on Ridge Avenue where a dozen bands were marshaled. Gone was
the sleigh; Santa rode in a convertible. Throngs of spectators lined the
parade route and a large crowd was on hand at the Cabin to welcome him.
Distribution of fruit and candy was restricted to each child as he or
she visited him in the Cabin. No report on quantities distributed was
found.
This year the Clearview Santa arrived a full week before the downtown
one, greeted by two bands, Eichelberger and Delone Senior High Schools.
This early arrival seems to have had little or no dampening effect on
the welcome to the downtown Santa.
1962
In 1962, Santa arrived at Devener airport in the morning of November 24
and paraded to town in a convertible escorted by 9 bands plus marching
units. Crowds hailed him along the parade route and again at his Cabin.
The Square was decorated with the Tinsel Tree in the Oval, 4 foot
lighted stars at the corners of the Square and the illuminated
fiber-glass bells hanging from the swags across the entrances to the
Square.
The Clearfield Shopping Center Santa finally had good enough weather
conditions on December 1 to allow him to arrive by helicopter. He, too,
was greeted by crowds of kids.
1963
This was the Bicentennial of the founding of Hanover and the Centennial
of the Battle of Hanover. In the middle of summer, Santa's Cabin was
moved to the north-east quadrant of the Square in front of the G.C.
Murphy (now Hanover Shoe Outlet) store. It was displayed as one of
Hanover's well-loved traditions.
When the holiday season rolled around, the Tinsel Tree was still front
page news; it and the other decorations were in place by November 15.
Saturday, November 23 was set for the lighting of the decorations and
the arrival of Santa himself. A pall was cast over the celebrations by
the assassination of President Kennedy on the 22nd. There was neither
time to cancel nor reschedule the parade, so it proceeded in a very
subdued mood with Santa taking up residence at his Cabin. The lighting
of the decorations was postponed until after the funeral. On December 23
the Tinsel Tree made the papers, this time well dusted with snow and
traffic creeping around it and the Oval. On the 24th, it again was
pictured, this time at night with an illuminated Santa in his sleigh
pulled by six reindeer soaring well above the 40 foot tree. A closer
look shows the explanation, "(Evening Sun Photo-Montage)."
1964
In 1964, the Tinsel Tree was in place by November 24, with Santa's
arrival scheduled for Saturday, the 28th. Seven bands were expected to
parade him to the Square and his Cabin. This year, the Chamber of
Commerce arranged for free movies at the State Theater on Frederick
Street, a Disney feature, a Three Stooges film and a number of cartoons,
for all the kids.
1965
In 1965, the Tinsel Tree was decorated with red and green lights and the
smaller evergreens around the Oval were illuminated with white and
"glitter" lights. Some of the cross-street garlands were replaced with
new and larger green wreaths, all to be turned on November 27, the
Saturday after Thanksgiving. The newspaper finally resolved the two
Santas in town with the headline: "Santa Claus To Arrive Two Consecutive
Days."
The Clearview Santa arrived by helicopter under a clear sky on Friday,
November 26 to acclaim from crowds of kids. Santa's Saturday arrival was
not as lucky. Rain forced a cancellation of the parade and instead of
riding on a fire truck to the Square escorted by a number of bands, he
came in an ordinary automobile to his Cabin. In spite of the rain, he
was greeted by hundreds of children. In all likelihood, many of the kids
were more than willing to dry out in the free movies at the Hanover
Theater, formerly the State, which had been refurbished and renamed in
May of this year.
1966
In 1966, the Tinsel Tree had some competition from an illuminated
flag-pole tree atop the Hanover Shoe factory on Carlisle Street. (This
tree reportedly can still be seen seasonally on the Hanover General
Hospital.) New strands of green and tinsel, purchased by retail
merchants' association, were strung across the streets leading from the
Square.
Santa's arrival at the Square was on a small sleigh mounted on a float
along with several (unidentified) young ladies, his "reindeers." We can
only hope the weather was mild, considering how they were dressed. The
front-page photo is probably too fuzzy to try to identify them from
their high school yearbooks, but they know who they are..
1967
In late 1967 work had begun on the removal of the Oval to allow for
straight-through traffic across the Square. With no suitable place for
the Tinsel Tree, it was retired after eight sparkling years. There were
more swags across the streets extending further out from the Square,
some with the fiber glass bells, all with large wreaths at the center,
some of which enclosed large illuminated Stars.
Another development was that 1967 saw three Santa arrivals. At 9:00 AM
on Friday, November 24, he showed up at Clearview Shopping Center with
the Hanover High School Band to serenade him. At 2:00 PM the same day he
arrived at his Cabin on the Square on a float decorated as a giant Swan
from Toyland and accompanied by a half-dozen high school bands. At 10:00
AM the next morning, he arrived at the newly opened North Hanover
Shopping Center (not yet a Mall). The Christmas Season was off with a
bang.
What happened to the Tinsel Tree? It sat around, all rolled up on the
third floor of the former Murphy's 5 & 10 store at 21 Carlisle Street
until purchased by David DeHoff who prevailed on Tony Juiffre to let him
store it for a couple of weeks in a barn way out Broadway at Tony's
Orchard Garden and Gift Shop. After several years, time came to
refurbish the barn and all the boxes and bags were to be removed. David
suggested they set up the Tinsel Tree at the Gift Shop. With
considerable effort they got it set up, but there was no Picket to hold
it in place, and a gust of wind flattened it within an hour. It was then
piled under tarps until DeHoff sold it. Just for the record, according
to a story in the Evening Sun for November 30, 1991, the tree was bought
this year by Herbert Sterner and Judy Phillips of Colonial Valley in
Menges Mills and it was set-up for a Christmas Spectacular, admission $7
per. Photos show a somewhat threadbare tree.
1968
The plethora of Santas began to wear thin and little was reported in the
paper. He arrived by helicopter at North Hanover at 10:30 AM on Friday,
November 29, but when he arrived at Clearview or the Square was not
stated. At least he was at his Cabin on December 23 when he was
photographed listening to Pam Trostle list what she would like to see
under the tree on Christmas.
1969
The newspaper reporting stressed the opening of the Christmas shopping
season and casually mentioned that Santa had arrived at various,
unspecified, points. A photo of the downtown area show a large, perhaps
6 feet tall, candle with a wreath around the "flame" attached to one of
the poles on Carlisle Street. Another, of a heavy snowfall the day after
Christmas, shows swags across the street with wreathes and fiber-glass
bells.
1970
The Viet Nam war situation may have served to distract people from the
Christmas festivities. Santa again made his three appearances in town,
this year all on the same day, Friday, November 26. He arrived at North
Hanover by parachute at 11 AM, by a parade to his Cabin on the Square at
2 PM and at Clearview at 7 PM.
The parade to the Square included 5 school bands and Miss Hanover Area
1970, Miss Meg Irish. The downtown decorations were to be turned on at
dusk the same day. Also, a California blue spruce and four upright yews
had been planted in the north-west corner of the Square.
1971
This year the Santa arrivals were down to only two. Both were to be on
Friday November 26; at 11 AM by parachute to North Hanover Mall and at 2
PM by a parade to his Cabin in Center Square. There were expected to be
five bands, but no details on mode of transport or even if either one
did arrive.
1972
A single short article appeared reporting Santa arrived at North Hanover
Mall at 11:30 this morning, Friday, November 24, and shortly later at
his headquarters on Center Square with about five local school bands in
attendance.
1973
There was little in the papers about Santa. Watergate and the oil
shortage received the attention. It was pointed out that the oil
shortage was responsible for far fewer plastic toys available this
season.
1974
Santa again received a minimum amount of press coverage. It was said
that he was to arrive at his Cabin by horse-drawn sleigh, but photos are
lacking so we do not know if it was a reappearance of the Russian
Sleigh. In a display of local pride, after all these years, Santa's gift
of oranges and candy to the children of Hanover was replaced with potato
chips and candy.
1975
Coverage in the paper this season was limited to three photographs, two
of the Cabin and one of Santa surrounded by youngsters and their parents
taken in the Square at the end of the parade on Friday, November 28.
1976
The Evening Sun reporter who wrote about Santa's anticipated arrival the
next days seems to have been as frustrated about the lack of details.
"At the present time none of the persons in charge seem to know." In
question was sleigh or a shiny new convertible as Santa's means of
transport. It seems the pair of horses originally engaged to pull the
sleigh had been killed in a recent barn fire. A second pair refused to
work together in an acceptable manner. They were still trying to find a
suitable team, but failing this, it would be the convertible. Again,
candy and potato chips were the promised rewards for the kids. There was
a set of five photos of well-bundled-up kids, all identified in the
captions, waiting for Santa's arrival.
1977
There was a single story in the paper this year. There was a 10:00 AM
parade with three bands escorting Santa in a sleigh. For the fourth
year, the hand-outs were candy and potato chips.
1978
In 1978, they settled on Santa arriving at his Cabin on top of a fire
engine. Again there were three bands. This year, on December 5, there
was a front page story with a photo of children , with parents, queued
up for a visit with Santa. The story was titled "Santa's Log Cabin Has
Long Tradition." The story is by-lined and at least one of the sources
is named; however I choose not to name them here as this "history" is
remarkable for its inaccuracies. A claim of the story was that the cabin
was nearing the half-century mark and that first cabin set up in the
oval sometime about 1930. One of the respondents reported he had a photo
of the cabin taken in 1932 and that the cabin had been around "several
years prior to that." There was also mention of a stage on which Santa
was greeted by the kids. It reported, the cabin was set-up in the
quadrant in front of the Central Hotel and that Santa arrived at the
Square from the roof of the Sheppard-Myers Building (Toor Bldg, Bon-Ton,
Square Commercial Bldg.) on both 1950 and 1951. The first arrival is
confirmed, the second is not, nor is this location for the cabin.
1979-1980
For these two Christmas Seasons, the was no coverage in the paper of the
cabin or of Santa's arrival.
1981
There was a story this year, of a 9:00 AM arrival at the airport and a
parade with three bands and Santa riding on a fire truck.
1982
There was a bit more of coverage in the paper, the parade with Santa on
a fire truck, two bands and Miss Hanover included in the parade. Of
interest to the newspaper was that once again, as in 1940, Santa was
temporarily locked out of his Cabin. The North Hanover Mall Santa rated
a photo in the paper, but no story.
1983
No story this year.
1984
Again, no story, but Santa did rate a photo of his arrival on a fire
truck.
1985
The first clue in the paper that the Christmas season was approaching
was a photo of employees of Swam Electric installing decorations
downtown. Santa arrived at the Square on November 30 with no mention of
a parade.
1986
Again Swam got the first mention on November 18. Santa arrived on the
28th on a fire-truck, with no mention of a parade,. There were photos of
his arrival and of several of the kids.
1987
This year the Hanover Merchants Association put a half-page announcement
of the Annual Christmas Parade, with Santa arriving 9 AM, November 27,
on a fire truck with a Hanover school band and Miss Hanover Area Amy
Renner. Also in the advertisement was a full schedule of Santa's hours
at the Cabin. There were photos of Santa's arrival, the crowd, the band
and the kids watching.
1988
On November 19 there was a story anticipating Santa's arrival with a
photo of a letter being put into the Santa Claus mail box on the Cabin.
Three bands were to be in the parade on November 25 and the Hanover
Merchants Association was reported to have had the Cabin "straightened
and repaired", replaced the doors and windows, had it repainted, rewired
and installed new carpeting. The day after the parade there was a fine
photo of Santa on the fire truck and of the crowd waiting to enter the
Cabin to see him.
1989
Again the Hanover Merchants Association put a half-page announcement of
the parade, arrival and Santa's hours. Two High School bands, Hanover
and South Western, were expected. Santa's arrival on November 24th made
the front page along with three pictures of Santa and the kids.
1990
Coverage this year was no more than the half-page ad by the Hanover
Merchants Association reporting Santa's arrival on November 23, with two
bands and the Liberty Bell(e) Drum and Baton Corps. Also in the parade
was to be Miss Hanover Area, Heather Bell. No photos, or mention, was
found of the actual arrival.
1991
The sponsor of the half-page ad this year was the shopkeepers of
Downtown Hanover, Inc., with the Parade to be on November 29, including
Santa on a fire truck, two bands, the Liberty Belles and Miss Hanover
Area Deborah Rosensteel. This year the Hanover Exchange Club started
their continuing care of moving the Cabin from the Borough storage lot
and setting it up the Square. Credit for decorating the Cabin was given
to Brownie Troop #716 of Trinity Church of Christ. Santa's arrival was
documented in the Evening Sun, the 30th, with Santa on the fire engine
and a couple of kids waiting for the parade to arrive.
1992
Again, Downtown Hanover Inc. orchestrated the Parade with a half-page ad
the day before the Friday, November 27th arrival. Included was a
schedule of Santa's hours at the Cabin. Two high school bands, Hanover
and South Western, the Liberty Belle Drum & Baton Corps and Miss Hanover
Area Kimberly Kreitz were announced. On Saturday, the Evening Sun had a
photo of Santa and of three of the kids.
Of great value to a record of the history of Santa's Cabin was a feature
article by Laurie Houser titled Santa's headquarters 60 years old.
Information was based on an extensive interview with a retired borough
employee and one-time Santa Claus, John Fuhrman. John had disremembered
the actual year the first cabin was built, but he was there when it and
the second cabin were built. He mentions the blight-killed chestnuts
from the borough watershed, the hand work of assembling them, and that
the first cabin sold for a little over $100 and went on as a child's
playhouse. If things got busy in the afternoons or the regular Santa was
unavailable, the Borough Manager, Chester Eckbert, would round up John
from his regular duties, bundle him into a Santa suit and install him in
the Cabin. John said he enjoyed ever minute of it.
Also quoted was the executive director of Downtown Hanover Inc, Don
Stabler, who was not sure whether the Cabin brought enough business to
downtown to cover the effort, but that the traditional values and good
feelings engendered made it worthwhile.
Again, there was credit given to Brownie Troop No. 716 of Trinity United
Church for the annual decorating and cleanup of the Cabin.
1993
Again, Downtown Hanover Inc. organized the Parade and put a half-page ad
the day before the Friday, November 26th arrival. Included was a
schedule of Santa's hours at the Cabin. Two bands, Hanover and South
Western, the Liberty Belle Drum & Baton Corps and Miss Hanover Area
Kristen Smith were announced. On Saturday, the
paper has a single front page photo of Santa waving to the crowd.
1994
There was a brief story on Monday, November 21 in the Evening Sun about
the impending parade which was to form at Middle Street and Baer Avenue,
come in York Street to the Square, drop off Santa and exit out Frederick
to North Franklin. Two bands, the Liberty Belles, a fire truck and Miss
Hanover Area Jennifer Crossen. Again, the Brownie Troop # 716 was
credited for decorating the Cabin.
The day before the Friday, November 26th, parade, Downtown Hanover again
had a half-page advertisement about the parade. A Saturday story with
pictures mentioned a four generation group that wouldn’t miss the
celebration for anything.
1995
The North Hanover Mall Santa received most of the newspaper space,
including a story by Ann Diviney. The Downtown Hanover Merchants put in
their last half-page ad on Thanksgiving day announcing the parade. The
same time, bands and route as the previous year with the current Miss
Hanover, Carrie Stiff.
On Saturday, the 25th, the front page was devoted to Black Friday
stories while Santa's arrival rated a photo on page 3 captioned "Never
too Old - Santa in Fire Truck."
1996
Newspaper publicity for Santa's Cabin hit a low this year. There was a
single story on November 22 about "Santa getting things ready." North
Hanover Mall disclaimed competing with Downtown Hanover (Inc.) Twice the
cabin was referred to as the "shack." Eventually the director of
Downtown Hanover was quoted on the date and hour of the parade and gave
credit to the Brownie Troop from Trinity Church for getting the "cabin"
ready for Santa's arrival. All photos in the Sunday paper after the
parade were of North Hanover events.
1997
Newspaper coverage this year began on November 16 with a story by Justin
Quinn on which of the two Hanover Santas was the REAL one. Denise
McDowell of Downtown Hanover based her claims of the more than 50 years
and that three generations of Hanoverians had welcomed Santa to his
cabin in the Square. The cabin had already appeared on the Square and
was to be decorated by Brownie Troop 716 in a couple of days. Santa wold
arrive on a fire truck the day after Thanksgiving escorted by Miss
Hanover and her Court. North Hanover Mall's Robin Kyle touted Santa's
earlier arrival, November 22, and was supported by comments from several
of the store managers there.
To stir up anticipation, on Wednesday, November 19, there was a photo on
page 3 of a Swam Electric employee installing some new Chamber of
Commerce decorations downtown. On Sunday, the 23rd, there was a story
and photo of Ray and Jeff Black unloading a 17 foot tall spruce tree to
be set up by the Central Hotel, the first Community Christmas Tree in
many years.
The day after the Christmas Parade there was a front page story on the
entrance of St. Nick to Center Square. The slight drizzle did not
discourage the bands or spectators.
A photo of Santa inside the cabin shows a six-year-old peeking at him
through the window.
1998
The Christmas season started with a photo of Swam Electric putting up
decorations on November 17. By the 22nd. one Santa was installed in
North Hanover Mall and there was a story with time and route about the
Center Square Santa Parade coming up on Friday, the 27th. The day after
the parade there was a short story and photo showing kids waiting while
the South Western High School band marched by. More than 500 were on
hand in the chilly morning to welcome Santa.
1999
The lead-off to the Christmas Season was a photo on November 16 of Swam
Electric installing decorations with the caption reminding that Santa
Claus would arrive during the annual Christmas Parade on Friday,
November 26. The photo and story of the arrival on Saturday, November 27
noted the 500+ onlookers, the Hanover and South Western High School
bands, Liberty Belles and Nebula School groups that made up the 15
minute parade. A hit on this chilly morning was the 30 gallons of hot
chocolate provided by the Foursquare Gospel Church volunteers.
2000
North Hanover Mall Santa grabbed the first attention with a front-page
photo on November 19. The caption noted that Santa would also be paraded
to his cabin on the Square on Friday, the 24th, at 9:00 AM, On
Wednesday, the 22nd, there was a photo showing members of Brownie Troop
716 of Trinity UCC decorating Santa's Cabin. The caption reported Santa
would be on his fire truck and that the parade would include the two
local high school marching bands, an Utz truck and the First Night
Hanover float with Frosty the Snowman.
An interesting story in the Local News section on Thursday, November 23,
noted that there would be two Santa parades on Friday; in the morning to
Santa's Cabin at Center Square, Hanover and in the evening to Santa's
Shanty on Lincoln Square in Gettysburg. The usual parade was planned for
Hanover while an impressive parade of floats, dancers, bands and clowns
was announced for Gettysburg.
The Saturday follow up story on the Hanover parade noted some 2000
parents and children on hand in spite of temperatures only in the high
30s.
2001
North Hanover Mall Santa lead-off the Christmas season arriving by
helicopter on November 17. On Wednesday, the 21st, there is a great
photo of Naomi Shy, of the Trinity UCC Brownie Troop 716, decorating the
tree inside Santa's Cabin in preparation for Santa's arrival on Friday.
On Thursday, the 22nd, there is a story about the two Santa Parades the
next day. Hanover's parade has added the Borough snow crew to the usual
bands and twirlers. The Gettysburg, noted as the 10th annual parade with
a group of five Philadelphia Mummers marching, the 21st Pennsylvania
Cavalry, along with the usual band, etc. When the count was added up,
about 3000 children visited the Hanover Cabin this season.
2002
The North Hanover Mall Santa arrived first in a horse-drawn buggy on
November 18, complete with his photography crew. Swam Electric put up
Christmas decorations on Friday, November 22 and were pictured on the
front page the following day.
The Exchange Club and generous volunteers received considerable praise
for refurbishing the aging Cabin, including a steel framework to keep it
in shape and a trailer to move it from storage to the Square. The story
appeared, with several photos, in the November 24 issue of the Evening
Sun.
Santa's arrival at his Cabin on Friday, November 29 rated another front
page story. The parade was sponsored by the Hanover Area Chamber of
Commerce. The Hanover Fire Commissioner and Police Chief lead the parade
followed by the SW High School marching band, Brownie Troops 716 and
170a, the antique Utz delivery truck, Miss Hanover Sarah Hoffman, Frosty
the Snowman, Peoples Bank employees tossing candies to the onlookers and
Santa on a Borough fire engine serenaded by the Hanover HS marching
band.
A second story, also front page, bemoaned the lack of a community tree
and tree-lighting ceremony. It was reported that this community event
had been discontinued in the late 1960s (actually 1966) when the Tinsel
Tree retired, although it had been revived briefly in 1997 and 1998. The
borough manager excused the borough from sponsorship of any religious
symbolism and passed the problem back to the community.
2003
The Hanover Area Garden Club stepped forward to decorated the Square
(Tuesday, November 18). Next day Swam Electric put up some new snowflake
decorations around the Square. On Friday, one Mike Jacoby is shown
helping put up a large evergreen in the Square with the lighting
scheduled for November 29, the day Santa was to arrive at his cabin.
This was the year that rain washed out the entire parade. Santa arrived,
alone, inside the fire engine, and set up inside the Cabin to welcome a
few hardy visitors. The tree-lighting took place the next day, Saturday,
and rated a photo in the Sunday paper.
2004
Swam Electric started off this Christmas season by putting up
decorations along Baltimore Street. There was a story on page 3 of
Sunday, November 21, with details about events surrounding Santa's
arrival on the 26th. The parade was to start at 9 am with the two high
school bands, Black Rose Twirlers and Santa on the fire engine, rain or
shine. Volunteers from the Four Square Gospel Church planned to serve
hot chocolate to those waiting in line to see Santa.
A Community Christmas tree lighting was scheduled for about 7 PM with
Emily Freiert doing the honors as winner of the tree trimming contest.
The borough allowed free parking in the downtown area from November 26
through December 31. Photos the day after Santa's arrival include
Santa's mail box. The number of visitors this year was reported to be
about 1800.
2005
Setting up the Community Christmas Tree started off this years
celebrations. On November 19, the Hanover Exchange, Lions and Rotary
Clubs combined efforts to ready the Square and Cabin for Santa's
arrival. As well as putting up street decorations, Swam Electric strung
the lights on the tree. Brownie Troop 716 continued its tradition of
decorating the Cabin.
The Parade was directed by the Exchange Club in the usual format in the
morning of Friday, November 25. The hour-long tree lighting ceremony was
scheduled for 6:30 that evening with entertainment by a Brass Quartet,
the Hanover Area Children's Choir and a welcoming address by
Councilwoman Deb Hoff. Fresh baked pretzels, cookies and hot chocolate
were to be served.
On the day of the Parade the temperature was in the 20s. Even so, about
200 kids showed up to greet Santa.
2006
The Community Christmas Tree Committee put up the tree on November 15 in
preparation for Santa's arrival on Friday, November 24. The weather was
cool, but not as cold as last year, and a good crowd showed up.
Hanover Tradition Continues
Christopher Arter
2014
For this year Santa worked very hard in making certain that every child
was seen. Even on the
last night he stayed until 9:30pm listening to the many requests of our
communities’ children.
2015
This was the year it was decided to resume showcasing a live tree for
the Hanover Square. The
previous artificial tree had become problemsome. A tree was selected by
members of Main Street
Hanover and that November the 16 foot Douglas Fir had been installed
with the help from
seniors from Hanover High School. The tree was decorated with clear
lights. This was also the
first year that Main Street Hanover took over the Tree Lighting
Ceremony, which would continue
to grow in the following years.
This year Santa arrived on a new fire engine and saw just over 2,200
children. December was
warmer than usual and lines were long at times. Many first year babies
visited, not all were sure
of this Santa guy. Many four generation families visited Santa.
2016
2,100 children visited Santa.
2017
For the anniversary year Santa told the fire department that he didn’t
need to borrow their
engine since he was bringing a horse drawn sleigh to make his arrival to
the 80 year old cabin.
This was another milestone year for the cabin as it celebrated its 80 th
year. Along with the usual
Utz chips and candy canes, a commemorative button pin was given. Showing
a recent photo of
the cabin with children visiting. Nearly 2,600 children came to visit
Santa, with families
remaining patient during long lines. Moments were cherished with
children clutching their lists for
Santa. Some lists were written, some were made with stickers, others
were typed and a few
were even on iPads and tablets.
Even though we were celebrating the cabin’s milestone, it also was
showing its age as it
struggled to be transported to the square. The Hanover Christmas
Committee had made the
difficult decision to retire the 1937 cabin. This news was announced
prior to the Christmas
season which was covered by local news outlets as well as television.
This awareness brought
many to our wonderful cabin to see it one last time. One woman even came
to see it and sit on
Santa’s lap even after having moved out of Hanover nearly 60 years
before. She was very giddy
seeing Santa. Many others trekked to their hometown to visit the cabin.
Coming from Florida,
Colorado and California. Visitors from Austria even visited on the final
day of the season. Three
and four generations of families came and shared memories over it’s 80
years while some
brothers recreated their Christmas photo from seventeen years earlier.
Tears were shed, smiles
were shared.
The announcement to retire the cabin was certainly bittersweet to
Hanoverians and the
committee was conscious in its plans for the next cabin. There was great
discussion on the future
of the 1937 cabin and when the ownership was questioned, it was
confirmed to be the Hanover
Borough’s since the Borough had it built in 1937. It had been decided
that the cabin would not
be sold whole and possibilities of reusing portions were researched. The
Hanover Eagles
graciously offered a donation of $47,000 to go specifically towards the
cabin’s replacement. With
such a wonderful contribution the committee was able to look at quality
options to provide a
cabin to last 100 years.
2018
This was a year that was full of discussion and planning for the new
cabin! The Committee
sought to create a cabin that was close to size, shape and style of the
1937 cabin. Many details
were hashed out throughout the year with a deadline of the cabin’s
November placement.
Materials, colors, roofing, windows, electrical, handicap accessibility,
and many other features.
Once the rudimentary plans were confirmed and agreed on the 1937 cabin
was dismantled to
gauge what was salvageable to be reused in the new cabin. The 80 year
old headquarters was
discovered to be in worse shape than everyone thought. When the roof was
removed the walls
began to fall apart! Someone once joked that paint was all that was
holding it together and when
it was dismantled there was some truth to that statement! Lumber that
was deemed salvageable
was transported to be stored and dried in the idea of making mementoes.
A search was made for a company that built log structures. Through a
bidding process Fitzgerald
Heavy Timber Construction out of Thurmont, Maryland was selected.
Beginning in early August,
building of the new cabin was carried out at the Borough’s public works
property and progressed
steadily for 14 weeks. Photos were taken on a regular bases showing how
the cabin began to
take shape and showed the craftmanship that the builders offered for the
cabin. While the logs
were brought in the corner joins were hand carved to nest the logs
together. Through the
building process we shared wonderful stories of the cabin’s history with
the workers and they
began to realize how much this little cabin meant to the people of
Hanover.
Many things were reincorporated into the new cabin creating a connection
to the past and the
memories it held. The iconic mailbox and “Santa’s Headquarters” sign
were obvious things to
reuse on the new cabin. Other things saw more creative uses. The doors
from the old cabin were
stripped of their many layers of paint and cut and crafted into planter
boxes that host trees with
lights. These doors were not the original doors, but were replacements
from maintaining the
cabin in the 70s. In addition to door lumber, one of the original sets
of hinges were used for the
front door with a borough employee replicating the original for the
hinge set for the side door.
The original windows were saved and repurposed into photo frames
creating a pictorial timeline
of the cabins as you look from left to right in the new cabin. The
fireplace, while not original, was
still an aged piece of the previous cabin. Donald Hamme of the
Historical Society (and a
committee member) restored the fireplace and arranged for the mantel to
be replaced with a
board crafted from some of the 1937 cabin’s salvageable lumber. A
vintage style electric
decorative fireplace logs was donated and creates a great ambiance in
the restored fireplace,
with crackling sounds!
From the beginning of planning for the new cabin, great care was given
to make sure that this
cabin would last for many, many more generations of visitors. Ways that
this was executed
included the log home builder chosen, a metal roof, permanent hooks for
decorations, and
updated electrical.
As many of the committee members never had to help design and build
Santa’s cabin before,
with each week of drawings and building progress, different features and
components were
tweaked and improved along the way. For example, the chimney was not in
the original designs
due to costs and height concerns, but with gracious donations and
continued desire to mimic the
original, a chimney was then added.
Features that were added or different from the previous cabin were a new
ramp to make it easier
for every child to visit, wood flooring with a new area rug, vaulted
ceilings exposing the
specifically planed beams for our cabin, and the new light fixture made
from a Victorian tree
stand.
Santa also selected a new chair that fits beautifully in the room and
still leaves amble room for
visiting children.
When Santa’s hours began, the curiosity began to build as people were
reminded that the cabin
was new for this year. The “new cabin smell” was very inviting. People
were positive when
Santa’s helpers explained the old cabin’s deteriorating condition and
the great new features of
the new cabin. Armed with a list of the reincorporated items, visitors
smiled and were happy to
hear of the care that was taken in this reincarnation of this precious
tradition. Children sat on the
step and posed for the yearly family photos and action shots of
depositing the letters in the
iconic Santa Mail Box were taken. Many wonderful compliments were given
on the authenticity of
the log cabin and many great approvals were mentioned.
Santa had about 2,600 children visit, and his season ended with an
engagement, showing that
the tradition continues in Hanover.
2019
The annual Christmas parade was a great day with lots of people after a
windy day on
Thanksgiving. This year visitors came from as far as California. Another
family had returned back
to Hanover from Saudi Arabia. With the handicap ramp, a grandmother was
able to visit with her
grandson, sharing his wishes. Over 2,600 children and their families
visited this year.
2020
Santa had a tricky year like so many off us navigating the dos and
don’ts of the pandemic. His
team in Hanover worked very hard to preserve the cabin tradition in
whatever they could. It was
decided that Santa would not make any in person visits to keep himself
safe and healthy to
make his deliveries Christmas Eve.
The cabin and downtown decorations still were put up and Christmas cheer
was spread virtually.
Santa sent videos from the North Pole to the children of Hanover showing
he was still receiving
and reading letters, even though we couldn’t sit on his lap and read our
wish lists. He even read
us a story from afar, and shared how Mrs. Claus was making sure he never
forgot his mask and
to stay safe. With the help of the Hanover Area Fire and Rescue Fire
Department, Santa was able
to visit in the community, instead of the visitors coming to the cabin.
The first weekend on
Saturday and Sunday, Santa rode on the bucket firetruck, visiting almost
all of Penn Township.
The next weekend, the Hanover Borough was blessed to see Santa, again
riding on the firetruck.
Santa’s elves, Hanover Area firefighters, followed handing out Utz chips
and candy canes to the
children seen along the way, both weekends. Kids of all ages enjoyed the
thrill of seeing Santa
thru their neighborhoods.
2021
After a season of hurdles and adjustments Santa was able to return in
person for this season!
For the 85 th Anniversary of Hanover’s Cabin Tradition, Santa arrived in
a one-horse open sleigh
during the parade. Santa’s team helped to safely welcome 2,300 children
to the cabin with a
pexiglass barrier behind a bench for children to sit on for the annual
photo with Santa. In
addition to the regular bag of Utz chips and candy cane, children
received a commemorative
wooden nickel for the 85 th Anniversary.
The cabin found a temporary place on the Fountain Quadrant for this
season. The cabin’s normal
spot was unavailable as a nearby building was being restored, but the
pandemic helped us get
used to change and this was no different. The town’s Christmas tree was
relocated to a new
permanent location on the opposite quadrant with the old Hanover Hotel
as a backdrop. The tree
was a donated 25’ blue spruce tree from South Hanover. Public Works and
volunteers worked
hard to create a more fitting spot for the tree this season and beyond.
In addition to the changes, schoolchildren participated in painting
several windows on businesses
throughout Downtown. A pleasant nod to the Halloween Window Painting,
the Christmas Window
Painting was a big hit and seems to have joined the regular Christmas
festivities.
2022
The Hanover Christmas Committee and Santa are anxiously awaiting to
experience the
next set of Christmas memories in Hanover!
Stay tuned for more……………