Brownhelm Community Christmas – 1934, 1944, 1954, 1964 & 1974

It's Christmas Eve. 

If you live in Brownhelm Township, that means you just might be expecting a visit from Santa Claus – in person – tonight. It's all part of the Brownhelm Community Christmas, a charming tradition which has been going on since 1932, the first year of the program in which a real live Santa visits homes in the community to make sure that no child is forgotten.

I wrote about that first year here. 

The Brownhelm Community Christmas has been a favorite topic on this blog, with about a half-dozen posts devoted to Journal articles pertaining to it. I've covered the years 1932, 1947, 1962 (which is included with the 1932 link), 1963, 1967, and 1970.

This year I decided to find the Lorain Journal article associated with 1934, and then jump ahead in ten-year increments. Some of them provide nice histories of the program. As usual, I'm sure some of the other articles on the pages are also of interest.

Dec. 26, 1934

Dec. 5, 1944

Nov. 20, 1954

Dec. 18, 1964

Dec. 22, 1974

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So are they having it again this year? Of course. It wouldn't be Christmas in Brownhelm Township without it.

But there are certain rules, as it would be impossible for a Santa to visit every home in what is now Brownhelm Township. According to the Vermilion.org website, "Brownhelm Community Christmas takes place December 24th, annually. Santas visit homes in Old Brownhelm delivering gifts, candy and fruit.

"Old Brownhelm is the area originally served by the Brownhelm School before it was consolidated with Firelands Schools. Children under 10 receive a gift; those up to age 14 receive candy and fruit. Senior citizens are gifted with a half-peck basket of fruit. Cards are sent out to everyone serving in the military. Anyone who might go without Christmas dinner discreetly receives food packages.

"Letters are sent to Brownhelm Township families in November explaining the Community Christmas tradition with instructions on how to receive a Santa visit. The area is divided into routes; each route with a chairman to compile a list of each recipient’s name and age.

"The Brownhelm Community Christmas Santa visits have become an integral part of the season for Brownhelm residents. Organizers rely solely on donations; they do not solicit businesses, but local businesses donate fruit and solicit donations. Volunteers drive Santa from house to house, wrap gifts, assemble fruit baskets, pack candy into bags, and help the Santas get dressed on Christmas Eve.

"For more information, visit www.brownhelm.org."

Believe me, a few years ago when I was planning to move out of the Lorain Overlook to a permanent home, I looked in Brownhelm Township. Who wouldn't want to live there, and look forward to a visit each year from Good St. Nick?

Christmas Eve – 1970

Well, it’s Christmas Eve 2020. 

For those of you that were reading the Journal fifty years ago today, then the above front page reproduction should look familiar. It has the traditional decorative border that appeared annually on the day before Christmas. It’s like seeing an old friend.

And speaking of old friends, regular readers of this blog remember that the artwork was created by Journal artist Gene Patrick (note the tiny “gp” in the corner). 

Anyway, here’s hoping you have a happy and safe Christmas Eve.

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Over in Brownhelm, of course, the traditional Community Christmas will take place tonight, just as it has since December 1932. The charming holiday custom has been a favorite topic on this blog. (Click here to read all of the different posts, including a look at how the very first one played out in the newspaper).

The Journal’s coverage from December 1970 has a nice capsule history of the annual event. 

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One of my most visited posts is this one, in which I reminisce about believing in Santa Claus. If you’ve never read it before, give it a look if you’re so inclined – and leave your own reminisces about believing in the jolly old elf.

Brownhelm Community Christmas – 1967

On Christmas Eve, I like to post vintage articles about the Brownhelm Community Christmas celebration. The idea of having volunteers dressed as Santa Claus visiting homes in Brownhelm Township with gifts and treats is such a charming custom. And it’s been going on since the early 1930s.

Back in 2016 (here), I posted a series of articles from December 1932 indicating that it was probably the first year of the tradition. (On that same post, I included a photo from the 1964 celebration.) I have also posted articles from 1947 and 1963.

And here’s today’s article. This one ran in the Lorain Journal on December 24, 1967 and even has a photo of Rev. Ralph Albright, the man credited with being the founder of the Brownhelm Community Christmas.

It makes me want to drive out to Brownhelm Township tonight (it’s only about ten minutes from where I live) just to catch a glimpse of all the fun!

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Way back here in 2010, I posted my personal reminisces about believing in Santa Claus. 

Brownhelm Community Christmas - 1932

It’s Christmas Eve.

That means that out in Brownhelm Township, it’s time for their charming holiday tradition of Community Christmas, in which a team of volunteer Santas clad in white beards and red suits deliver gifts, candy and fruit baskets to homes in the community.

How long has this been going on? I reviewed copies of the Lorain Times-Herald from the early 1930s at the Lorain Public Library, and it appears that 1932 was the first year that the visits from Santa Claus received any mention in the press.

On December 10, 1932, a short article appeared in the Lorain Journal (below) explaining how representatives of 15 different local organizations came together to hatch the idea of Santa Claus actually visiting the community in person.

The next mention of the arrival of Santa Claus was in the December 21, 1932 edition of the Lorain Journal. A small item (below) appeared in the section of the paper devoted to news from the neighboring communities.

Finally, an article in the December 23, 1932 edition of the Journal does a nice job of describing the behind-the-scenes preparation for Santa’s visit, which was to take place the following evening on Christmas Eve.

Happily, the wonderful tradition of a Brownhelm Community Christmas has continued since then without interruption – making this the 85th edition.

Like I’ve said before – it makes you want to move out there just to watch it all unfold each year.

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I wrote about the Community Christmas a few times on the blog, including the 1947 edition, as well as the 1963 version.

Here is the Journal article publicizing the 1962 Community Christmas. It ran in the paper on December 18, 1962.

And here’s a photo from the Journal’s coverage from Christmas 1964.

Santa Claus Comes to Brownhelm Twp – 1947

Each Christmas, my heart is gladdened that Brownhelm Township's wonderful tradition of having a real live Santa Claus visit each house in the area lives on through its Community Christmas program.

I posted an article about the 1963 Santa Claus visits here, and today's post is from a 1947 perspective.

I've transcribed the article for easier reading, although the jpeg of the page containing the article (above) is always fun to look at too. (There's plenty of ads for firms I've never heard of, like Jeancola Coal Co., Mayer's Hardware, Butter-Maide Bakeries, Lawson Lumber, Emmon's Pharmacy and Sam Ross & Sons.)

Anyway, here's the article about Brownhelm Township and its Christmas Eve tradition that ran in the Lorain Journal on December 24, 1947.

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Santa Claus to Visit Brownhelm Township Families Tonight
COMMUNITY TO HOLD 15TH ANNUAL EVENT
Groceries Distributed to Needy in First of Programs
By Staff Correspondent

BROWNHELM – For the 15th successive year, each of Brownhelm's 254 families will be honored by a visit from Santa Claus tonight in a community-sponsored event that has become an institution in the county.

Eight Santas will be going about their rounds tonight bringing a gift for each child in the village. Shut-ins are to receive fruit, candy and cookies. Bags filled with candy, oranges and nuts will be left at every house.

Groceries were distributed at the first of the programs which began in the depression days of 1933. Men on this committee repaired and repainted old toys and women sewed clothes, made dolls and candy.

20 Help in 1933
Rev. R. E. Albright, who was then pastor of the Brownhelm Congregational church, and Mrs. T. W. Wilson, originated the idea. Only 20 representatives of churches and clubs helped with arrangements.

Since then the charitable side has been discarded and the event has evolved into the village-wide Community Christmas. Money is still contributed for needy families and toys are still repaired. But now gifts are given out equally and every child has an opportunity to meet Santa.

Several committees worked packing baskets of fruit and have bought toys. Christmas boxes from Brownhelm still go to servicemen overseas but not in such great numbers as during the war years.

John Love President
President of the committees is John Love. Other officers are Dwight Miller, vice-president; Mrs. Russell Miller, secretary; Mrs. Frank Whyte, treasurer; Mrs. George Bauman, publicity.

Serving on the committee for service men are Mrs. Henry Leimbach and Mrs. Alfred Brill; for children's gifts, Mrs. Ben Northheim, Mrs. Donald Sahr, and Mrs. Warren Manuel; candy and fruit, Melvin Niggle and Erwin Bachman.

Shut-ins, Mrs. T. W. Wilson, Mrs. Allie Claus, Mrs. Robert Leimbach, and Miss Emma Miller; Santa suits, Mrs. Paul Snyder, Mrs. Parker Baird, and Mrs. Leonard Northheim; for Santas, Rev. Albright; and drivers, LeRoy Hasenpflug.

Makeup, Mrs. M. Abraham, Mrs. Robert Leimbach, Mrs. Stuart Olbrich and Miss Eleanor Albright.

Route chairman are Mrs. Arthur Northheim, Mrs. Harvey Emmerich, Mrs. John Portman, Mrs. Peter Van der Ord; Mrs. LeRoy Emmerich, Miss Ruth Hasenpflug, Mrs. Justin Fry, and Mrs. Ray Wycoff.

The Santas will be provided with drivers for their trips which will begin about 7:30 p. m., according to route chairmen.

Santa Claus Comes to Brownhelm Twp – 1963

Tonight, just as he has since 1932, Santa Claus will literally visit every home in Brownhelm Township, keeping the township's Community Christmas tradition alive, and bringing smiles to the faces of all residents, especially the children.

This article (above), which appeared in The Lorain Journal in late November 1963, explains the whole heartwarming story. It tells how Rev. Ralph Albright and a small group of citizens had the idea of a Community Christmas in which St. Nick would visit every household to make sure that no child would go without a gift.

The tradition continues today and is a wonderful thing indeed. It's enough to make you want to move to Brownhelm Township just to be part of it! But even without Santa, the township's friendly citizens, natural beauty, rural flavor and fascinating history as one of the area's oldest settlements make it a great place to live.