Santa Claus lived in Woodsdale

Growing up as a “Woodsdale Kid” had many benefits, not the least of which was that Santa Claus lived in the neighborhood too.

The first memory I have of Santa Claus is sitting in my living room with my Mother and two sisters listening to the radio just before dinnertime the last two weeks or so before Christmas. There were no TV stations in Wheeling in 1951. Local radio station WWVA broadcast a “live” program each afternoon on which Santa read letters from children all over the Ohio Valley. I remember listening every day for that wonderful moment of pure excitement when the Jolly Ole Elf said something like…”And now my little apple dumplings, here is a letter from little Howdy Meagle in Woodsdale who says that he wants…..” It’s hard to believe a more exciting moment for a five year old than to hear firsthand from Santa Claus, himself, that he got your letter. The only other moment of equal exhilaration was when my Dad pulled back the big oak doors to our living room on Christmas morning to reveal the greatest tree ever made…our Christmas tree! And, by golly, Santa got all the presents right. It was truly a wonderful life for a five year old Woodsdale kid. Nevertheless, in two short years everything would change.

When I was seven, my sisters were teenagers and were always involved with some activities after school. So, it was just my Mother and I sitting by the radio to wait for Santa to read my letter. One of the most notable qualities of this “radio” Santa was his laugh. It was not really a “Ho-Ho-Ho” in a phonetic sense. It always started rather softly and quickly reached a crescendo of what was truly a belly laugh. This particular year Santa sounded like he had a cold, a very bad cold. Santa’s laugh had that raspy sound like when a cold drops into your lungs. Santa coughed a couple of times on the air. (Remember these programs were done “live”.) Hey! I knew that cough. Where had I heard that cough before? Then it donned on me that my Dad coughed just like that.

That night, when my Dad came home after work, I didn’t have to wait long for confirmation of my suspicions. As soon as Dad coughed, I knew the truth. No doubt about it when he coughed again. I mustered all the courage that I could, and confronted my Dad. “Are you the radio Santa Claus?” My Dad knew just what to do. I suppose he had planned his answer knowing that sooner or later I would ask him that fateful question. After all, he had had practice with my two sisters before me. He sat me down and told me all about this thing called the “Spirit of Santa Claus”, and how he was one of Santa’s special helpers. I don’t remember much else, but whatever he said worked. I became one of Santa’s helpers.

My Mother made me an elf costume which I wore when I accompanied my Dad on Santa’s personal appearances all over town. My job was to give each kid a candy cane. We usually made two or three stops each night. I never knew just how popular and important Santa was until then. I loved helping my Father, and watching him sit patiently hour after hour lifting little kids up onto his lap. He always preceded that magical question he asked each child with his distinctive Santa Claus laugh “Well, my little apple-dumpling, what do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?”

I recollect looking forward to the Thanksgiving Day parade downtown that kicked off the holiday season. I remember feeling like a very proud son when my Dad would pass by seated high up in Santa’s sleigh waving to all his boys and girls. I always wanted to shout out “Hey! My Dad is Santa Claus!”

My Father was a true keeper of the “Spirit of Santa Claus”. He stopped his public appearances about the time I got out of college, but he never lost his passion for preserving the spirit. Every fall he would visit all the local department store managers that usually hired a Santa’s helper during the Christmas season. His goal was to encourage them to establish specific policies and procedures that protected the children. He was adamant that no drunks, perverts, or anyone who might take advantage of all those innocent children ever be hired as a store Santa. He was ahead of his time…..

My Father was laid to rest in May 1989. No one thought it odd or out of place that Dad chose to wear his favorite Christmas tie and St. Nick lapel pin to meet his Maker. After all…he was Santa Claus!