When Santa Arrived in Story City

Photo: Nirmalendu Majumdar

1970

Story City, Iowa

I was a little boy standing outside on that cold, sunny December Saturday afternoon in the bitter cold on Main Street in my hometown.

I was there with all the other kids crowding around waiting.

I was working on my newly-developed skills with my new red Yo-Yo as my fingers froze. But I didn’t care about my fingers at that moment.

I was caught up in the excitement.

We were all anticipating the arrival of Santa to Story City.

Soon we were hearing the sirens as the fire truck pulled up to the Story City Diner (the old bank building).

I was across the street outside Charleson’s Clothing Store where my parents bought the new parka coat I was wearing.

Then! 

There he was!

Up on the roof! 

We all watched as Santa was seen waving to us all from the roof.

And we all waved back.

The ladder was elevated from the back of the fire truck and we watched Santa descend down the ladder to street level.

We all got to meet Santa and got big peppermint candy canes.

It was the best candy cane of the season.

The magic of being a little kid at Christmas.

And it was magic.

Pure childhood magic…

In this photo, Santa was discovered on top of the building on the corner to the right of the Christmas tree.

Charleson’s Clothing Store was across the street, next to Rose Helland’s corner jewelry store.