Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1949-12-16
Annual Community Tree Par
ty To Be Held Friday In
Clinton Theatre

santa ClauS arrived here as the
clock struck four Wednesday af-
ternoon, and his appearance
brought shouts of glee from hum
dreds Of children and many adults
who were on hand to greet st.
Nick as he crawled out of Bunny
Twynham's airplane on the sands
of the lakefront behind Water
works Park.
Members of the Port Clinton
Merchants Assn and the Chamber
Of Commerce had not expected
such tremendous crowd to be on
hand as Santa arrived and they
were not prepared to cope with
hundreds of healthy but unruly
youngsters.
Special Policeman George Bank
ey, who is also the county dog
warden, and Mayor Carl Becker
were helpless when the eager
boys, and some girls, pushed and
showed so determinedly that Santa
Claus was nearly showed into
Lake Erie's chilly waters.
Several girls and smaller boys
were trampled during the mad
scramble to shake Santa's hands
or pull his beard, but no one was
badly injured. Three girls and
one boy were picked up off the
sand but their rescuers couldn't
tell if their tears were from be-
ing hurt by tramplers, or if they
were angry because they lost out
in the riot.
One casualty was Tommy Har-
ger, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Cecil
Harger, 800 West Third Street,
who lost his glasses and hat DUR
ing the hectic few minutes. Tom
my's hat was later returned to
him. If anyone has the boys
glasses, please return them to the
News office.
There was no musical program
by the high school band, although
the band members were among
the big crowd. While the band
was marching from the school
| building to Santa's arrival
grounds, valves on the large horns
| froze up and some of the clarinets
cracked in the frigid weather.
Santa was brought from PENN
sula airport iE Twynham's small
plane as the huge transport from
the North Pole could not land in
the small area behind the water
works. Mrs Claus, who is an ac-
complished aviatriX, took off in
the big transport and was last
seen flying across Lake Erie to-
wards the North Pole
| An open car was used to bring
Santa Claus from the lakefront
to the business district where the
energetic gentleman will be on
duty in local stores daily until
! Christmas Eve. Santa will tour
all stores in the business district
from until 6 each afternoon and
from 7 until 8 each shopping day.
He will have plentiful supply
of candy canes to distribute to
youngsters.
Local stores are now open each
evening until Christmas, thus
! giving many additional hours for
leisurely shopping. The huge
Community Christmas Tree is in
it's usual place of honor in South
Madison Street and broadcasts OF
Christmas carols are being heard
daily from the Colonial Club
rooms.
Date is Set
Members Of the kiwanis Club,
in cooperation with Harry Gala
han, manager of the Clinton
Theatre, will sponsor the annual
Community Christmas Tree party
at 2:30 next Friday afternoon,
December %, in the Clinton
Theatre,
Kiwanians will have a plentiful
supply Of popcorn balls and candy
bars as gifts for the children.
Frank Quisno is serving as chair
man for the occasion. The Clin-
ton Theatre management is do
mating the use of the theatre and
the special feature and cartoons
which will be shown free of
charge to the areas children.
This Sunday afternoon, Deem
Der IS, at two O'Clock, Port Clin-
ton and Oak Harbor Rotary Club
! members will sponsor the third
annual Christmas party of the
Crippled Children's Association
of Ottawa County in Erie Gard
ems Community Hall. Nearly 100
handicapped children will be
transported to and from the party
! by Rotarians.
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A TnMING