Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Around 1965 the United Church Minister in Port Albert was a Rev. Edgar Williams. That Christmas he bought some goodies for the kids and had my mother (Margaret Mercer) and Lydia Hoffe do them up in little bags for Santa to give out to the kids on Christmas Eve. Santa came in a pickup driven by Dorman Elliott.
The next year Mom and Lydia canvassed the community and took up a collection to do bags for the kids again. This has been an event that has lasted through the years and eagerly supported by the community. Mom did this for thirty years. I then took Mom's place (for about 8 years) until I moved to Gander. Lydia was replaced by her daughter-in-law Marjorie. Others took over eventually for Mom and Marjorie. Finally the Recreation Commitee has taken over.
For all these years, except the last few, Dorman Elliott always drove the pickup to bring Santa. Now Santa comes in a firetruck driven by the nearby Stoneville Fire Department. Although there are not many children in Port Albert anymore, the tradition still goes on. All through the years, grandchildren and others who came to visit for Christmas were included. Also many from Stoneville who wished to have their kids included gave donations or made up bags of their own and they were passed out by Santa at the same time. Over the years the treat bags went from little bags to shopping bags full of treats.
I remember one Christmas while I was living in Port Albert, my very good friend from childhood (Barb) was home for Christmas at the same time and she and I got in the truck with
Santa to help pass out the bags. We both had a little girl of our own then which made it all the sweeter for us. We will never forget it.
Submitted by Lorraine Wilson (nee: Mercer) - Gander, NL
23 November 2007