Museum / Archive

Elgin County Archives

Part Of

Stollery Studio fonds

Description Level

Item

Item Number

46-3662 (2_56)

46-3663 (2_57)

46-3664 (2_58)

46-3665 (2_59)

46-3666 (2_60)

46-3667 (2_61)

Accession Number

2018-57

Storage Room

Archives 4th Floor Storage Room

Storage Location

M7 S1 Sh3 B2 2_56

M7 S1 Sh3 B2 2_57

M7 S1 Sh3 B2 2_58

M7 S1 Sh3 B2 2_59

M7 S1 Sh3 B2 2_60

M7 S1 Sh3 B2 2_61

GMD

graphic material

Date Range

December 14, 1946

Publication

2_56 and 2_59 were published with article in St. Thomas Times-Journal on December 16, 1946, page one.

December 15, 2020: Posted to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Physical Description

6 negatives : plastic

Scope and Content

Photographs of Santa Claus visiting the village of Sparta on December 14, 1946. Images include a parade and Santa with groups of children. Caption from St. Thomas Times-Journal: "Saunta Claus Pays Visit to Sparta Village." 2_56: "Santa Claus visited the village of Sparta, Saturday afternoon, guest of honor at a Christmas part arranged by the Sparta Community Society for the children and held in the 140-year-old mud-walled blacksmith shop that is being converted into a community hall by the Women's Institute and co-operating organizations. Santa Claus arrived in rural state, on a rubber-tired farm wagon drawn by a spanking team of gray Percherons, loaned and driven for the big occasion by Philip Denniss. The Percherons, Pat and Bob, seemed to enjoy the event as much as the children. They were really stepping high as they trotted in from the north and stopped at the main intersection to take on a full load of excited children. Before going to the community hall, Santa Claus very thoughtfully visited the home of little Ruth Anne Barnard, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. J. G. Barnard, who was kept indoors with the mumps and could not attend the party. Santa and the wagon load of children greeted her from the outside." 2_59: "The children of Sparta and district, from toddlers to ten-year-olds, met Santa Claus in person to receive sacks of candy and rosy-cheeked Elgin apples from the jolly old fellow at a Christmas part arranged exclusively for them, Saturday afternoon, in the historic community centre. The reception and distribution of gifts took place in the pioneer blacksmith shop, with its sturdy mud and straw walls over two feet in thickness, that is being remodelled for community use by the women of the village. The Christmas party was arranged under the direction of Clare Greer, president of the Sparta Community Society, and DOn Kay, convener of the children's playground committee, with Phil Denniss providing the transportation. It is proposed to make the Christmas part an annual event. Santa Claus brought along a big book in which he announced he had a record of the behavior of every boy and girl at the party for the last 12 months."

Name Access

Sparta (Ont.)

Subject Access

Christmas

Parades

Related Material

Original photograph sleeve: M7 S1 Sh4 B2 2_134

Less detail