Santa and The Crooked Little House

As the calendar turns from November to December many area children could be seen writing letters which might have looked like; “Dear Santa, How are you? How are the reindeer doing? I am fine. Would you please bring me …. “

Dear Santa letters have a long enduring history in and around Geneseo. The first mention of children writing to Santa for their Christmas wishes was in 1887 as the Geneseo Republic reported,“ Children are beginning to write to Santa” in a late November issue. The Republic would report another letter writing story when, in 1898, the paper shared that a “little girl of six summers has sent a letter to Santa.”

By 1901, Henry County papers were publishing Santa letters in special issues. The Kewanee Daily-Star-Courier had a twenty-page edition with over 500 letters to the jolly elf from local children writing down all their Christmas dreams. In 1940, the Geneseo Republic began publishing the Santa letters from Geneseo children. The children from the Maple City were wishing for toys, clothes, candy and even fruit as Roger Brummett did when asking Santa to bring him a sled and some apples.

The 1940’s would add a new item to the local children’s wish lists. The 1942 letters to Santa had many of the children adding war bonds to their lists. One such wish came from Caryl Bangston, who wrote Santa asking for him to deliver a pair of skis, a cash register, and a war bond.

If children did not want to send their letters to Santa via the Post Office they could still get their wishes to the man in the red suit. During the Christmas season many of the Geneseo merchants would set up special areas for children to drop off their letters. These places inside the stores would have a special mailbag or a mailbox where each letter could be placed, then delivered to the North Pole. In the 1920’s one such store was McKenzie’s Variety Store, which also have a place where children could visit Santa in person.

Seeing Santa in person was a popular way of making sure your Christmas wishes reached the jolly old elf in time. Santa would come to Geneseo in many ways. During the early 1900’s Santa would let the children know in a letter place in the Republic sharing that he would be arriving in town by train usually arriving from Chicago. Santa has also come to town with a police escort, riding in or on a fire truck and in 1959 he arrived in the Maple City riding in a 1960 Plymouth Savoy 4 door, which was given away to a lucky winner.

To meet up with Santa, children would have several choices through the years. The first place to host the jolly old elf was the local churches. Many of the Geneseo churches would have a visit from Santa during their Christmas programs. Santa was also at the Armory Building during the Christmas program that was attended by hundreds of the Maple City citizens. If children could not visit with Santa, he would drop off items that would make people happy during the Christmas season. In 1879, the Republic had a story that told readers that Santa left many items with local merchants. Items such as, alphabet blocks, drums, gloves, frames, and books to name a few were to be found with the local merchants before Christmas Day.

Once Santa arrived in town he would need a place to set up his shop. The Unitarian Church had one such place. During the 1878 Christmas season, Santa could be visited with at a funny little house within the church building. Santa must have liked this funny little house because in the future he would call The Crooked Little House his headquarters in Geneseo.

In 1958 the people of Geneseo would construct The Crooked Little House for children to share their Christmas wishes with him. This house was built on the lot between the Post Office and the Geneseo Republic’s Office. The next year the line of children would be so large that in went past the Republic’s office and bend around the police station next to the newspaper building. All those in line that afternoon had to brave a strong cold wind before getting their chance to talk with Saint Nick..

The Crooked Little House would be Santa’s Headquarters well into the 1960’s. The location of the house would change through the years going from the original lot to the sidewalk in front of the Geneseo Chamber of Commence, which is where the Barney’s is located today. The little house would then disappear from the Geneseo landscape until the 1989 Victorian Walk Committee, co-chaired by Barb Fehlman and Pam Roets, helped bring it back for a second stay in town. The committee would seek the help of the Building Trades students from Geneseo High School. The students would construct the new Crooked Little House under the guidance of Steve Durian. This time the new Crooked Little House would be built on the lot between the Republic office and the Post Office. Santa would be there season after season until the mid 1990’s, then the house would be gone again.

The third appearance of the Crooked Little House happened in 2007 when it was saved from going to the city burn pile and constructed on the lawn of the Geneseo Library, which was located where the FCA calls home today. This time the house was a little smaller than the 1980’s version, but Santa still visited with the area children giving each one a coloring book, crayons, and a candy cane.

So this Christmas season if you write your letter or visit Santa at the library or during the Christmas Walk remember that the jolly old elf has enjoyed coming to Geneseo and sharing the Christmas spirit with all no matter where in town, Have a joyful Christmas season.

Photograph shows the Crooked Little House in front of the Geneseo Chamber of Commence about 1960 or 1961

Downtown Geneseo open late for Christmas shopping during the 1960's