Remember The Santa Banks? Or Star?

I recently heard from FOB David Collins who currently lives in Florida but he keeps close track of Gloucester goings-on. He’s allowing me to share this correspondence with you:

Also, seeing Catherine’s post a few days ago of the vintage life-size Santa reminded me of a vintage Santa Claus I have among my wooden Santas collection – although this one is made of metal rather than wood. I decided to use the Santas as my main decorating vehicle this year and the so-called “seated sleeping Santa bank” is the centerpiece in one area of my living room.

I had pretty much forgotten I had it and his paint is a bit worse for the wear these days. When I turned him over, I was sort of surprised to remember that it says on a plate area on the back that he was from the Cape Ann Savings Bank Gloucester, Mass. “Serving the Thrifty Since 1846”.

When I did an on-line search, I discovered that a number of US banks in the 1950s gave out these metal Santa Claus banks, so it isn’t at all unique. There are also variations of it, some probably much newer, out there, too. BUT I really like having something from my old home-town and from my boyhood as part of my Christmas decorations some 70 or so years later.

Thought you might like seeing it.

Also from sometime in the 1950s and still a part of my holiday decorations is a lighted wooden star that a friend of my parents, Bill DeCoste, made for us. Anyone who was around back then might remember it as being on our house on Stage Fort Avenue over the 3 living room windows and visible from the Cut Bridge. It had orange bulbs in it then. When I use it now I have to keep it indoors as the wiring is a bit wonky – but it still works, again these nearly 70 years later. It has red, white and green bulbs in it today but they photographed here as nearly the same color as the orange bulbs that my father had in it when we lived in Gloucester.

Here it is up close.

All my best wishes to you and Jim for a wonderful, and wonder-filled, Holiday Season! And thanks again to you both for being a part of the dedicated GMG team that keeps people like me informed on what is happening in our beloved Gloucester. 

David