Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy: The "You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Cry" Story

It was an ordinary day. And...Santa will arrive soon! I have written about the arrival of Santa Claus in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania many times before, but I have recently found a few more photographs, and even an old advertisement from the Lancaster New Era newspaper, to share with you to show just how important the arrival of Santa was to the city of Lancaster. It was back in 1898 that the Beaux Arts-style Watt & Shand Department Store was designed by renowned architect C. Emlen Urban. It stood on the square since that time. In 2006 the main part of the building was four stories of buff brick with elaborate terra cotta and marble ornamentation. In 1916 and 1925 major additions extended the building toward South Queen Street. In 1999 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Then in 2006 the structure was demolished except for the facade which today fronts the Lancaster County Convention Center and Mariott Hotel. In 1934 a poem with the title of "Santa Claus' Secret," by Louise Price Bell, was printed on a Christmas folder that was published by Reynolds & Reynolds Co. The poem was used to advertise the Watt & Shand toy department. Then in 1940 Watt & Shand printed a children's book titled "Adventures of Santa Claus."

Watt & Shand Department Store in downtown Lancaster.

Then in 1946 Santa arrived for the first time at Watt & Shand by convertible during a posh parade that included Macy's-style helium balloons. The following year Santa once again passed up the reindeer in favor of an open cockpit plane which landed at the Lancaster Airport and the rosy-cheeked fellow was then driven to town.

Artwork advertising Santa's arrival.

Each year, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Santa would jingle his bells from a variety of vehicles including a train, a wheeled sleigh pulled by eight mechanical reindeer and, of course, fire engines. My wife, Carol, escorted him from the train tracks at nearby Water Street, to the square in 1965 as a member of the Penn Manor High School Band. Then Santa would be transported to the roof of the Watt & Shand Building by a fire truck ladder. In 1992 The Bon-Ton bought the Watt & Shand Building, but still continued the tradition until 1995 when The Bon-Ton closed their doors. The tradition of Santa arriving in downtown Lancaster ended that year, but he still arrives at the nearby Lancaster Park City Mall. It as another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.