The small village of Albion has a very rich history of unique people and places, but none are as colorful as the story of a farmer turned professional St. Nick. Seventy-five years ago, November 1935, Charles W. Howard took a step with fate and officially embarked on a career as Santa Claus in a Rochester department store. And the rest as they say is history.
Howard would go on to a career that would include appearances in some of the nation’s largest cities, including being the official Santa Claus for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Though Howard traveled all over the country, he never forgot his hometown of Albion. He started a Santa Claus School at his home in 1937 and redeveloped his farm property into a theme park, known as Christmas Park in the early 1950s.
“Charles was a very dedicated man.†said Phillip L. Wenz, a career professional Santa from Illinois. “His passion for Santa, children, and Albion is a paramount story to the Western New York State region.â€
Wenz, along with Albion business owners such as Carol Culhane of Just Me Art and Jeri and Lou Becker of the Erie Cannel Schoolhouse Bed and Breakfast, are planning a celebration of the Life and Legend of Charles W. Howard for September 25, 2010 in Albion. Various people from the community have been asked to participate in this event. The Erie Cannel Schoolhouse Bed and Breakfast is even housing some displays of Howard memorabilia in their auditorium and meeting room.
”There isn’t a story any warmer or fuzzier than that of Charlie Howard,” stated Culhane, who has already released a commemorative Christmas ornament featuring Howard last July.
The day’s events will feature a ceremony with special speakers, presenters, with the Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren of Charles W. Howard. Special programs on Howard’s life will be presented. There will even be Santa Clauses from around the region take part in a Santa Claus Oath Ceremony that is dedicated to Howard.
After the ceremony, people will be invited to see the memorabilia at the bed and breakfast, see the former Christmas Park property where Howard had his Santa Claus School, and visit other points of interest in and around Albion such as the Cobblestone Society Museum and Mt. Albion National Cemetery.
Albion is located in Orleans County, New York just north of Interstate 90 on NY Route 98 between the cities of Buffalo and Rochester. Howard was a resident of the community for over 69 years. He belonged to many civic organizations, served on many social committees, and was a member of the First United Methodist Church.
“Grandpa would be very excited about the planning of these events” commented Howard’s Granddaughter Jane Holland of Williamsville, New York. “You can bet he has that twinkle in his eye and smile on his face.â€
Charles W. Howard was truly an American original. He was born on June 15, 1896 in the house that he would live in his entire life. As a boy he did chores on the family farm and had little time to play, but when he did his imagination would take him to far off magical places. As an adult he got to travel all over the country making magical memories for others. No matter how or where Howard roamed, his heart and home were always in Albion, New York.
Howard’s Santa career is that of a Legend. He first played Santa Claus in a 4th grade school play. Later as a young man, he played Santa for his church and was asked to help out a friend by being Santa in a store front window display in a local furniture store. These experiences prompted Howard to think about what Santa meant to the children. During the course of the next few years, Howard continued to think about the Santa experiences and the smiles it brought to children’s faces. In November 1935, Charles W. Howard took a step with fate and officially embarked on a career as Santa Claus in a Rochester department store.
Howard would become famous portraying Santa Claus over the next 30 years. In 1937 he founded the world’s first Santa Claus School at his farmhouse in Albion after a local newspaper reporter suggested he train others to handle the demand for his services. The next year he gave his growing fame a boost by teaching Santa classes in Santa Claus, Indiana. Eventually he would teach students from all over the country and became one of the most sought after Santas in the nation. Howard eventually appeared at department stores in Buffalo, Kansas City, and Dallas during different times in his career.
In the late 1940s, Howard started to convert three large barns on his farm into what became Christmas Park. This small attraction became known all over the Northeastern United States. Part of his concept in creating Christmas Park was to give the Santa Claus School a working campus with a classroom, dressing rooms, and extensive props to help better educate the student Santas.
In 1948 he became Santa for the Macy’s Parade in New York City and continued with the Parade until 1965. His Santa career led to appearances on television, in magazines, and newspapers; including: What’s my Line, To Tell the Truth, The Tonight Show, Life Magazine, and The Saturday Evening Post. He was also hired as a consultant for Miracle on 34th Street.
Howard’s life cannot be captured in his Santa work alone. As a young boy he got a coping saw as a gift. His woodworking skills eventually led him to handcraft toys for the Medina Toy Company. Making toys was just one of Howard’s passions. Always one with a sweet tooth, he developed his own ice cream recipe and went into business with Howard’s Ice Cream.
Howard was well known for his work in the Albion community. He belonged to many civic organizations, served on many social committees, and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Howard was also very active in many regional theatre productions. He wrote, directed, and starred in many plays and reviews in Western New York State. His work with county and state fairs was also extensive. Efforts to publicize the produce of local farmers led Howard to make the world’s largest apple pie and build a scale replica of Niagara Falls with apple juice.
Whether he was promoting one of his many projects or being Santa Claus, Howard never forgot what was really important. He was first and foremost Charles W. Howard… a son, a husband, father, grandfather, church elder, friend, and community minded citizen. He loved his family, his friends, his town, and he loved to smile and make people happy. Sadly, Howard passed away on May 1, 1966 at the age of 69.
During his life, Charles W. Howard never forgot the little boy inside himself that smiled at the world. He thought everyone should smile and nothing gave him more pleasure than when he could bring a smile to the face of another person, especially a child. It was a simple gift that he gave to everyone he met.
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My Mom has Home movies from 7/60That will be featured on 9/25/10For Charles Howard Day.I also have picture Of Me sitting on Charles Howards lap.Jerry Dunn
My name is Paul Sidari.I recently heard about the tribute that is going to take place in my hometown of Albion NY for Charles Howard and his Santa School. What a wonderful way to remember an extroidinary human being. I have been searching the web since hearing of the celebration and looking at some of the pictures and old black and white movies that have put tears in my eyes. I remember going to Christmas Park as a child with my family and especially remember riding on the train. What a great atmosphere and great time to have grown up in Albion NY. Sadly I cannot make it home for the celebration as I live in Boston Ma. God bless all of the Santa’s in the world and God bless the memoery and legacy that Charles Howard has left all of us with!