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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, November 22, 2024, pg. 7 Following World War II with its wartime restrictions, Albion returned to the customs and holiday traditions it cherished through the years, and conducted an annual Christmas parade in downtown Albion. Downtown Albion was always decorated for this event. There were two Christmas trees that were placed right in the middle of Superior St. One was located just north of the railroad tracks before the intersection with Michigan Avenue, and the other at the intersection with Ash St. I couldn't believe that was actually done until I saw an historical photograph of one of the trees myself. Imagine traffic whizzing past or around these on M-99; the trees wouldn't last long if they were placed there today. Our local Albion Post Office annually placed a nativity scene on the small hill on the south corner of their building. The manger contained small statues of Joseph, Mary, Jesus, and animals including donkeys, sheep, straw (real), and a wooden lathe board manger with electric lights strung about. These were so religious-looking that the practice of placing manger scenes on public property was outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1960s, so out went that tradition both locally and across the county. As time moved on, Christmas traditions changed. The 1953 Christmas parade was the last for a while. Organizers lamented it was too cold and too much work to get everyone to participate. Beginning in 1954, there was no Christmas parade. Instead, Santa Claus would make his grand appearance on the roof of the Commercial & Savings Bank. The Albion Fire Department would escort Santa down from the roof on their aerial ladder and truck, and escort him to his "Santa house" out front. The 1949 Christmas parades were held on Saturday, December 10 that year. I write parades (plural) because there was a morning parade, and then an afternoon parade with a three-hour interval between them. The featured attraction was the reindeer owned by Edwin Butters (1908-2005) of Coldwater. Butters had brought some reindeer down from the Territory of Alaska in 1947 on a transport plane from a remote Eskimo village. He spent the subsequent time training his herd at his ranch three miles south of Coldwater. The participation of the reindeer was a big hit to the children of Albion. Santa came to Albion that year with his red sleigh which had small rollers/casters attached on the bottom in order to make his sleigh move more easily on the brick pavement. The sleigh was pulled by the live reindeer. The event began on N. Superior St. by the Post Office and headed south to Ash St., where it turned east, then north on Ionia St. and into the Market Place. Santa and his entourage were engulfed by hundreds of area children the entire length of the route. Santa briefly stopped in the middle of downtown, where he was presented with a scroll listing the names of all the "good" little girls and boys worthy of receiving presents that Christmas. The afternoon parade was led by the Albion College band, and there was numerous picture-taking with Santa and his sleigh and reindeer in the Market Place. From our Historical Notebook this week we present Santa, Mr. Butters, and his reindeer in downtown Albion at the 1949 Christmas parade as they make the trek southwards. In the distance we can see vibrant downtown businesses such as Merit Shoes, Vaughn & Ragsdale Clothing, Cartwright Shoes, Mitchell's Confectionery, Weatherwax Drugs, Tuchtenhagen's Jewelers, Frost's Shoes, the Commercial & Savings Bank, and the Bohm Theatre. Only the Bohm Theatre has survived to this day. Today, our holiday traditions continue locally with our evening Albion Aglow festivities, this year being held on December 6. Make plans to attend. A happy Thanksgiving next week to all my readers of this column.  Albion's 1949 Christmas Parade
All text copyright, 2025 © all rights reserved Frank Passic
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