Santa Comes to Town c1966

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The Monroe High School Marching Band escorts Santa Claus into Monroe (riding the fire truck at far left) at Christmas time c1966. Leading the band is Drum Major Mark Nelson, MHS class of 1968. Following the band are the Monroe High School drill team. Taken looking nothwest down West Main Street with good background views of the Monroe Monitor building west to the Avalon Theatre including the Savoy Hotel with White's Variety and the Monroe Post Office, and the new Seattle First National Bank building. Note the Christmas decorations mounted on the light poles. Note the Christmas decorations mounted on the light poles. The original decorations were drawn by Flo Schilaty in the early 1950s, cut out, painted, decorated and mounted on the poles by the Jaycees. Bud Kern drove the fork lift to mount them on the poles for a number of years. After the Jacees were gone, Bud continued to do that for a few years until the Lions Club took over and eventually replaced some of the older figures. One of the decorations was a Santa with a list of the names of many Monroe children. Monroe Monitor photo taken by Howard W. Voland.

--Monroe Historical Society photo #750.