Christmas is easily the biggest holiday on Mokena’s calendar, it being a grand finale to the year and all of its events. Each yuletide has a special memory attached to it, recalled fondly through the passing of time. The holiday season of 1925 was quite a unique one in the chronicles of our village’s history, for in that year, a special kind of joy reigned supreme on Front Street. A well-known, out-of-town dignitary graced Mokena with his presence, for Santa Claus made a quick stopover in town.
So it came to pass, that in December a letter was taken in hand by the Mokena Volunteer Fire Department. Its lines bore big news, announcing the upcoming visitor from the North Pole. The village’s newspaper, The News-Bulletin, caught wind of the communication and under a headline in its December 18th, 1925 issue, gleefully proclaimed “Oh You Kids of Mokena, Read This!” An article explained that the firemen had received a note from Santa, and that he’d be squeezing some time into his busy schedule to make a quick stop in Mokena on Monday evening, December 21st, at the Cooper & Hostert Ford Agency on Front Street. The landmark business was the perfect place for Santa’s reception, as many Mokenians saw the garage as something akin to an informal village hall.
That evening at 7:00, the News-Bulletin noted that an “ever growing crowd assembled” there in preparation for Santa’s arrival, for which the interior of the auto showroom was festooned with a Christmas tree strewn with colorful lights. Excitement was building, and in the crowd “youngsters began to get anxious” waiting for him. At a peak moment, Nick Heiman, a resident of then-rural Schoolhouse Road, showed up at the garage with urgent news: Santa had just rung him on the phone, letting him know that his sleigh had become weighed down with gifts to such a degree that he was marooned about three miles outside town. Father Christmas urged Heiman to keep everyone calm, for Harold Cooper, the son of one of the garage’s owners, was on his way to bail him out.
Before long, Santa Claus materialized on wintry Front Street, and what an appearance he made. Amidst his sleigh bells a-ringing to the delight of Mokena’s youth, Santa made his grand entrance to Cooper & Hostert’s, where villagers young and old beheld a “jolly faced, bewhiskered, red-clad figure” who bellowed “Merry Christmas!” The man of the hour paid individual attention to the swarm of little Mokenians who welcomed him, shaking every hand, and asking each devotee what kind of gift they’d like on the big day.
He wasn’t alone, for helpers described as “assistants” lugged in huge bags filled to the brim with goodies such as candy, fruit, and nuts, which were then promptly handed out. Father Christmas didn’t forget Mokena’s parents who also turned out to see him, each one being given a plump, juicy orange.
Before long, Santa bid his admirers farewell, and swiftly disappeared from Front Street as quickly as he had arrived. Bill Semmler, editor of The News-Bulletin and a Mokena resident of some standing, was especially happy with the jolly one’s appearance in town, and made it clear on the front page of his paper. Semmler hailed the efforts of those who arranged the visit, stating that “the men who were responsible for this party and getting Santa here are to be highly commended for their unselfish and community-uplifting spirit”, also lauding the soul of the season, writing “for the time being, all creeds and religious beliefs were forgotten as members of various faiths enjoyed themselves as one big family, truly exemplifying the Christmas spirit.”
The historical record isn’t exactly clear on whether it was the real Santa who paid Mokena a visit in 1925. For all we know, a townsman who fit the description might have donned his suit that evening. This author however, likes to think that it was jolly ol’ St. Nick himself.
love this!! my uncle norval would have been three years old and my mom only one month. i’ll bet my grandparents took them to see Santa
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