Christmas Memories: Great Gifts, And Stories
Thursday, December 22nd, 2022
The City of Dalton's offices will be closed on Friday, December 23rd and Monday, December 26th to allow city employees to observe the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day holidays. The Mayor and Council of Dalton and all City staff wish the people of Dalton and Whitfield County who celebrate a very Merry Christmas and warm, happy holidays.
To get into the holiday spirit as we wrapped up our work this week, we asked the members of the City Council and Administration what their favorite Christmas gift was or for any other memories of the holiday season. Here's what they said:
Mayor David Pennington: "I don’t really have any memories of great presents, it wasn’t that I wasn’t provided for, I just never was that crazy about Christmas presents I guess. The only thing I can think of when I was a kid that really excited me, was a little slot racing track, a little figure 8 racing track with electric cars or whatever, that’s the only thing that I can really remember getting really excited about as a kid."
Councilmember Tyree Goodlett - "The original Nintendo Entertainment System – I was about 11 years old. I just remember my cousin had told me how to cheat and see what you got for Christmas that year. When you could just scrape the paper under the bow you could put the bow back down and your parents wouldn’t know that you’d been looking to see what you were getting for Christmas. So that’s what I did, I knew the size of the box because my cousin had one already and so I scratched up under that bow and it just so happened that where the bow was you could see Mario’s head. So, I just remember that part so I couldn’t control myself that night knowing that it was there for the next day. I don’t remember anything else from that day, no other present, just hearing that song playing with the game, with Duck Hunt and Super Mario."
Councilmember Annalee Harlan Sams - The Christmas present that I remember most would be the year we got the original Nintendo. Especially the Duck Hunt game. I remember the partially eaten cookies that Santa left behind, and I remember getting the Nintendo.
Councilmember Dennis Mock - "The best Christmas gift I got was the spanking my brother and I got when I was 4 years old. It was a lesson I never forgot – 'don’t open all of your presents before your parents and grandparents get up.' I’m sure it was my brother’s fault!"
Councilmember Steve Farrow - "When I was growing up here in Dalton, whenever we came downtown my mom would have to take a detour so we could see the Santa Claus and the reindeer that stretched from the top of the Hotel Dalton all the way over to what was then the Dalton Federal Savings and Loan across the street. It was a replica of the sleigh and reindeer that the city put up every year (a tradition that continues with the current sleigh and reindeer displayed on the Waugh Street bridge). And then of course the two manger scenes, one was in front of First Methodist and the other was in front of the First Baptist Church. So we’d have to take a ride down Thornton whenever we came to town so we could see that.
And then, there used to be – and I heard they’re going to put it back up – but there used to be in the Brookwood subdivision there used to be in Bucky Jones’ yard there used to be a Santa that was mechanical and a light turned on and you could see him go all the way up to the top of their house. And then the light turned off and it went all the way back down and started again. So we always had to go by and see that, too. I heard his son’s going to put it back up, but I haven’t been over there to see.
And then of course, the highlight was once every Christmas season we would go down to Rich’s department store and ride the pink pig – we’d make a day of it – but ride the pink pig, and then they had a thing upstairs called Santa’s Secret Shop. And you’d write on an envelope who all you had to get presents for, so momma and daddy and all of that, brother, sister, you’d put your money in the envelope and they’d pin it on you and you’d go in there and these college kids who were just working during Christmas, they’d take you around and help you buy a present for everyone on the list and help you budget your money and get the presents and that way your parents didn’t know what you were getting them for Christmas. Can you imagine just leaving your kids alone in a big department store like that now?
When you went to see Santa Claus at Rich’s – we thought that was the real one down at Rich’s, the other ones down here were just his helpers, but we thought the real one was down at Rich’s – while you were waiting to see him, they had real deer that were in I guess cages or pens, and there was glass in front and there were 8 of them and they all had their names in front and we thought those were Santa’s reindeer. Those were the good old days.
City Administrator Andrew Parker - "This Christmas I don’t really remember a great gift or anything, but I do reflect on the commitment of our City employees, particularly the Public Works and Public Safety employees who may have to work on Christmas and their families that also sacrifice this time of year. I can recall from my time at Public Works having to call in crews to work the roads for inclement weather on Christmas Day. Although it’s tough to leave the Christmas festivities taking place with family and friends in the comfort of a warm home, none of the employees ever complained about having to come in to keep the City safe. I am honored to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are so committed to their respective missions. We are reminded of the importance of this as this holiday season is expected to be frigid with some potential for inclement weather."
