This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
PHILIPSBURG — Santa Claus reappeared at Cold Stream Park in Philipsburg on Friday, Nov. 28 – but he arrived by crane instead of with his usual sleigh and reindeer.
Santa, who is accompanied by toy soldiers and a large bag of toys, was delivered and constructed at the base of Cold Stream Dam. It is a famous vintage, historical Christmas display that has been a tradition in the community since the early 1960s.
The 37.5-foot tall St. Nick is displayed along U.S. Route 322 with a bag of toys nearly 20 feet tall. It is the largest Santa in Pennsylvania.
Last year, Santa fell victim to a windstorm and was destroyed. But the Philipsburg Elks Lodge started repairs in September to construct and paint the display to prepare it for Friday’s installation. The momentous occasion signaled the start of the Christmas holiday season in Philipsburg.
The original display was made by Bill Adams as an American Legion project. Adams graduated in 1937 from Philipsburg High School. Adams built the first giant Santa in 1959 as an American Legion project, and it was first displayed on Nov. 18, 1962, according to Jay Herrington of the Philipsburg Elks Lodge’s Santa Committee.
It initially had a motorized hand that waved to passersby. His bag of toys was added in 1963, and the toy soldiers in 1964.
According to Herrington, after decades of wear and bad weather, Adams’ original Santa became damaged and disappeared for a while.
“It was stored for a while in the back of the Rowland Theatre, and when the theater was renovated, the construction crew threw it out,” Herrington said in a telephone interview. “It was later stored at a local funeral home, and then it was moved again several times and stored at various other businesses.”
Adams gave the Elks “guardianship”over Santa to be caretakers of his beloved Claus. Herrington said that Santa was replaced by the Elks in 2005.
That Santa, which sustained heavy damage in 2024, was replaced completely by this newest Santa.
“It’s brand new. It’s an all-new construction and paint,” Herrington said.
Herrington said the Elks and other community volunteers worked for about five hours on Friday starting at 10 a.m. to install Santa, his soldiers and his toy bag back where they belong. The bag is the same one that was built 20 years ago – but was repainted. The soldiers were restored two years ago.
The Santa display is not just a local attraction, but also has a following nationwide. People from all over the United States, including former residents, keep track of when the Santa goes up each year through social media and the Internet.
