It was a cool October day in 1989, at a campground near Knoxville TN that Nick asked Pa, "Do you work for my company?" Nick had a nice flowing white beard. He was a nice looking dude. Pa's answer was, "No I am retired from the Army and work for no one". He then asked, 'Do you want to be a Santa Claus ?' He also informed that Ma could be Mrs Claus. We thought for awhile and told him, "Yes". He gave us the address for Cherry Hill Photo and told us to send along a resume' after the first of the year.

We sent in a resume' and the first thing we knew, around mid summer, we were in Norfolk Virginia at the Military Circle Mall. Guess they liked us, cause that November we were in fact, Mr and Mrs Claus.

For the first 11 years we parked the Motorcoach in a the parking lot of the Mall. Each year around the middle of November out came the Red and White.

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The last two seasons at Military Circle Mall we did not take the Motorcoach.   The District Director for Cherry Hill made arrangements for us to stay at Station One on the beach.  While there we had a Suite -- nice.  The accommodations were great.  Living Room, Kitchen, Bath and of course a Bedroom.  The first year we occupied the 7th the next we were assigned the 3rd.  The view from the 7th is the best.  The only disadvantage was the 17 mile to and from the Mall.  But once on the beach we forgot the drive.

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The best part, of course is seeing the kids. My they are great. However, there is a lot of hard work that takes place to make Santaland. The pictures that follow are many. We were going to pick a few of best ones. Gave that up, after a few tries. Some look like dupes, but if ya look real close they are not. We just hope your load time will be rewarding.

The Set or Throne Room.

The Mall, of course provides the 'Set' or 'Throne Room' for Mr and Mrs Claus. We have had two sets over the years. The first was rather simple, it was more or less like a gazebo. Santa had a nice green chair. We do not have digital pictures of that Set.

The Mall has had a major renovation. To celebrate the the 'New Mall', they provided a nice new Set. The theme of the new Set is Santa's Ship. Norfolk, ya know is a Navy Town. The Set provides more than just a sitting place for Mr and Mrs Claus. There is of course the cameras to take picture and a business area for the paying of the same. The first several year the pictures were Polaroid. Now the cameras are digital with printing on the spot. One year the cameras were 35mm film. That did not work out at all.

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Santa's Helpers

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The Great Ones

There is no way in words to describe the joy and/or fear of child with Santa. A picture is said to be worth a thousand words. Many pictures follow, three pages. Hope the load time is worth your enjoyment. The age of the children ranged from a few days. A mother brought a 2 day old on the way home, to see Santa. Grandma came for many years. The last time she came she would be a little girl at the age of 102 in January. The hugs from and just plain talking with the children are the joys that keep taking Mr and Mrs Claus back each year. Try it sometime. Just hug a child and talk with them -- they are great.

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Stories

Yes pictures are worth a thousand words. The children do tell Santa many a story. It is best that one pay attention, because they can get rather insistent.

Stories

This page is really for the year 2001.  That is about the time that Santa started to post the Home Station Web Site.  The years that have happened since 2001 are presented in the links below.  Prior to 2001 Santa was not 'digitized'.  The pictures for the early years are in Photo Albums stored upon the shelf near the fireplace.  Mrs Santa gave Santa a White Album from the shelf.  Santa was going to start the digitation of the Family Photo Albums.  Lo and Behold the Album was pictures from the 1990, 1991 and 1992 Christmas Seasons.  These pictures have been uploaded and links provided below.  Should Santa find pictures for the other years he will add them as they become available.

Enjoy