Saving Santa

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and he has returned to Bloomington-Normal soon.

History and Tradition
Livingston’s department store was founded in March of 1866. It remained in the 100 block of West Washington Street, (the south side of the Museum Square), for 113 years, closing for good in January of 1979. In the 1950s and 1960s, any serious Christmas holiday shopping was done in Downtown Bloomington with six major competitors located within three blocks of each other. For thirty years (1940s – 1970s), the Livingston’s department store would mount two 14-foot Santas to their awning, billing themselves as the “Big, Big, Santa Claus Store of Central Illinois.” Visiting the store’s Santas was the first big thrill of the Christmas season and became a beloved local family tradition. Do you have memories of seeing the Livingston Santas? Share your story with us!

Santas Journey
Following the closure of Livingston’s, the Santas were first purchased by College Hills Mall in late 1979 and displayed there for several years until they were sold again in the mid-to-late 1980s to Jeffrey Alan Wandell. Jeffrey is the owner of retail stores Jeffrey Alans in Normal and Prairie Gardens in Champaign. With a love of Christmas similar in spirit to Livingston’s where the Santas first began, Jeffrey Alans carried on the tradition of displaying a Santa at their store for many years in Normal until they became too fragile for outside use.

Restoring an Iconic Holiday Tradition
Jeffrey Alan Wandell had the Santas in storage for several years, looking for an opportunity to preserve them. During 2023 the McLean County Museum of History connected with Jeffrey and months of planning and research led to the gift that was finalized on December 15, 2023. Jeffrey has a love of sharing art with others, with projects and partnerships like the Wandell Sculpture Garden located at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana, Illinois. For the Santas, the Museum is a logical place to care for them, and to preserve the nostalgic tradition for future generations to enjoy.
This project has included many partnerships, including artist Andrew Jumonville, architect Russel Francois, structural engineer Tim Roecker, the McLean County Board, City of Bloomington, Town of Normal, Ace World Wide Movers, LiUNA Local 362, P.J. Hoerr, and many others.

Project Status
Both Santas are now completely restored. The first Santa is on display on the Museum Square through March 2024 when he will return to storage. The second Santa will eventually be displayed during the holiday season in Uptown Normal near the Children’s Discovery Museum. The specific location will be confirmed after the underpass project is completed. The plan is to annually have the Santas up annually from late November through mid-January. A BIG THANK YOU goes out to everyone that has already contributed to the project with cash donations and to our in-kind sponsors. Partners include: LiUNA Local 362, Operating Engineers Local 649, Cement Masons Local 18, Carpenters Local 237, Stark Excavating, Mathis-Kelly Construction, P.J. Hoerr, Ace World Wide, Mid-West Construction Rentals, R. Gingerich Crane,  Rowe Construction, City of Bloomington, County of McLean, Town of Normal, Crawford-Murphy & Tilly, Tim Roecker, Mohr & Kerr Engineering & Land Surveying P.C., Russel Francois, Mike Matejka, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, Jeffrey Wandell, and Jeffrey Alans.

Questions and Opportunities for Involvement
Contact Director of Development Norris Porter to discuss how you can help in Saving Santa and preserving a nostalgic tradition for the community.