The magic of Santa Claus is forever captured in the memories of those of us fortunate enough to have met Santa in the Woods. Imagine an evening hayride through an enchanted forest to a toy-filled cabin in the snowy woods. The visit began with your parents driving you only a few miles from home to a woodsy area you’d never seen before. Then we drove down a narrow lane. I couldn’t really imagine what the hayride would be like and just being outside at night was a good kind of scary. We arrived at… well, I didn’t know where we were. I was a little bit awed by the surroundings.
The next thing I remember is the hayride. It was cold and snowy and I think there were sleigh bells. We were riding on top of a hay-strewn flatbed with just my classmates and a driver who didn’t turn around and didn’t speak. He seemed to be bundled in warm clothing and he kept the two strong horses rhythmically plodding through the black night. Our eyes must have been huge as we tried to see through the dark forest to the lights of the Workshop. We were so excited – the long, long ride would bring us to Santa Claus!
Looking back – could it really be nearly sixty years ago? – I realize once again that memories are sometimes faulty. Would we have been put on a hayride without adult supervision, most likely several sets of parents? I think not. Was the driver as huge and ominous as I remember? Unlikely. And the “long, long ride” must have been less than a mile. I guess I was rather frightened but happy.
Once we arrived I see from the photos that we were greeted by Santa. I don’t actually remember him – only the anticipation of seeing him. I do remember that the cabin was full of wonderful and amazing toys, none of them wrapped. I remember feeling very small in the crowded cabin and awed by the array of choices. I don’t really know how we were matched with our gifts from Santa. I’m sure there were no fights over the toys – only joy. I came home with a stuffed animal, a green elephant with white ears. I must have loved it a lot because it didn’t survive to my adulthood, as some of my less-loved ones did.
When we were first-graders, the wonders of that beautiful night were repeated. Our hayride and cabin were different from the year before but the magic was the same. We rode in a wagon pulled by a tractor instead of a flatbed and horses, which for this horse-loving little girl was a little disappointing. Luckily my parents had prepared me for the change so I was not surprised. And the tractor was really fun. We were so fortunate that it was another lovely and snowy evening. Santa in the Woods was just as thrilling an experience as the first year but without the anxiety.
Years later I learned that this Greenfield Village tradition was made possible in 1950 and 1951 by our parents who quickly organized to arrange and pay for the Santa in the Woods event to continue when Mrs. Ford died in 1950. The tradition had been started by Mr. and Mrs. Ford who were very fond of children and derived great pleasure from arranging for the youngest children attending the Village schools to visit Santa in his Workshop. The workshop was a little cabin conveniently located on the Ford Estate.
The year Mrs. Ford died, her brother Roy Bryant and his wife Katharine hosted “Santa in the Woods” on their estate just west of Fair Lane. The photos show a cute little white clapboard house with a matching picket fence and a very rustic cabin interior. The Bryant’s had several grandchildren attending the Village Schools so they were probably happy to help ensure that the tradition continued.
After that one year at the Bryant’s, Santa’s Workshop returned to Fair Lane. Clara Ford’s estate must have been settled for our 1951 visit because parts of her doll collection were offered as toys that year. I know I came home with a wonderful doll labeled from Mrs. Ford’s collection. Actually, I assume it was wonderful. I imagine I would have enjoyed it more had I been allowed to play with it. My mother carefully placed it high on a shelf in her closet where it remained until I was 47-years-old.
In any case, visiting Santa in the Woods was a magical evening both years and I’m very grateful to the Ford’s, the Bryant’s, the parents’ committee and indeed to everyone who contributed to give us such lifelong wonderful memories.
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