For generations in Manchester, Christmas didn’t truly begin until Santa Claus appeared in the front window of First State Bank’s downtown lobby—standing tall, glowing gently, and waving at every child who pressed their nose to the glass. He wasn’t just a decoration. He was a tradition. A memory. A piece of our town’s heart.
And this year, after many seasons spent tucked away and nearly forgotten, Santa has finally come home.
The discovery happened quietly. While looking through a storage room at Manchester City Hall, longtime Tourism Commissioner Jamey Mills uncovered a familiar figure—the very same mechanical Santa who once charmed thousands of Clay County children. Worn by time, his paint softened, and his once-brisk wave slowed to a stillness, but the moment Mills saw him, the memories rushed back.
“I grew up watching Santa wave in that lobby,” Mills said. “The second I found him, I knew he belonged back downtown.”
No one seems to know precisely how the city gained control of Santa, as the current Mayor, Steve Collins, and the former Mayor, Carmen Webb Roberts, were contacted, and neither knew.
Within days, the Manchester Tourism Commission carefully moved Santa to their office on Main Street, where he now sits proudly in the front window, once again facing downtown—just as he did decades ago. And just like that, an old friend returned.
“Manchester Tourism is so proud to announce that Santa is back downtown where he belongs,” the commission shared. “For many years, he stood and waved at kids in the window at First State Bank. Time and age have taken a small toll on him, but after Christmas, we’re going to breathe new life into him. We are so thankful to bring Santa back downtown for good!”
Plans are already underway to fully restore him—repairing his mechanics, brightening his colors, and hopefully returning that famous waving arm so a new generation of Manchester kids can smile just as their parents and grandparents once did.
And those memories? They came pouring in.
Jason Nolan recalled one of the simplest joys of childhood: “One of my favorite Christmas memories as a child was looking for Santa at the bank.”
Tracy Sams, whose mother Debbie Campbell worked at First State Bank, said, “Gosh, I grew up with that Santa… He’s in tons of photos we have.”
Karen Corum Lawson added that she and her husband, Albert Dean, had just been talking about that old Santa earlier in the week—proof of how deeply he lived in Manchester’s holiday tradition.
Others simply felt the warmth of recognition.
Kendra Jarvis Denham said, “I had forgotten all about him. Such great memories.”
And Wanda Reid, a former bank employee, remembered him just as many do: “He turned and waved at everyone!!”
This December, as families stroll past the Manchester Tourism Commission’s window, some will see Santa for the very first time. Others will see him again, like meeting an old friend who has been missing from the holidays far too long.
Either way, Santa’s return is more than nostalgia—it’s a reminder of what small towns do best. We preserve our memories. We honor our traditions. And when something beloved fades, we bring it back to life together.
This Christmas, downtown Manchester shines a little brighter.
Santa is home.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here