A real life Saint Nick at the Heritage Center. 🎅

Fireman Guy Scull paints a toy truck for some lucky kid, c. 1946.

by Larry McClure / Ross Baker

When Tualatin was barely a one stop sign town in the late 1940s and 1950s, the volunteer fire department would use its ladders to string lights on a tall redwood across Boone Ferry from today’s CI (then the Spot Tavern). Tualatin historians Loyce Martinazzi and Yvonne Addington remember families would gather around a big bonfire nearby to sing familiar carols. Elves from the fire department would then help Santa distribute donated toys they had repaired.  Local church women sewed new clothing for cast-off dolls especially for children in need.

Held at the Heritage Center , the 2021 version included Christmas music, hot cocoa, cider and individually-wrapped treats. Santa gave children a special coloring book based on early school life in Tualatin.   

Our Santa was Nick Hamilton. He is the grandson of Gerry Brosy who was a resident of Tualatin for over 6 decades. Her daughter Janet still lives in the family log house on Hazelbrook Road not far from the middle school.  The Crimsonnaires were to make an appearance but Tualatin High School’s bid for a state football championship meant their spirit was otherwise occupied at Hillsboro Stadium. We’ve been promised a future appearance by choir director Andrew Bergh! That we will save for some lovely sunny day on the patio.

Visitors viewed vintage holiday displays inside the Center and purchased a variety of gifts and stocking stuffers, including new sets of watercolor notecards by Carlos Horcos featuring historic locations around town.  $5 jars of locally-produced heritage preserves and the Society’s history-related publications also made for great surprises under the tree. These are still on our shelves at the Heritage Center for that last minute gift idea. Monday through Friday 10-2.

A great Santa! And we hope it becomes an annual tradition. Thank you Nick Hamilton.