The Year Santa Claus Came Late to the Easter’ Cove

and Branch

Submitted By: Loretta Corcoran

 

Back in the 1950’s, there was always a lot of snow in the small community of Branch St. Mary’s Bay.  My family lived in the Easter Cove and I can remember a Christmas when the snow was so high and drifty that Santa Claus lost his way in Branch country and could not make his Christmas Eve stop in our little community.

 

I remember waking up on Christmas morning and being told by my mother that Santa would be late this Christmas.  My father and a number of men from the Easter Cove and Branch had gone out on their horse and slides to meet Santa Claus in Branch country.  Men from St. Brides assisted Santa and his helper Mr. Roy Greene across Branch country to meet the men from Branch.  I guess Rudolph was not leading Santa’s sleigh that year.

 

I can still remember all of us children watching through the window for my father to bring us our Christmas toys.  Bride Downey was the post mistress at that time, and she too helped in the effort to get the toys to all of us.  She manned the post office all through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day waiting for Santa’s helpers to deliver the toys to the post office so she could sort through the many packages and get the toys delivered to the right boys and girls.

 

How happy we were on that Christmas afternoon when we saw my father’s horse come trotting across the pond loaded down with our toys.  What a happy Christmas we had that year.  Gordie got his red helicopter, David got his Roy Rogers Gun and Holster set.  Elizabeth, Maryann and I  got our dolls, nurse kits and sets of dishes.  Diana was the baby then and Santa gave her a beautiful rattle.  We were allowed to play with those toys late into the evening.

 

 

“ I often share this story with my granddaughter, nieces and nephews who are always delighted to hear it.’ Loretta

Branch Come Home Year

August 9-19, 2007