It's a bird — it's a plane — it's Santa jumping from a plane? Yes, indeed.
A few decades ago, in the '60s, '70s and '80s, the man in the red suit literally jumped into the holiday season by parachuting into the then-named Norwin Shopping Center.
Most years it was a peaceful landing, followed by throngs of excited children dashing into the center's arcade to talk with the big guy and share wishes and dreams.
But one year — well, Mother Nature foiled that plan with cloudy skies and some nasty winds.
Santa jumped, and I'm sure he ho-ho-hoped to land peacefully, but his big black boots didn't quite meet the mark.
They did meet an area close to some trash bins behind what then was the A&P supermarket, and poor Santa hurt his leg.
Oops. Or should I say, Ouch!
Maybe he should have flown down on Rudolph?
Norwin resident Ken Hess was a junior firefighter with Circleville Fire Hall and remembers that day. “It was very windy,” he said.
I think they were thinking about canceling the jump. But, Santa wouldn't have any part of that!
And I think it was some elves who fixed his leg so he could finish his holiday duties!
It has been a long time, but I remember seeing a couple of elves in that ambulance.”
Great memory, Ken! But what year was it? I asked online. I asked everyone I knew.
Speaking of ambulances, I figured that Rescue 8 might have some insight into the Year that Santa Dropped.
Enter John Tirpak. After all, Santa must have needed some merry medical help. John was able to confirm, by making some calls, that it seems it was 1978 or 1979. And he didn't stop asking. While I was spending hours researching old newspapers via microfilm, John kept asking. Thanks, John.
Lt. Rod Mahinske suggested maybe Santa flew out of the small airport on Colonial Manor Road.
That's a good lead, right?
I was able to contact Dan Eyler, whose family operates the airport. It seems that wasn't the jolly fellow's launching spot, but Dan's family suggested maybe he flew out of an airport in Kiski — now closed— and perhaps Santa was part of the MonYough Skydivers — also defunct. More dead ends.
I spoke to Carol at Vargo Hallmark, Barbara at Berks Menswear and Don at Don's Barber Shop. My dad even made calls, trying to gather a bit more.
Thanks, Rod, Dan, Carol, Barbara, Don and Dad. And everyone else who reminisced with me.
So, I began the idea for this column with a fuzzy memory of the event, an “urban legend” of sorts. I didn't get a lot of information to add to what I already knew.
But I did get a lot of interest, and spoke to many kind folks who all wanted to help, some offering to ask friends and make phone calls for me, just to aid my search.
That's the kind of community we live in. You need help? Ask some local folks. They may just happen to be elves in disguise.
Barbara Flynn is a contributing columnist for Trib Total Media.
