Yes, by jingle! That was Santa Claus and his missus in front of the Historic Sebastian School, smiling and waving last Saturday afternoon. The red velvet-clad couple was inviting passers-by to stop in and visit the Christmas Memories display inside the former school building, which now houses the Sebastian Area Historical Society and its museum.
From 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays until Dec. 20, visitors will be welcomed by Santa and Mrs. Claus, and can enjoy a little holiday trip back in time. Christmas Memories features four decorated Christmas trees and a special “Snowbird Express” model train exhibit. The train displays were created by Palm Bay Model Railroad Club members Dave Hastings, Linz Lord, Johnny Small and Bud Stewart.
Among those enjoying the display were members of the HO Group Model Train Club. HO is the most popular model railroad scale in North America. Also engrossed in the exhibit were Jesse Saflicki and little Jade Green, who live right next door to the school, and from Fellsmere, 9-year-old Cristian Maupin who came with his mom, Marie. All children agreed that, although they’d never ridden on a real train, they’d like to if they had the chance.
Visiting from Ft. Myers, Kevin and Liliana Baird and their boys, Mico, 11, and Aiden, 4, got a kick out of the trains as well as the displays in the little museum across the hall, especially the old wooden school desks, with holes in the top for ink pots. Sebastian residents Pedro Torres and toddler daughter Ariana, clutching a candy cane, were delighted with the little trains circling the tracks, their box cars filled with tiny presents.
Event chairs Wilma Bertling, Jean Ivone and Joan Wooldridge of the Sebastian Historical Society created the exhibit in the tradition of nostalgic window displays, utilizing Christmas decorations donated by local residents. The display was dedicated to the late Doris Jorgensen, a former Historical Society board member who passed away in July. Jorgensen had donated her own Christmas collection to the Historical Society.
In addition to Saturdays, the trains will operate from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and between 5:30 and 8 p.m. Dec. 5, during Sebastian’s Light Up Night, when there will also be hot chocolate and cookies. The school is located at 1235 Main St., in the City Hall Complex.
