Blue Santa from Akron, Ohio, no less.
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During the winter of 2001-2002, an archeological team working in downtown Akron, Ohio's, Lock 3 Park, unearthed a small ceramic figurine. It is a curious little man with a sweet face and long white beard, wearing a blue hooded coat. When thoroughly cleaned and examined they discovered this was Santa, the first and original, the real Santa.
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Seems the were digging the site of the world's second mass production toy factory.
Oh, they claim it's the first, but I know that's at the North Pole. Mom told me.:p
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Head archeologist, Brian Graham, President of the non-profit, American Toy Marble Museum, conducted the survey on the site of the first mass-produced toy, a clay marble. His team of volunteers discovered tens of thousands of marbles and an equal number of small, penny toys. Graham estimates the figurine was manufactured in the mid-1890s, making it the first figurine of an American Santa and likely the oldest three-dimensional representation of Santa in existence. The figurine was thought at first, by some, to be a wizard or gnome, but in-depth research over the following seven years proved the Blue Santa is the real Santa.
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In the 30s, Coke decided to use Santa in their ads, and took the liberty of changing Santas wardrobe to red.
Blue Santa & Friends™ is selling reproductions, pictured below.
