Dec 12, 2009: Blue Santa

[xoxoxoBruce]

Blue Santa from Akron, Ohio, no less.

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.

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

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.

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.