The horse and sleigh, erected at the south end of Watsontown each holiday season, was created and installed by Gerry Gould in 1987, as part of a town initiative for new Christmas decorations. The same committee also arranged to have the 5 large trees at Watsontown Memorial Park strung with Christmas lights, which were turned on for the first time in a ceremony and community carol on November 27 1987.
The Watsontown Christmas Decorating Committee had not been active since the 1970s, but in 1987, representatives from various businesses and groups and clubs came together with a new vision.
Their goal was to raise $10,000 for new town Christmas decorations. Gerry Gould was engaged to create and install the displays, all of which were to portray the theme "Watsontown 1900".
The plans called for displays at each end of, and in the middle of, the borough, as well as for lights on the five tall trees in the community park.
The one-horse open sleigh was dedicated on Friday November 27th 1987, in a ceremony held at the main entrance to Watsontown Memorial Park.
Lloyd Baysore, of the decoration committee, served as the master of ceremonies. Bert Strickland turned on the lights in the trees at Watsontown Park for the first time.
The train station was once located behind where the horse and sleigh are displayed each year
Each year The Watsontown Guild decorates the horse and sleigh, and the trees behind it, with lights.
See more about the Watsontown Train Station here:
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June 1987
August 1987
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