Chief Reed's Christmas Legacy in Watsontown Pa

Watsontown's "Mr. Santa Claus", & His Enduring Christmas Legacy

In 1948, standing at the intersection of Brimmer and Main streets directing traffic, and speaking with students on their way back and forth to school, Watsontown Police Chief Carl Reed noticed the children who were disappointed after Christmas.  Children from families, who after the war were still struggling to put food on the table, and had no money for extras like toys.  So the following year, the Chief began a toy drive.  Used and broken toys were collected, repaired  & refurbished by volunteers, and distributed.  Reed arranged for Santa to come to down, and bring a mail box with him.  Every letter dropped in the box for Santa was read and replied to.  Local organizations donated baskets of food to be distributed.  

After the first year, Chief Reed wrote a letter to the editor of the Sunbury Daily Item.  In it he said : "And now since this project has promoted a better Christmas, it is my hope that one of the services clubs or organizations in Watsontown will take the program from here and make each year a better and larger, happy Christmas for the children of Watsontown and vicinity"

The  Christmas toy drive started by Chief Reed continues to this day, just as he had hoped it would.   Local businesses, churches, clubs, and organizations continue to donate funds for the police force to purchase toys, answering the letters written by local children.

Here's a look at how Chief Reed came to Watsontown, and how Christmas celebrations evolved in the town while he was here:

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In early November 1944, Watsontown Police Chief Charles P. Brown resigned, due to "continued impaired health of members of his family."  Brown had accepted the position more than a year earlier, but his family had remained in Wilkes Barre.  In August he had taken leave to be with his wife, who was ill, William Balliet had filled in as chief at that time.   With is wifes health continuing to fail,   Brown found work in Wilkes Barre and officially resigned in early December of 1944. His wife died two weeks later.  At the time of Brown's resignation, newspapers reported that Watsontown was without a police chief for the first time in 25 years.

Borough council had received 28 applications  to fill the position, from Lock Haven, Williamsport, Hughesville, Duncannon, Lock Haven and Montgomery. In a special meeting, from those applications, the  council selected 36 year old Carl L. Reed of Hughesville to fill the position.  

Carl LaRue Reed was born in Hughesville on June 21 1908, the son of Thomas & Gertrude [Bartow] Reed.  In 1926, Carl married Bernece Kisner, the daughter of Robert W. & Alta Rebecca Elizabeth [Andrews] Kisner.  

He served as a police officer in Hughesville from 1932 to 1941.   In October of 1941, Reed resigned as chief of police in Hughesville to accept a position as an industrial police officer in the United Aircraft Corporation plant at Hartford CT, During World War II.  In 1944, he applied for the vacancy at Watsontown.

Chief Carl Reed, Standing at the intersection of Main and Brimmer, by the Mansion House.

Police Chief Reed often stood at the main intersection in town, where from his perch at the Mansion House he helped to direct traffic, and chat with the students as they went back and forth to the school, then located where the grocery store is today.  In 1948, Reed took particular notice of the less fortunate youth, returning to school after Christmas break, were sad and dejected, their families still struggling to put food on the table, with no extras for gifts.

In 1949 Reed, along with Frank Jones and members of the fire police, began a toy drive.  Volunteers collected the donations from a drop off point beside the Watsontown Bank, and took them to the Fromme workshop at Jasper Wood Products.  There men repaired and painted the toys. The Watsontown Guild sewed and mended the dolls, painting on new faces and making them new clothing.  The Guild members then wrapped all of the toys.

It was not the first toy drive in Watsontown.  In 1937, during the depression, The American Legion sponsored a "Toy Renovation Service."  Toys were collected, repaired, and distributed to children.  400 renovated toys were handed out in Watsontown, and 600 more in Milton.  This was a popular program throughout the country, during the 1930s.  In Selinsgrove, the Boy Scouts and Rotarians collected broken toys, which were then fixed up by the vocational arts and home economics students at Selinsgrove High School.  More than 100 repaired toys were displayed in the window of Feehrer Brothers Barber shop, and then were distributed to homes throughout the town.

Santa, with his mailbox,  1951 [Mansion House In the Background]

In Watsontown in 1949, a  special mailbox, the perfect height for children to reach,  was built for the children to place their letters to Santa.   The mail box was not used in 1950, but was brought back in 1951, due to "popular demand."

November 1949

Linda Lou Derr of Watsontown, mailing a letter to Santa in 1956

 Chief Reed then announced that he had received a telegram alerting him that Santa would be arriving by plane on the outskirts of town. The West Branch Fire Department took their new pumper to pick up Santa, and he arrived for the first time on Saturday November 29th, 1949.  Santa and his helpers installed the new mailbox at the corner of Brimmer Avenue and Main streets, in front of Patton's store.

December 16th 1949

Popcorn balls were distributed to the children who visited with Santa on Saturday December 17th 1949.  "Distribution of Christmas toys, collected, repaired and redecorated during the past few weeks, will be scheduled next week by the group in charge of assuring less fortunate boys and girls that they will receive more than necessities this Christmas."

After Christmas the Daily Item published a letter written by Chief Reed.  In his letter he reported that in 4 short weeks, more than 500 toys had been collected, repaired, and painted.  The toys included miniature trains, large sleds, and bicycles.  The toys were distributed to 185 children in 56 families.  

Santa made three visits to Watsontown in 1951, greeting children at the corner of Brimmer avenue and Main street.  On his second visit he took with him his mail box, which had been placed there after being absent in 1950.  450 letters were received, and answered, in 1951.    Santa also attended an annual Christmas party for the children, staged by the Junior Chamber of Commerce and management of the Watson Theater, held in the theater.

The crowd waiting for Santa in Watsontown, 1951

"Under the sponsorship of the Harvey C. Huff Veterans of Foreign Wars and Clyde F. Mowrer American Legion Posts and Auxiliary Guild, West Branch Fire Company, and Lions Club, the toy project for deserving youngsters will again be conducted.  No broken toys will be accepted however, as it is believed there are ample toys of the type outgrown or discarded.  Lack of facilities, labor, and materials for repair of toys is stressed."  Toys were collected at the George Kemble Store room.

The crowd waiting for Santa, 1951

"When Chief Reed built a mail box to handle letters to Santa from every child who wrote, the Watsontown Guild and Lions Club offered to underwrite the cost.  

That first year, a check discovered that not one youngers who had written to Santa to ask for a gift was missed.

Then in 1950, the second year, the Watsontown Veterans of Foreign Wars post took over the program, retaining Chief Reed as counselor and Santa Claus.

Now the police chiefs Christmas idea reached it's bloom.  Several months ago, virtually the entire community went to work on the project.  All sorts of organizations joined in with service clubs and merchants to round up toys enough for every tot who asked Santa for one.  In his black boots and red suit, Chief Reed visited all the towns around Watsontown..."

The Daily Item, December 1951

Santa arrived in a motorized sleigh in 1952, with WKOK on hand to broadcast his arrival.

1952

WKOK with Santa's Sleigh, in Watsontown, 1952

Rides in Santa's motorized sleigh were one of the highlights of his Christmas visit in 1952.  Santa was met at the West Branch Joins School by a delegation of children.  WKOK, Sunbury, tape recorded some of the features of the festivities.

Chief Reed expanded the Christmas program in 1952, taking Christmas stockings to the Kissinger Convalescent Home in New Columbia.  In 1953, Santa visited each of the residents of both the Kissinger and Baker Convalescent Homes.  He had with him a "committee with ice cream and cake, and will deliver Christmas stockings provided by the Watsontown Police Welfare Fund."

More than 400 letters, from as far away as Cleveland Ohio, were dispatched to Watsontown that year.  Children from outside the Watsontown area were instructed to send their letters to Santa Claus, Care of the Watsontown Post office.

A Description Of The Christmas Lights & Displays in Watsontown, 1954.

In 1955 (And 1956,), Santa arrived on the Buffalo Flyer.  "Cooperating with Santa's arrival in Watsontown on Saturday was the Pennsylvania Railroad which ordered it's Buffalo Flyer stopped in the West Branch Community.  Usually the train does not stop there even for industrial leaders, but the company made an exception this time."  He again arrived by train in 1956, with WMLP broadcasting his arrival that year.  He was still arriving by train in 1960.

Santa in Sunbury, where he made a stop before traveling to Watsontown, in 1956.

The first mention I found of Santa's Reindeer was in the parade of 1953, when the newspapers reported "special motorized sleigh, that is the property of the police welfare fund, pulled by prancing reindeer..."  but actual reindeer apparently began visiting Watsontown in 1957

In 1957, the town was fully decorated for Santa's arrival.   A pen had been built to hold Buttons the reindeer, decorations were added to the street lights, and every church created a different holiday scene.  A large tree was placed, and decorated, by the Farmers National Bank.  Santa arrived in a convertible owned by James Seebold.

Gary Harmon, Watsontown, with Santa in 1956

Santa in Watsontown, 1958

Santa in Watsontown, 1960

1961

(An article the year prior tells me that my Mom was one of the winners of the silver dollar in Milton in 1960)

In 1962, the Daily Item reported that the Christmas Cheer Committee at Watsontown, headed by Chief Carl Reed, went into 65 homes in the borough and surrounding areas, including Allenwood, Watsontown, Dewart, and Muncy RD.  They provided baskets of groceries, grocery orders, backets of fruit, and cash gifts to 71 homes.  Toys were taken to 136 children in 31 homes.  In addition, Santa handed out oranges and candy canes to more than 1,000 children who visited him in town, and he made a number of personal visits to those who were ill or shut ins.

1963

1964

In 1964, Santa received and replied to 200 letters.  Silver dollars continued to be awarded to children who were sitting on Santa's lap when an alarm sounded.  The toy center was located in the Kemble building on Main street, and gifts were wrapped under the supervision of Mrs Lanore Bobb, school nurse.

Santa began arriving in Watsontown by firetruck in 1965

A 1973  article in the Daily Item reported that "As usual, Bob Brown, a Watsontown Merchant, played Santa Claus.  The annual visit was originated by Brown and former Watsontown Merchant Robert Barr".  Earlier articles specifically mention Chief Reed donning the red suit, and one photo identifies the man in red as Lloyd Baysore.  

"Walter McMillen today reported for the Watsontown merchants that the annual community Christmas program would be carried out as outline in former years by chief of police Carl L. Reed of Watsontown."  [1965]  The Watsontown Lions, "as in former years" assisted in handing out treats as provided by the merchants.  The Watsontown National Bank secured 60 dolls, "that are being dressed by women of the community".  The dolls were then returned to the bank for judging and display before being turned over to the committee for distribution to the homes of worthy children.

Santa in Watsontown, 1968

The Lions club continued to assist Santa each year - with schedules printed in the local newspaper listing the Lions Club members who were to report for duty at different hours during Santa's visit.

Santa in Watsontown, 1970

In 1970 Santas workshop was located on first street, but his mailbox, which he continued to bring with him each year on his first visit to town, was left at the corner of Brimmer Avenue and Main street, in front of Wetten's Jewlery store.  Members of the Watsontown Doodle Dandies assisted Santa in setting up his work shop and deer pen to hold his reindeer.  The Watsontown Lions and Jaycees continued to assist Santa in handing out treats.

Used toys were still collected in 1970, that year they were held in the borough building.  "Santa's helpers will not be able to repair toys, but will refinish them."  Cash donations for toys could be made at the Watsontown National Bank, or to Chief Carl Reed.

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In March of 1971, Reed was honored with Life Membership in  the Pennsylvania Chiefs Of Police Association.  He was presented with a gold badge and membership card.   In January of 1972 Rep. Franklin Kury presented the chief with a resolution, passed by the legislature, praising Reed for his years of service to the police and the community.

Carl Reed, second from left, in the Lions Club Revue, held at the Watsontown High School

Reed was a past president of the Watsontown Lions Club, as well as a past district governor in that organization.  He served as chairman for the Milton-Watsontown Police workshop, and was at one time president, and later secretary, of the Susquehanna Valley Lodge No. 52, Fraternal Order Of Police.  He had received the Meritorious Service Award from the Clyde F. Mowrer Post No 323 American Legion.  

May 1959 Photo by Skip Westley titled "Our Public Servants" 

Left to right: Glen Long fire company), Cy Lynch (patrolman), William Wertman (fire company), Ned Yocum (Civil Def. Director), Otho Folk, Frank Kear (fire chief), James Criswell, Ted Plymette (fire company), Carl Reed (police chief), Elwood Muffly (fire company)

In April of 1972, Chief Reed announced his resignation from the police force.

"Carl Reed, one of the most honored policemen in Northumberland County, has resigned his post as  the Watsontown police chief.  In a one sentence letter read at the borough council meeting Monday night, Reed announced he will resign April 17th, completing nearly 28 years of service to Watsontown."  - The Sunbury Daily Item, April 1972.

Carl L. Reed died October 9th 1972, less than 6 months after his resignation.  He was 64 years old.  He is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Hughesville Pa.

In Chief Reeds letter to the editor in 1949, after the first Christmas Toy Drive, he wrote: "Probably the outstanding highlight of the entire program is the realization that the American people have not lost the noblest gesture of mankind-extending a helping hand.  Coming at this particular and busy holiday season, these people unselfishly gave their precious time to make these less fortunate people happy.  And to prove that the spirit of peace and goodwill shall never die in the heart of men.   These men and women labored into the late hours of night to make these children happy.  Their generosity shall never be forgotten.

And now since this project has promoted a better Christmas, it is my hope that one of the services clubs or organizations in Watsontown will take the program from here and make each year a better and larger, happy Christmas for the children of Watsontown and vicinity"

Watsontown Patrolmen testing toys, 1973

Robert A. Herald, a former borough patrolman, coordinated the Christmas Cheer event begun by Reed, in the years after Chief Reed's death.  The new Chief Of Police, Henry McCarthy, along with the various clubs, organizations, and Watsontown Merchants, continued to assist with the annual event.

The  Christmas toy drive started by Chief Reed continues to this day, just as he had hoped it would.   Local businesses, churches, clubs, and organizations continue to donate funds for the police force to purchase toys, answering the letters written by local children.

In 2023 Watsontown held their fist Winter Wonderland event, raising $4,585 for the Chief Reed Christmas Fund.

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One of the many Historical Christmas Ornaments by Rick Wolfe, of Watsontown Glass, features Chief Reed

Bernece [Kisner] Reed

Bernece was a member of the Watsontown United Methodist Church for over 46 years.  She was also a former secretary for the Work and Win Sunday School Class.  Very active in the town, she was a member of the Watsontown Guild for over 27 years.  Bernece passed away June 14, 1996, and was interred in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Hughesville.

Bernece [Kisner] Reed, wife of Chief Reed, worked in the ticket booth of the Watson Theater from 1946 through 1994.

Obituary, in the Danville Morning News, October 1972

Robert Burke, Adam Miller, William McLintock, Carl Reed, Ben Hollingshead, Patrick Haggerty  April 28th 1966

January 1971

Residence in 1951 - 6 West First Street , Watsontown

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In 1950, Santa was sponsored by the Harvey C. Huff Post, VFW

1951

1954

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“December 27, 1949

As chief of police of the borough of Watsontown, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for making approximately 185 children in Watsontown and vicinity happy during this past Christmas.  It was through the excellent publicity received from your paper that we were able to collect the toys necessary, making our program a success.

Local fire police, members of the Lions Club, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the Watsontown Guild are to be commended.  Within a space of four short weeks, November 15 to December 15, over 500 toys were collected, repaired, and painted.  These toys ran from miniature trains to large sleds and bicycles.  Surely this gigantic and new program could not have been a success without the complete cooperation of these units and their members.  The industries in this area were of great service in the giving of supplies and materials which enabled the workmen to make the necessary repairs.  To them we extend our sincere thanks.

Coming down to plain facts and figures, 56 families were able to enjoy a real Christmas.  This meant that approximately 185 children shared the 500 or more toys that were delivered the night before Christmas.  Probably the outstanding highlight of the entire program is the realization that the American people have not lost the noblest gesture of mankind-extending a helping hand.  Coming at this particular and busy holiday season, these people unselfishly gave their precious time to make these less fortunate people happy.  And to prove that the spirit of peace and goodwill shall never die in the heart of men.   These men and women labored into the late hours of night to make these children happy.  Their generosity shall never be forgotten.

And now since this project has promoted a better Christmas, it is my hope that one of the services clubs or organizations in Watsontown will take the program from here and make each year a better and larger, happy Christmas for the children of Watsontown and vicinity.

Sincerely

Carl L. Reed”

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