Join Tualatin Historical Society Saturday, December 4 between 2-4 p.m. for a flash-back 1950 family Christmas celebration featuring Tualatin High’s Crimsonaires choral group and a real St. Nick (Nicholas Hamilton) whose mother and grandparents grew up on Hazelbrook Road.
When Tualatin was barely a one stop sign town in the late 1940s and 1950s, the volunteer fire department would use its ladders to string lights on a tall redwood across Boone Ferry from today’s CI (then the Spot Tavern). Tualatin historians Loyce Martinazzi and Yvonne Addington remember families would gather around a big bonfire nearby to sing familiar carols. Elves from the fire department would then help Santa distribute donated toys they had repaired. Local church women sewed new clothing for cast-off dolls especially for children in need.
Held on the Heritage Center patio rain or shine, the 2021 version will include singing Christmas carols with the award-winning Tualatin High School Crimsonaires. Hot cocoa, cider and individually-wrapped treats available. Santa will give children a special coloring book based on early school life in Tualatin.
Nick Hamilton is the grandson of Gerry Brosy who was a resident of Tualatin for over 6 decades. Her daughter Janet still lives in the family log house on Hazelbrook Road not far from the middle school.
Visitors will be able to view vintage holiday displays inside the Center and purchase a variety of gifts and stocking stuffers, including new sets of watercolor notecards by Carlos Horcus featuring historic locations around town. $5 jars of locally-produced heritage preserves and the Society’s history-related publications also make good surprises under the tree. Cash and checks only, please. Masks required inside.
