The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1191166
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, December 11, 2019 A-3 LOCAL Call: 812-354-8500 Email: news@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Show is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. at the Gospel Cen- ter Church gymnasium. Don and Lori Richardson, who or- ganized the show, said so far, there are about eight train sets that are going to be on display, one coming from as far away as Linton. Richardson said if any- one is interested in displaying a train set, they can call 812- 582-2021 for more information. They will be giving away two train sets. One will be an HO scale train for teens, the other is a mini Thomas the Train set for toddlers. This year, it will also feature antique toys. RICHARDSONS REFURBISH ANTIQUE CITIZENS BANK CHRISTMAS DISPLAYS Another new feature will be antique Snow Baby Christmas decorations that used to be fea- tured in Citizens State Bank windows at Christmas time in the 1960s and 70s. Richardson, who owns and operates Pike Collision, pur- chased the displays and re- stored about half of them. He said, "I was born in 1971. I re- member in late 70s, maybe ear- ly 80s, going by there with my parents or on the school bus and always looking over to see them. It was something that al- ways caught my eye." The displays in Citizens' windows were animated. "They moved and it was some- thing I always remember," said Richardson. He said when he would go to see Henry and Loretta Mi- ley's giant Christmas display, he saw the little houses with animated scenes. At first he didn't realize what they were. "I remember thinking 'those look like the ones in Citizens.' I stopped and looked at them and realized they were the ones in Citizens' windows." Richardson said when the Mi- leys started winding down their display a few years ago, he decided to stop and knock on the door, and see if he could buy the displays that had been in Citizens. Richardson said the Mileys told him they were given to them by Citizens, he thought, when Citizens moved from their old building to their new building. The Mileys agreed to sell them to him. Because they had spent so much time outside in the little houses, they had suffered from sun exposure and mice, and just the weather. "They were almost naked, because their clothes had de- teriorated and been eaten by mice," said Richardson. The displays' electrical wiring and motors were old and worn as well. Don and Lori began re- searching the displays and a meticulous process of refur- bishing them. They found they were made by the Harold Gale Display and from catalogs, they were able to find what they looked like in the late 60s or early 70s. From that, they were able to determine the cor- rect colors and outfits from the displays. "We had to repaint them, re-glitter them, redo the snow on them. We took off all the clothes and Lori redid them all in the correct colors. We worked on them off and on throughout the year." Richardson said the standing ones didn't take as long, maybe eight hours. The animated ones took close to 40 hours. Don had to find motors for them. "Part of the areas where the wood had deteriorated had to be rebuilt. Some parts of the displays were missing. A couple of skis were missing, as well as the poles they hold." Richardson said one had Santa sitting in a sled that looked like a bowl. When he took it apart, on the back side of the hole, the word Antarcti- ca was on it. He figured out to make the sled, they cut a world globe in half, painted it and put Santa in it. Richardson found a globe exactly the same size and rep- licated it. Lori researched and found the exact colors of the origi- nals. Many were so faded, they couldn't tell what color. When they repainted them, they put them back in the original col- ors. The Harold Gale Displays company was located in Kan- sas City, Kan. Richardson said they were a small mom and pop business, but now their Christ- mas displays have become very popular and are "pretty sought after." A fter the train show, the Richardsons are going to move them to Cakes and Coffee win- dows, where they were origi- nally displayed. They will be there for a week or two around Christmas for kids to view, just like when Richardson was a child. He hopes to have all of the displays refurbished by next year. OMA CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRINGLES The Otwell Miller Acade- my grades 1, 3 and 5 will be performing OMA Christmas with the Kringles beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Decem- ber 17. The Lil Hoosiers Pre- school will open the program with songs. CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK Christmas in the Park will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. every night until New Year's Eve. Mrs. Claus will be at the Peter Brenton cabin from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday nights December 15 and 21, as well as Decem- ber 22. If someone would like to volunteer to help greet and take donations at the gate, they can call Jim Gidcumb at 812- 582-2657 for the open dates. Mrs. Claus said she will be at the cabin by appointment al- so. Call 812-354-3559 to sched- ule an appointment. SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS The Pike/Gibson Salvation Army is looking for bell ring- er volunteers in Petersburg. Join the tradition that started in 1891. If you would like to ring, contact Cal Biddle, at 812-582- 2385. Volunteers are needed 2-5 p.m. at Petersburg Dollar General on Friday, and Satur- day, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., is open. At Petersburg Hardware on Friday, ringers are needed from 10 a.m. to noon. On Satur- day, 8 -10 a.m. and 1-5 p.m. are the open slots. Continued from page 1 HOLLY WALK THE 7TH ANNUAL TRAIN AND VINTAGE TOY SHOW FREE ADMISSION GOSPEL CENTER CHURCH COMMUNITY BUILDING 420 E. Illinois St,, Petersburg Restored Christmas Display from Citizens State Bank from the 60's and 70's, previously owned by Henry and Loretta Miley SATURDAY DECEMBER 14 NOON TO 4 PM EST Contact: Don Richardson • 812-582-2021 • pikecollisiontrainshow@gmail.com Facebook Page: Pike Collision Pike Collision proudly presents New! 2 Train Sets to be Given Away Huge LEGO Train Layout 20% OFF SALE Great Christmas Gifts Christmas Decor • Jewelry Table Arrangements Wreaths • Swags • Ornaments Grave Saddles • Lanterns Wind Chimes • rows Candleberry Candles 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cookies and punch served Refreshments Saturday, December 14 201 S. 7th St., Petersburg • 812-354-8793 Mon.-Fri. 9am to 5pm • Sat. 9am-Noon 1853 N. SR 57, Willisville | 812.582.0905 marylousfloral.com | Mon.-Sat. 10a.m.–4p.m. or by appointment. JA Primitives Great Gifts 1335 N. Kennedy Court, Petersburg • 812-789-6229 ursday-Saturday 10am-4pm • Woodworking Cras • Homemade Candles • Homemade Soaps • Custom Orders: Window Treatments BOUTIQUE 711 E. Main St. Petersburg 812-582-0850 Holiday Hours Tuesday-Thursday 11am-5pm Friday 1 p m-5 p m Saturday 11 a m-2 p m Sunday & Monday Closed ALL TIMES EASTERN Follow Us on Facebook! New Arrivals Handmade Blankets Buy 2 Apparel items, get $ 5 off 10 % Off HOLLY WALK Holly Walk S P EC IALS Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 9-5; Friday 9-6 716 Main St. Petersburg • 812-354-9372 Visit us at facebook.com/margeshallmark HALLMARK HOLIDAY SOCKS BUY 1 ½PRICE 9am - 5pm Refreshments • Drawings • Carriage Rides Throughout the Day Saturday, Dec. 14 Father Christmas 16th in Series GET ONE GET ONE Zampognaro New shepherd addition to Willow Tree Nativity Toy Soldier $5.99 with addt'l ornament purchase Musical Snowman $19.99 with purchase of 3 cards HOLIDAY GLASSWARE SAVE 25% SNOWFLAKE CONDIMENT DISH SET $14.99 with purchase of $50. Reg. $24.99. FREE BUY 1 SAVE 40% EVERYDAY WRAP BOXED CHRISTMAS CARDS & CHRISTMAS GIFT WRAP FREE CARRIAGE RIDES 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. This Saturday, Dec. 14 • Downtown Petersburg Above are the restored Snow Baby Christmas displays. Be- low is what they looked like after more than 40 years of being on display in- doors and outdoors.