Nominations Open for Annual James Edgar Community Service Award -Brockton, MA

The Downtown Brockton Association is accepting nominations for the annual James Edgar Community Service Award, sponsored by Good Samaritan Medical Center.

The James Edgar Community Service Award is given each year to the person in the community who best exemplifies Edgar’s spirit of generosity toward the city’s children. The recipient must be a Brockton resident.

James Edgar was an immigrant from Edinburgh, Scotland who opened Edgar’s Department Store on Main Street in Brockton. In December of 1890, he dressed up as Santa Claus based on a popular illustration of a jolly Santa drawn in 1863 by the famous cartoonist Thomas Nast. Edgar did not intend for this to be a commercial attraction. He did it for the enjoyment of the children and to promote Christmas. It began the tradition of the department store Santa Claus. Within days trains from as far away as Boston and Providence brought families and their children to downtown Brockton to see Santa. The idea quickly transferred to department stores around the country and continues to this day. A city park is named for him.

To nominate someone for the James Edgar Award, please submit the following:

• Your Name and Contact Information including Phone Number and eMail Address
• The Name and Address of the Person you are Nominating
• A detailed description of how this person has benefitted the children of Brockton
  and why they deserve this recognition.
  Please keep responses to a maximum of 250 words.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Noon on Friday, November 4^th.
Please submit nominations to:

Jennifer Kovalich, communications manager, Good Samaritan Medical Center at: Jennifer.Kovalich@steward.org
or
Robert Malley, Executive Director, Brockton Parking Authority, at RMalley@cobma.us.

The recipient of the James Edgar Award will be honored during the 25^th Annual Downtown Holiday Parade on Saturday, November 26^th. The honoree’s name will also be included on the Edgar Plaque on the James J. Adams Parking Garage on Main and Crescent streets.

Each person may only nominate one individual.

You Can Also E-Mail Them To memories@1stdepartmentstoresanta.com

OR
Mail Them To:
James Edgar Community Service Award1st Department Store Santa
137 Main Street
Brockton, MA 02301

Send Us YOUR Santa Pictures, and tell us a memory!

Share an American Tradition with the millions who have found joy thanks to Mr. James Edgar "The First Department Store Santa" Send Us YOUR Written Memories and or Santa Pictures So We Can Post Them To The Site.
You Can E-Mail Them To memories@1stdepartmentstoresanta.com
OR
Mail Them To:
Santa Memories
1st Department Store Santa
137 Main Street
Brockton, MA 02301
(include a stamped self-addressed envelope if you want your photo returned)

OR
Click Here To Upload A Picture To Our Facebook Fan Club

Click Here To See Some Already Posted!!

Downtown Brockton Massachusetts Holiday Parade Cover Contest Art Submitted

Over 150 pictures of art created by students from Brockton were submitted to the Holiday Parade Committee on Wednesday October 26 for review.  The winner will get their drawing featured on the 2011 Holiday Parade Booklet.  Thank you to all those who submitted drawings this year.............For more information about Brockton's Santa Hat Challenge and The 25th Anniversary Holiday Parade go to www.1stdepartmentstoresanta.com  

Santa Claus Hall of Fame acknowledges James Edgar as First Department Store Santa

Visit The Santa Claus Hall of Fame for more information about James Edgar as Americas First Department Store Santa

Christmas in July Brockton, MA

Planning already under way for the 25th Annual Brockton Downtown Holiday Parade

     The weather may be hot and humid but some people are already planning this year's 25th Annual Brockton Downtown Holiday Parade.  Although the parade is months away, organizers have been hard at work planning all of the details for the holiday extravaganza.  "The 25th anniversary Downtown Holiday Parade is going to be our biggest and best yet," said John Merian, chairman of the Holiday Parade Committee.  "The City of Champions will shine like the bright star that it is."

     This year's holiday parade will be held on November 26th.  The parade will kick off at 1p.m. and wind its way through the downtown, ending at City Hall.

     Many of the favorite traditions will continue this year, including free photos of children with Santa, the arts and crafts bazar and tree lighting at City Hall, the James Edgar Department Store display and community service award.

     Last year Dave Gorman, founder of the Kid's Road Races and long-time community volunteer, was the first recipient of the James Edgar Community Service Award, sponsored by Good Samaritan Medical Center.  The committee is again seeking nominations for this distinguised award.

     Edgar, a Scottish immigrant who had a popular store on Main Street, became the nation's first department store Santa Claus in 1890 when he dressed us as the character depicted in a Thomas Nast drawing. ~~~~~The Enterprise

The Greater Brockton Holiday Parade

Downtown Brockton Association
Montello Business Association
Campello Business Association
Mayor Linda M. Balzotti and the City of Brockton

Present the

The Greater Brockton Holiday Parade
Grand Marshall – Senator Scott Brown
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Parade Starting at 1 p.m.

Free pictures with Santa at 10 a.m.
Sponsored by

Independence Associates & Tuxedos by Merian
141-143 Main Street

City Hall Activities – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Holiday Bazaar
Brockton Public Library 9am-12pm
Decorate your free Santa Hat
We’re still bent on setting the World Record for the most Santa Hats at
one gathering. Join your friends, neighbors and fellow Brocktonians in
wearing a Santa hat at the holiday parade and help keep the spirit of the
season alive. This second annual event is a tribute to Brockton businessman
James Edgar, who in 1890 became the very first Department Store Santa


For more information call 508-587-4322

www.1stdepartmentstoresanta.com

www.brockton21.com/downtown

The Brockton Public School System neither endorses nor

sponsors the organization of activity represented in this material.

The distribution of display of this material is provided as a community service.

Send US YOUR Santa Photo's and Memories

ADD YOUR PICTURE & MEMORIES!!

Share an American Tradition with the millions who have found joy thanks to

Mr. James Edgar "The First Department Store Santa"

Send Us YOUR Written Memories and Santa Pictures

So We Can Post Them To The Site.

You Can E-Mail Them To memories@1stdepartmentstoresanta.com

OR

Mail Them To:Santa Memories1st Department Store Santa

137 Main StreetBrockton, MA 02301

(include a stamped self-addressed envelope if you want your photo returned)

OR

Click Here To Upload A Picture To Our Facebook Fan Club

Click Here To See Some Already Posted!!