James Edgar (entrepreneur)
James Edgar | |
---|---|
Edinburgh, Scotland | |
Died | 1909 , United States |
Nationality | British |
Other names | Uncle Jim |
Occupation | Store owner |
Known for | Being the first department store Santa at the Werlaine Market |
James Edgar (1843 – 1909) was a businessman who has been credited with being the one who first came up with the idea of dressing up as Santa Claus for Christmas.[1] He started the tradition in 1890 in his Brockton, Massachusetts, department store.[1]
Biography
Edgar was born in
Although he might be best remembered for dressing up as Santa, he was also known for the sharing of his good fortune.[1] He also helped to pay for children's medical care and he also offered jobs to youths in need.
In 1904, Edgar suffered a stroke which partially paralyzed him. He died in at his summer home in Lakeville, Massachusetts, in 1909.[1]
Legacy
After his death, people still carried fond memories of Edgar. One man, who was in his 90s at the time, said in 1976:
You just can't imagine what it was like. I remember walking down an aisle and, all of a sudden, I saw Santa Claus. I couldn't believe my eyes, and then Santa came up and started talking to me. It was a dream come true.[1]
Years after his death, a city park was named after him. In 2008, a plaque was placed at the corner of Main and Centre streets noting Edgar's achievements.[1] John Merian, the president of the Downtown Brockton Association, believes that Brockton should be revived and styled as a Christmas town, similar to North Pole, Alaska, and other Christmas themed locations.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Allegrini, Elaine (November 15, 2008). "James Edgar's Santa Claus — the spirit of Christmas". Brockton, Massachusetts: The Enterprise. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- ^ http://1stdepartmentstoresanta.com/james-edgar.pdf Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL PDF]