I think we need to get our Christmas tree up this weekend. I'm feeling the need to decorate early this year. The pic above is a part of our tree from last Christmas...and shows a Cleveland OH Christmas icon..."Mr. Jingeling....Keeper of the Keys...on Halle's Seventh Floor...you'll be looking for...him to turn the keys". Or something like that. He's the little bald guy in green with a red striped shirt next to the flamingo under the palm tree above...that one is probably from the 1950s...it's been on every tree I can remember since childhood. He's also featured in blown glass higher up on the tree.
Halle's is near & dear to my heart. I remember going to see Santa & Mr. Jingleing at Halle's when I was a little girl. You can read more about Mr. Jingleing here. Halle's later became the place I worked as a buyer for a few departments until I left & moved to San Diego just before they closed in 1982.
I'm thankful for the Christmas memories I have from the old downtown Cleveland & the wonderful department stores there. All of them are gone now. Some of the Christmas magic died with them...except in our memories.
Yep...I think I need our tree & Mr. Jingeling here soon.
I only got to go to Halle's once at Christmas-I was very young-but couldn't wait to watch Mr. Jingleling and Barnaby every night while Mom made dinner.
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