Monday, December 01, 2008
News
Snow doesn't stop Christmas at the Depot
By NATHAN BRUTTELL Argus-Press Staff Writer
DURAND - Heavy snow and happy children welcomed Santa Claus to Durand Union Station to start Christmas at the Depot festivities Sunday.
Community members didn't let the biggest snowfall of the season prevent them from experiencing the entertainment and the Festival of Trees.
Laura Lovejoy brought son Joshua, 6, and niece Allyssa Pickell, 6, to see Santa, despite the inches of snow piling up outside.
“They had to come see Santa,” Lovejoy said. “We didn't mind the snow.”
Joshua said he needed to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas in person, because sending a list wasn't enough.
Organizations such as Shiawassee Community Mental Health, Boy Scouts of America and the American Cancer Society each donated a few of the more than 40 trees that will adorn the windows and light up the depot until the end of the year.
A few of the trees came from families of victims killed in drunk-driving-related crashes throughout the year, called Memory Trees.
Master decorator Nicole Dagen helped the families adorn the Memory Trees with mementos of those lost.
“It was such an emotional thing for them,” Dagen said. “It was a beautiful thing to be a part of and to help them with. It's a great way to show remembrance.”
Dagen said hours of work go into the decorations to make the history museum come to life for the season.
“We've been working for more than a month on getting the place ready,” she said. “Seeing it now, with the snow outside and Santa here, really makes it special.”
The tradition of Christmas at the Depot goes back for more than 20 years - so far that no one remembers the first year of the celebration at the 100-year-old station.
“The depot lends itself beautifully to the Victorian-style Christmas,” Director Connie Cobley said. “We've had this event for as far back as any of us can remember. This year we've had help from all over, and it was really nice to get those different flavors from all over.”
The Fabulous Sound Sisters of Fenton also were on hand to provide entertainment for the first full day of the festival. Nancy Liedel, Rose Juzswik, Betty Walter and Linda Moore hailed from Corunna, Fenton and Flint.
- Contact Nathan Bruttell at 725-5136 extension 231 or nbruttellarguspress@gmail.com. Post comments about this story online at www.argus-press.com.
Community members didn't let the biggest snowfall of the season prevent them from experiencing the entertainment and the Festival of Trees.
Laura Lovejoy brought son Joshua, 6, and niece Allyssa Pickell, 6, to see Santa, despite the inches of snow piling up outside.
“They had to come see Santa,” Lovejoy said. “We didn't mind the snow.”
Joshua said he needed to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas in person, because sending a list wasn't enough.
Organizations such as Shiawassee Community Mental Health, Boy Scouts of America and the American Cancer Society each donated a few of the more than 40 trees that will adorn the windows and light up the depot until the end of the year.
A few of the trees came from families of victims killed in drunk-driving-related crashes throughout the year, called Memory Trees.
Master decorator Nicole Dagen helped the families adorn the Memory Trees with mementos of those lost.
“It was such an emotional thing for them,” Dagen said. “It was a beautiful thing to be a part of and to help them with. It's a great way to show remembrance.”
Dagen said hours of work go into the decorations to make the history museum come to life for the season.
“We've been working for more than a month on getting the place ready,” she said. “Seeing it now, with the snow outside and Santa here, really makes it special.”
The tradition of Christmas at the Depot goes back for more than 20 years - so far that no one remembers the first year of the celebration at the 100-year-old station.
“The depot lends itself beautifully to the Victorian-style Christmas,” Director Connie Cobley said. “We've had this event for as far back as any of us can remember. This year we've had help from all over, and it was really nice to get those different flavors from all over.”
The Fabulous Sound Sisters of Fenton also were on hand to provide entertainment for the first full day of the festival. Nancy Liedel, Rose Juzswik, Betty Walter and Linda Moore hailed from Corunna, Fenton and Flint.
- Contact Nathan Bruttell at 725-5136 extension 231 or nbruttellarguspress@gmail.com. Post comments about this story online at www.argus-press.com.