A look at one woman's collection of more than 500 Santas
The love of Christmas is often handed down from one generation to another. Linda Schielke's parents loved Christmas. It's no surprise that she loves the holiday as well.
"I started collecting Santas as an adult," said Schielke, wife of Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke. "My father was a collector of all things Christmas. When I was a child, Christmas was magical. When my father passed away in 2005, my sisters and I divided his Santa collection. When I look at his Santas, I really feel his presence and that makes me happy."
Linda Schielke's idyllic childhood included not only Santas but also colored lights on her house.
"Every year my dad would decorate the house and enter the local decorating contest." she added. "And he often won. My mom and dad would decorate the inside together and make homemade gifts for my sisters and me. One year my dad carved leather belts for us. My mom would do embroidered clothing."
In the Schielke home, there are Santas in every nook and cranny - totaling more than 500. They sit on every table and counter. They line the staircase. Smaller ones sit above the door frames. With all of the Santas, certain ones stand out as favorites.
"I have a Norman Rockwell replica of the Dec. 4th, 1926 when Santa appeared looking over the globe - a celebration of Christmas around the world," she said.
Schielke collects vintage Santas, from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. She also collects the works of local artists.
"I have a Santa that the late Bob Hawse made with the Fox Valley Woodworkers and another from that group, done by Mike Harmon," she said. "The late Walter Kauth carved both a Santa and a wonderful ornament for me. The carving on all of them is exceptional. I feel like it is an honor to have them."
Someone told Linda Schielke that there were Santas at a holiday bazaar at the Holmstad, a retirement community in Batavia, and she was able to get an elf done by the late Roy Hoffman. She also placed the winning bid on a Santa cane the Fox Valley Wood Carvers made for a fundraiser.
"I keep it by the fireplace and look at it often," she said. "It's such a treasure."
Schielke also creates theme areas celebrating her favorite movies such as "It's a Wonderful Life," "The Christmas Story" and "A Christmas Carol."
It isn't easy decorating the Schielke home. It takes four days of unpacking at the beginning of Christmas and four days of repacking when the season is over. That wasn't always easy for someone who enjoyed a career in education.
"When I was working, I would put the Santas up on Veterans Day and take them down on Martin Luther King Day," she said. "I worked hard on those three day weekends."
She received many ornaments from students over the years and she treasures each and every one. And she can tell you about the student who gave each one. She loves everything about Christmas, including the downtown decorations.
"Christmas is a magical time," she said. "You don't have to collect Santas to enjoy the season. You just have to head downtown. People seem happier. There are more smiles than usual. I love it."