Iconic Livingston Santa Statue Dedication

The McLean County Museum of History will celebrate the Iconic Livingston Santa’s return to Downtown Bloomington and announce future public art plans on Saturday, November 30, at 11:30 a.m.

Saturday’s ceremony will be a half-hour long, complete with music, biodegradable confetti, and Santa himself, who will arrive via a firetruck to thank the various people who helped bring this iconic piece of history back to Downtown Bloomington.

The Livingston Santas were a holiday staple for three decades, adorning the awning of the Livingston’s Department Store on the former Courthouse Square in Downtown Bloomington from the mid-1940s until the centenarian store closed its doors in 1979. After that, College Hills Mall purchased the Santas and briefly displayed them before selling them to Jeffrey Alans.

Santa’s journey home began last year when Jeffery Wandell, owner of Jeffery Alans, donated the 14.5-foot fiberglass sculptures and $10,000 to kick-start the Saving Santa campaign to restore them. Since then, local artist Andrew Jumonville completely restored the first Santa, began restoration on the second, and over 150 community members contributed more than $78,000 toward the $85,000 estimated project cost. Giving continues into the new year, with details available at bit.ly/Saving-Santa.

In addition to individual donors, several local organizations also contributed their time and talents to save Santa, including LiUNA Local 362; Operating Engineers Local 649; Cement Masons Local 18; Carpenters Local 237; Stark Excavating; Mathis-Kelly Construction; PJ Hoerr; Ace World Wide; Mid-West Construction Rentals; R. Gingerich Crane; Rowe Construction; City of Bloomington; County of McLean; Town of Normal; Crawford-Murphy & Tilly; Tim Roecker, Mohr & Kerr Engineering & Land Surveying P.C.; Russel Francois; Mike Matejka; Jeffrey Wandell; and Jeffrey Alans.

This is one of the largest preservation projects the Museum has ever taken on. The Museum’s Director of Development, Norris Porter, says, “We’re grateful for the community support for this project. The journey has had many twists and turns but will all be worth it as this jolly and nostalgic giant returns to bring memories and renewed Christmas cheer.”

When the downtown Santa returns to storage in the new year, another piece of historically significant local sculpture will replace it: Herb Eaton’s “Cross Pollinated Lovers.”

Eaton created the 11-foot corn sculpture for Bloomington’s “Corn on the Curb” initiative in 2000. It’s been off display for about two years after sustaining damage. However, a Catalyst Grant from the Illinois Art Council provided the Museum funds to jump-start its new “Sculpture on the Square” initiative. The Museum will share more information about his new initiative at the dedication ceremony on Saturday, November 30.