Louise Overly has been collecting Santa Claus figurines for two decades now at a remarkable rate.
Between 250 and 300 Santas — ceramic, wooden, glass, plush and plastic — currently call her house at 418 Norman St. home.
Each year an assortment of children, grandchildren, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren arrive at Overly’s home to celebrate Christmas. Despite the chaos of the holiday season, not a single one of Overly’s Santas has ever been broken or lost.
On average Overly acquires roughly 13 new Santas annually. Some of them she buys for herself; others are given to her by her friends and family members.
A visitor to Overly’s home will find Santas of all sizes huddled around any one of the three Christmas trees, lining bookshelves and arranged in grids on coffee tables. It seems as if every flat surface in the house has been converted into Santa real estate.
“I’m about to run out of room,” said Overly.
“You wouldn’t believe where I got that one,” said Overly, a native of Scott County, indicating a life-size Saint Nicholas on her back porch. “On top of a garbage can!”
This rescued Santa was in good physical condition but was thrown out because it no longer dances.
It takes Overly about three days to set up all of her Santas and three days to pack them away. Her husband, Lloyd, helps her move them to and from the shed where they reside for the rest of the year, but she is entirely in charge of unboxing them and placing them around the home.
Each year the Santas come out promptly on Nov. 1, although Overly used to wait until Thanksgiving for her grandchildren to help her. Overly begins putting them away on the first day of the new year.
Some Santas are electronic and will sing and dance or play the saxophone at the press of a button. Other are multipurpose, such as a ceramic Santa-shaped cookie jar.
The Santas are attended by a host of Mrs. Clauses, reindeer and angels, although these are fewer in number.
Overly, 74, said Christmas is by far her favorite holiday.
“I enjoy decorating,” she said. “Christmas is all about Jesus Christ, and of course you celebrate according to him.”
• Contact Nick Rogers at 581-7235 or nrogers@gwcommonwealth.com.
