Of Marbles, Toys and Akron’s Little Blue Santa
Michael Cohill is one of the many people who are passionate about the history of the American Marble and Toy Manufacturing Company. He is one of the people who have spent the past 20 years researching the history of Akron, Ohio’s toy industry.
The American Marble and Toy Manufacturing Company was the first toy marble factory in the United States, and the first of 32 marble factories in the Greater Akron area. The factory made some of the world’s first mass produced toys; this is significant because it made toys available to all children, rather than just the wealthy. They manufactured 1,000,000 clay marbles each day.
However, on one unlucky day in 1904, thirteen years after it had been incorporated, The American Marble & Toy Manufacturing Company burnt to the ground. This unfortunate event appeared, to some young pilferers, to be a great day for marble collectors: the next morning, every little boy in Akron came down to scavenge and fill his pockets with marbles. This was no play ground, far from being a safe place for such innocent children to be hanging (and looting) about. The police were called in to keep these treasure hunters from unlawfully appropriating the marbles, and soon after, the city ordered the charred remains of the factory to be buried.
The land on which the Factory had stood became a successful department store and parking deck. The department store closed in the 1980′s, and the building was bought by a law firm. In the late 1990′s, the parking deck was demolished.
Removal of the debris exposed the remains of the old marble factory, and like a phoenix rising from the ashes, thousands of marbles and old toys reappeared in the dirty remains, waiting to rediscovered.
The Little Blue Santa was one of many toys that were made at the American Marble and Toy Manufacturing Company. It may be one of the oldest known American made ceramic figurines of St. Nicholas, and dates to the mid-1890′s. Why is he blue? Santa Claus and modern day Christmas celebrations are of the German tradition. When Germans immigrated to the Akron area, they brought their rich culture and Christmas traditions with them: the decorated tree, stockings, gifts, and St. Nicholas, dressed in his blue, red, tan, green and white robes. Historically, St. Nicholas’ have been seen in brown, red, blue, green and tan robes.
The Little Blue Santa was brought to our studio. To make the Santa available to more people, Steve made a mold, and began casting reproductions, not unlike the toys made by the American Marble and Toy Manufacturing Company. He developed the glaze, so that the modern day 2 1/4″ tall Little Blue Santa retained the character of the original.
The Little Blue Santa had been described as “a gentle and kind figure. His head was slightly tilted, and he was relaxed. He was the hope of Christmas.” I agreed. The Santa’s sweet and gentle nature resonated to a simpler time, one where shared experiences and memories were the spirit of the season. We were pleased to have been able to share it with you.
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Nancy said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
I love this story.
Marbles are timeless, but sadly being passed by for todays kids.
Such a true and real Blue Santa =)
Cathy said,
December 3, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
What a wonderful story!! Out of the ashes come both memories and renewed spirit! Just great!!
Love the blue Santa!!
Larramie said,
December 3, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
How lovely. And Blue Santa looks like an angel!
Mrs. G. said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
This is a charming little marble santa. I love the story behind him. I agree with Nancy…like wooden blocks, marbles are timeless.
fromskilledhands said,
December 3, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
I love this little Santa! We sold out of all we made Sunday, and the whole family is making more. It really is the spirit of him that touches my heart and warms my being. Check out the Gallery page on the site.
Sherry said,
December 3, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
Great story!!! I like this Santa Debra!!
getsheila said,
December 4, 2007 @ 11:02 am
Santa is red because of Coca-Cola! Argh!
Clicking over to the gallery page…
Kate said,
December 5, 2007 @ 2:09 am
Debra- I just read your comment on Tree Hugging Family about the shelter you support. I hope you might write about your experiences for my charitable Group Writing Project at Babylune.
Here is a link to the details:
http://www.babylune.com/part-one-generous-december-group-writing-project/
Mary Witzl said,
December 5, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
This is fascinating, and I far prefer this humble little Santa Claus with his blue coat to the noisy, boisterous, red-coated Santa Claus, especially now that I know we have Coca Cola to thank for him. Bah, humbug to that!
I LOVED marbles as a kid, and enjoyed playing with them. My children too are marbles-crazy, and both of them still enjoy playing with the marbles on our Chinese checkers set even though they are teenagers.
From Skilled Hands » Making Little Blue Santas said,
December 12, 2007 @ 10:10 am
[...] Of Marbles, Toys and Akron’s Little Blue Santa [...]
fromskilledhands said,
December 13, 2007 @ 10:01 am
I never played marbles as a kid. My Dad told stories about growing up during the Depression and that he could afford marbles.. We have a large canning jar full of marbles. I love to look at them in the light.
Timothy G. said,
December 28, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
What a great story .
Corn and Oil » Happy New Year and Happy 25th to Home Education Magazine said,
January 1, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
[...] met homeschool and civil rights advocates like Peggy Daly-Masternak. Or seen the products of skilled hands that make such historical treasures as Little Blue Santas. The yummy goodies from other [...]
camille liberman said,
January 18, 2008 @ 10:29 am
Bought Santas for gifts and shipped them off around the country…what a great reflection of all involved and what a diverse area we live in
From Skilled Hands » Christmas in June: the Little Blue Santa Rocks! said,
June 26, 2008 @ 10:58 am
[...] LITTLE BLUE SANTA [...]
Karen DeGroot Carter said,
July 24, 2008 @ 9:33 am
Thanks for stopping by BEYOND Understanding, Debra! So glad I followed your link; I’d heard of the Blue Santa but never knew the full story. He and the American Marble and Toy company represent a unique slice of Americana. Thanks for all you do! Karen in Denver
From Skilled Hands » Rock On, Little Blue Guy! said,
August 1, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
[...] LITTLE BLUE SANTA [...]
P.A. Bees said,
August 4, 2008 @ 12:22 am
I have seen the Blue Santas as I live nearby, they are wonderful!
fromskilledhands said,
August 9, 2008 @ 1:34 pm
Thanks, P.A. thanks for stopping by, virtually AND IRL!
From Skilled Hands » Akron’s Little Blue Santa and Friends said,
August 12, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
[...] LITTLE BLUE SANTA [...]
Corky Larsen said,
September 25, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
I bought some of the little blue Santa’s after reading the story in the newspaper. I play Santa every year and am going to have a blue suit made this year to do my part in changing Santa back to the way it should be. Take Coke out of the picture it is not a healthy drink anyways. I just hope to take some of the commercialism out of Christmas.
Blessings, Corky
Janis Keppler said,
June 10, 2010 @ 1:45 am
You dont have to have a blue suit custom made Corky… you can buy one, Just Google Blue Santa suits.. it will come up!
Sara Caldwell said,
July 15, 2010 @ 12:27 pm
I have a collection of well over one hundred blue Santas. It came as a great surprise when several Christmases ago my son Shea gave me a beautiful blue Santa from Akron. I had no idea that the original Santa had been blue. My collection actually began when I received a blue Santa from Eldreth Potters. It’s been a fun collection and when it came time quickly to name my bead shop Blue Santa Beads seemed appropriate. I am today a retail bead shop in Media, Pennsylvania named Blue Santa Beads. Thanks so much for the wonderful story which I pass on to all my customers and friends.
ryan said,
April 25, 2012 @ 9:08 pm
i was woundering if anybody knew what the adress of the factory was i work in a building just outside of downtown akron i was digging out from under a stair case and im finding alot of clay and glass marbles in all different sizes and colors if anyone could fill me in on this i would be greatfull you can email me or post on here ryans@sitstrings.com