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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:47 PM CST
Santa lady opens her heart and home to 102 Santa Clauses

By David Proeber, Lee News Service

Don’t tell the kids living on Williamsburg Drive in Bloomington that there is no Santa Claus.

Dancing, singing and ho-ho-hoing throughout Juanita Smith’s home, some 102 animated Santa Clauses seem to compete with each other for attention.

The nurse anesthetist admits she goes a little crazy as she opens her home to neighbors, patients, co-workers and their families for the sake of spreading Christmas cheer.

It takes Smith about three weeks to set up her home for Christmas, she said.

“We had a big family when I was growing up,” she said. “We didn’t have much but mom and dad always decorated the house.”

Smith kept the tradition alive and started buying a new Santa Claus every year since she married her husband, Niles, 37 years ago.

“Whatever makes her happy,” he said, noting that half his garage has been taken over by color-coded boxes.

Mrs. Smith is equally fascinated with Halloween and she adopted a color code to help her keep the holiday storage boxes separate. Christmas items are packed in red and green while Halloween boxes are orange and black.

This is one house where Santa comes in a variety of colors, as well.

“Some kids may be surprised by the black Santas, but they don’t dwell on it for long,” she said. “Santa Claus can be whatever you want.”

On a cold evening just before Thanksgiving, the Smiths opened their home for a party for neighborhood children.

The Santas made more noise than the kids, whose eyes popped as they stood in awe watching the Santas dance and tell stories as a collection of singing Coca-Cola polar bears seemed to beg for equal attention from the visiting children.

One Santa, Mrs. Smith’s favorite, sang Elvis songs. Another rode an old steam-powered fire truck that blew real smoke. Some Santas read letters as others provided background music while playing instruments.

One Santa climbed a ladder as if he were decorating one of the eight Christmas trees that grace the Smiths’ home. Cherished ornaments, like those made by the Smiths’ children, hung prominently in the family’s living room.

“It’s neat to see the kids’ faces,” Mrs. Smith said.

She has only one rule for her young visitors. “Everything can be touched,” she said.

As the evening came to a close, she seemed to transform from a collector of Santas to one herself.

As the children filed out, she appeared at the steps of her home with a big wicker basket stuffed with toys and games.

“Everyone leaves with a present,” she said.

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