2022 Hometown Christmas
It’s that time of year again when Marcus celebrates a Hometown Christmas week with many activities. The week this year started on Sunday, Dec. 4 and ended on Saturday, Dec. 10.
It was Wednesday morning when I went to check out the trees at the Marcus Community Center. Come along with me as we go up the handicap ramp and enter the Center. Right inside the door (south wall) was the Heartland Care Center’s tree. It had a silver star at the top with its branches holding red, green, gold, and silver balls. Clear beads went around the tree.
The Lion’s Club tree had a bow at the top. There were gold icicles for trim that also included purple and gold balls on the tree. Small white lights light up the tree.
The Marcus Historic Society tree takes us back in time! They had a sign at the bottom of the tree—Christmas Morning at Days Gone By. Around the bottom of the tree was a doll in a buggy, a doll in a stroller, a small kitchen stove, etc. The tree had gold, silver, and red balls with red bead trim going around the tree.
Smith Insurance had a blue and brown star at the top. White cotton ribbon trim with Smith Insurance on it went around the tree. Calendars, rulers, and things they insure were on the tree.
Holy Name Church’s tree had a gold crown on the top. There were gold balls with gold trim going around the tree. The tree skirt was a “patch work” quilt look in the shape of a star.
Lisa Peters’ “Simply Sheerz” was a flocked tree. It had clear balls filled with a white filler. There were red scissors as well as other items that she uses in her business hanging on the tree. There were multi-colored lights that lit up the tree.
Schmillen Construction’s tree had gold, red, and green balls on the tree. A red skirt completed this tree’s look.
United Bank of Iowa had a flocked tree with black and white checked ribbon trim and checked balls. There were other items on a wood background on the tree. Even the tree skirt was black and white checked!
The next tree was from Mahoney Auto. The bow on the top had a red pickup on it. The trim going around it also had red pickups on it. The skirt had a picture on it. Small white lights lit up the tree.
Faith Lutheran Church had a white and silver star at the top. It had red and silver balls for ornaments. The tree skirt was red with a green border.
The next tree had NO name on it. It had small white lights that lit up the tree with blue and silver balls. It sat on a blue and silver skirt. It really was a beautiful tree!
The Farmers State Agency had a very different tree! It had multicolored lights to light up a Garden gnome! It sat on a cotton fluffy skirt.
Now we are on the stage area. The front of the stage had three trees on it. One tree was from Community Ministry. This Food Pantry serves anyone who lives in the Marcus, Meriden, Cleghorn area. The tree was covered with articles that they offer to people. There were also stars made of very small tree twigs on the tree. It had a big star on the top.
Peace Lutheran Church’s tree had an angel at the top and chrismons (lambs, crowns, etc.) decorating the tree.
“Details” had flashing white small lights. It had a gold ribbon trim going around the tree. Something different were hydrangea flowers (dried) and orange slices (dried) on the tree. It sat on a white satin skirt.
Now we will go to the back of the stage. The Marcus Public Library had a tree made from books that formed the pyramid tree. It had a red bow on the top.
State Savings Bank had a lit star on the top. Purple and silver balls were the decoration with silver ribbon trim.
Horstman Trucking had a flocked tree decorated with pictures of their trucks on wood hanging as ornaments along with icicles. There was white and silver trim going around it. A bushy (bush) was on the top. A separate item stood beside it.
Trinity Lutheran Church had a tree in the shape of a “cross”. A crown was at the top and gold balls were on it.
Floyd Valley Marcus Clinic let us know they were able to serve even at the North Pole! There was a large red candy cane that started at the top and went several branches down. There were small red and white lights. Decorations included pictures2022 Hometown Christmas of those that work there—wearing Santa hats to keep warm!
Grace United Methodist Church’s tree had a star on the top with big balls, cones, etc. going around the tree.
Farmers State Bank had small white lights lighting up a tree with red and silver balls.
On the north area was a tree from Skills USA decorated by members and from Industrial Arts at MMCRU High School. It came complete with gloves and black boots!
A wood tree was made of “laths” painted green in the shape of a tree. The top had a wood star with “Complete Building Service” on each point. It was from Marcus Lumber.
The Sioux City Journal tree with Steve Schuetz as its carrier had wrapped newspaper ornaments, places where rabbits live, reindeer, dog (with 3 legs!), and stuffed ornaments from Steve’s past. It had Santa on the top and the tree sat on a gold skirt. At the bottom of the tree was a basket with two puppies in it—both had movable heads with one that had a candy cane in its mouth and the other had a red stocking in its mouth.
Rassel Lawn Care and Snow Removal had the only white tree. A white bow was on the top and continued going around the tree. Ornaments were green balls and John Deere miniatures. Small white lights lit up the tree. It had a “small” John Deere skirt (because I cut up most of the original skirt for face masks for June Nylen’s!)
Grandma’s Garden had a huge poinsettia on a tall stand with a pine cone at the bottom. It sat between Santa’s chair and the John Deere tree.
On the other side of Santa’s chair was a fireplace sitting beside Santa’s Chair.
Wow! We are finished touring the tree area. There were 27 trees with one white tree, 3 flocked trees, 1 wood tree, the Skills USA tree, and the rest were green trees; one tree with flashing white lights, and 2 trees with multicolored lights.
It would not be an easy job to say which tree was better than the next. When one tree is picked as the winner, the other trees were “winners” also—they were all that good.
Golden Opportunities sponsored by Farmers State Bank was on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Marcus Community Center with social hour beginning at 5:30 p.m. and a dinner at 6:15 p.m. This year’s program was “A White HOT Christmas!” Kay Krekow and husband, Dr. Harry Dunstan were there to entertain the guests with Christmas Carols, bold tenor arias, sensuous love duets, and Broadway standards. Those attending got a chance to walk around and admire all the trees!
Thursday, Dec. 8 the Marcus Public Library was going to “stuff” teddy bears for those kids who had signed up to receive a bear. Well, school was out early because of oncoming bad weather and this event has been cancelled until another date. (I heard it is supposed to be Thursday, Dec. 15—however, check with the Library to be sure.)
Friday schools were closed and so was the Library! Now it was time to clean up the ice and snow and get ready for Saturday.
Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., the Cattlemen grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. Bring an article for the Food Pantry and receive a free hamburger or hot dog. There was also a carton of chocolate milk and a package of peanut clusters in carmel that went with the free hamburger/hot dog. Thanks to those who made this possible.
At 5 p.m. activities begun. Ames Auto Body had cookie decorating going on there. This was sponsored by State Savings Bank and hosted by MMCRU Girls Basketball Team. There was a soup supper at the Fire Station. Friends of the Library had a fund-raiser going on there and there was a bake sake for Heartland Care Center Auxiliary as well.
But, on Main Street there was a Lighted Parade. There were dancing snowmen in costume with light-sticks. There were dancing gnomes on a flatbed that made a Gnometown Christmas. Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department had a Grinch in Jail.
Ernest-Johnson Funeral Home brought a vinteage hearse that threw flamaes from a stack in the back. Marcus Police and Marcus Fire and Rescue were present. Pioneer Seed, Bush Construction and Marcus Lumber Company had entries, but I missed out on these.
Following the Parade, you either went to decorate cookies, go for food at the Fire Station, or go to the Community Center and wait for 6:30. Those people that had kids that wanted to talk to Santa, went as soon as possible. (I understand this year Santa was sponsored by Marcus Chamber.) When I arrived just before 6 o’clock, people were lined up starting at the stage with their child/children! Santa was still seeing children close to 7 p.m.! Talking to Santa wasn’t just for young children as there were older children as well! Each received a gift bag given by United Bank of Iowa.
On the north side of the Community Center were a number of tables with items that could be bought for gifts. These items were there by business places. A number of tee-shirts, sweat shirts, etc. were for sale. There were some tools. Cookie sheets, muffin tins, baking dishes, etc. were there. Quite a few things for kids included, puzzles, games, etc. All of these could be wrapped for free. What more could you ask for. A bow and card saying who it went to were included.
At 6:30, it was time to announce home lighting contest winners. First place went to Ben and Julian Letsche. Second place went to Matt Dreckman and Third place went to Wyatt Alesch/Gerry and Lisa Alesch’s house. Other contests were given: Holiday Dough Grand Prize, Coloring Contest, Turkey Giveaway (Sponsored by American Bank) and Festival of Trees (Sponsored by Marcus Lions Club). I did not hear all the winners or the amount of $ they won so I asked if this information could be sent to the Marcus News to make sure it was correct. This was supposed to be sent by Sunday morning to make this week’s paper.
The business places had their own decorations that were hung by TenCorp. We thank TenCorp for doing this! TenCorp won first place, City Hall was second and O’Haira’s was third. All the business places that were decorated looked good. It was nice to see Marcus so well lit up!
From 8 p.m. to midnight, DJ Braz was at the Community Center to complete 2022 Marcus Hometown Christmas.
Business places that were open past their usual closing time included: Details, Grandma’s Garden, O’Haira’s and Jeff’s Foods. The Hawkeye Lounge, JB’s, and The Old Panhead were serving customers that had come to the Hometown Christmas final night.
There were no horses this year. Even though the street was cleared of snow, there was still ice in spots. No one wants to see a horse fall on ice. Maybe next year will be a better time for Santa to come with horses!
For 2022 Marcus Hometown Christmas, this is just a memory now.