Batesville Herald Tribune, Batesville, Indiana

Features

December 18, 2009

Santa keeping watch

Diane Raver

Residents and visitors to the Arlington Drive area are greeted by wooden Santas standing next to mailboxes throughout the neighborhood.

Each of the jolly old elves was fashioned by Batesville native Jim Decker, who presented them as gifts to “help put people in the Christmas mood.”

Creating them is a “lengthy proposition .... I put a coat of paint on and have to let it dry and then add another coat,” says the man who doesn’t consider himself an artist.

The 74-year-old came up with the idea after helping a friend at a craft show. At that time, he was living in Columbus, Ohio, and started giving them as Christmas gifts. “One thing led to another .... People asked, ‘Where did you get them?’”

Later, he and wife Marilyn moved to southern Ohio and then to Las Vegas. Decker continued to make the wooden structures, providing them for his neighbors.

The first year after moving back to Batesville, he made Santas for those on his street, Woodside Court. Then he reached out to others in the subdivision, which now has about 45 of the 80 he has produced.

How have people responded to the decorations that look like soldiers in a row? “They think it’s great and adds something to the neighborhood.” He has even been referred to as “The Santa Claus man.”

His wife, who Decker reveals is his support staff, emphasizes that the project is “a labor of love for him .... (and) he doesn’t take any money for them .... I’m proud of what he does.”

Why does the father of two sons and a daughter and grandfather of five take the time to make them? “Well, it’s the neighborly thing to do.”

He adds, “I would like to see some other areas pick up on the idea,” and have them placed throughout the city.

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