From 1927 until the 1970s, lights and accompanying Christmas decorations went up on Main Street from Laurel to Gervais Street to mark the holiday season.
As a young child, my parents would drive us down Main Street at Christmas time to see the lights. We would also hit "Christmas Tree Lane" in Forest Hills and a house, I don't know where it was, with an elaborate animatronic display that featured a talking snow man. But driving down Main Street was special.
I was happy to find images in our historic photograph archives that show this annual Main Street display over time. What holiday traditions will you remember?
In 1927, the first effort at illuminating the downtown district was undertaken by the Broad River Power Company and Perry-Mann Electric. The companies installed lights on Main Street and Christmas trees on the State House grounds. Seeing the lights in combination with decorations at the State House attracted tourists to the scene and created a distinct holiday environment for downtown shoppers. Santa Claus made an appearance to help generate excitement for this first illumination.
The effort was so successful that it was continued each year with financial and planning assistance from the City of Columbia and Columbia’s Chamber of Commerce, along with corporate sponsors. During World War II the holiday light show took a hiatus to save power for Uncle Sam, but in 1945 the display returned with gusto.
In 1953, the city began hosting the annual Carillon parade. This was often combined with the lighting of the lights on Main Street as Santa, again, made an appearance to mark the holiday shopping season.
The Governor’s Carolighting ceremony, which began in 1966, enhanced the downtown holiday experience with a large state tree, decorations, and musical performances.
In the 1970s, the lights continued to go up on Main Street but there were fewer downtown stores for shoppers to visit. This was when I remember riding in the family car to see the lights, a tradition my parents remembered from their youths but one that did not live on for me to share with my children. Instead, I took my kids to the mall for a photo op with Santa. The Carillon Parade and Governor's Carolighting continue, but the lights on Main are now just memories.
As times change, our holiday traditions do to. But it’s nice to remember how Columbians of yesterday celebrated the season.
