The front page of the Dec. 9, 1914, Christmas edition of the Freeborn County Standard featured this charming picture of Santa bestowing dolls, trucks and other toys upon children. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

At the December 1958 Kiwanis noon Christmas party, two eager children sat on Santa’s lap. The tradition of having children visit Santa during the weeks leading up to Christmas dates at least to the turn of the 20th century when department stores began inviting Santa to visit their stores during the holiday shopping season. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

In 1958 Santa accompanied this advertisement by the Skinner Chamberlain Department Store in the Albert Lea Evening Tribune. The Skinner Chamberlain Department Store operated on the 200 block of S. Broadway — the present home of Brick Furniture — from 1902 until 1967. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

In 1898, Santa’s helpers at Plymouth Shoe Store advertised their “Fine Stock of Shoes and Slippers” during the holiday season. Plymouth Shoe Store opened its doors in 1893 and remains open to this day at 129 S. Broadway. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

In December 1914, Lembke Dry Goods Company ran a holiday advertisement for “fine and handsome dolls” for little girls. The Lembke Dry Goods store opened in 1906 and stood at the corner of Broadway and Main Street, the present-day location of Midwest Antiques. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum

In this Prohibition-era cartoon from the Dec. 13, 1928, edition of the Albert Lea Evening Tribune, Santa got political. Prohibition, which made the production, sale and importation of alcoholic beverages illegal in the United States, began with the ratification of the 18th Amendment in 1919 and ended in 1933 when the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition. Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum