COLUMBUS — Two new additions to the Santa Museum arrived in Colum- bus on July 27. The gracious donors of the Santa fig ures wanted the public to appreciate the beauty of the season.
Ric Hawthorne donated the Russian Santa collection in memory of his late wife, Judy. Hawthrone hails from Longview and heard about the Santa Museum in a Texas magazine. His wife's handcrafted Russian Santas come direct from Russia. She collected the figurines for about four years. Hawthorne says he wanted more than just him to experience the beauty of the figurines. Donna Thames donated the collec tion of Cowboy Santas and cherishes her time with each one, but she wants the public to enjoy them as much as she does. Thames still has other Cowboy Santas she will part with down the road.
The Santa Museum is a one-of-akind museum featuring thousands of Santa figurines, music boxes, dolls and other Christmas pieces from all over the world. It is one of only two in the coun- try. Visitors from all over the world have come to visit, take pictures and look in
awe at the splendid collection at the mu- seum. The Columbus Historical Preser vation Trust owns and operates the mu- seum located at 604 Washington St. in
