(Contributed by Brian Keller, O’Fallon Historical Society)
In the holiday spirit, this week’s view features Santa Claus arriving at Southview Plaza Shopping Center in O’Fallon on Nov. 25, 1966. Not by a sleigh pulled by reindeer but by a KMOX Radio helicopter. Sponsored by the shopping center businesses, Santa’s Southview headquarters was in Feickert’s Bakery. Children could visit him each Saturday from 1 – 5 p.m. after his arrival and daily from 5 – 8 p.m. starting Dec. 12. Feickert’s was three stores south of Plaza Drug in what later became the House of Hunan.