Days Gone By

WHO NEEDS A SLEIGH?

Taking a look back more than a half century – 55 years, to be exact. In the spirit of the season, here’s a photo of Santa with one of his helpers, after having just arrived via helicopter on Nov. 28, 1969 at the W.T. Grant store in Shoppers Haven Shopping Center. The Grants store was the go-to department store for everyone in Cape May County back in 1969. Today, the area marketed as Shoppers Haven in 1969 is the T.J. Maxx store on Route 9 in Cape May Court House. Santa’s helicopter, which is almost visible just behind him, would have landed in T.J. Maxx’s parking lot. Santa’s arrival signaled the official kickoff to the Christmas season in Shoppers Haven and Cape May County.