When State Auto founder Bob Pein hatched the idea in the early 1930s to create an elaborate Christmas display at the insurance provider’s two-story building on East Broad Street in downtown Columbus, the world was struggling through the throes of the Great Depression. He wanted to do something to boost people’s spirits during a tumultuous time.
And so the Cincinnati native who grew up in a family of seven children turned the company head- quarters into what he called “a Christmas card to the community” that at various points in the 1930s featured thousands of colored electric light bulbs, hundreds of Christmas trees, a “little church in the air” on top of the structure and broadcasts of carols and sacred music.
Ninety years later, the world again is experiencing an extremely challenging situation with the coronavirus pandemic. And what is now called “Christmas Corner” is still lifting our spirits and providing a sense of stability when we’re all feeling a little insecure.
State Auto spokesman Kyle Anderson said the company decided to go forward with its annual display this year after considering the health and safety of visitors. However, musical performances that normally take place at the site were canceled.
“We talked with some of our friends in the community about it and what their thoughts were on whether we should put on the display this year or not,” he said. “And I think it was pretty much unanimous the response we got was that the community would appreciate seeing that type of tradition continue.”
For anyone unable to travel downtown or avoiding public interaction, State Auto added a feature this year. The company positioned a 3D camera used for insurance inspections at the site to provide a virtual experience for online viewers.
“Frankly, it was an idea that we just came up with in the past few weeks,” Anderson said. “We’ll do a better one in the future. This one we had to do kind of quickly.”
During an era when so many businesses have taken Christ out of Christmas, State Auto should be commended for eschewing corporate America’s willingness to secularize this holy season.
Public feedback, Anderson noted, “is almost universally positive. The only complaints I recall hearing were related to the folks who mistakenly believed that the Nativity scene is on public property.
“We were able to dismiss that pretty quickly by saying that this is private property. We get praise every year, including this year, from folks saying, ‘Thank you so much for doing this. We’re sure you’re having to stick your necks out,’ and set aside the naysayers and that type of thing. And while I appreciate the sentiment, that really does not hap- pen. We don’t hear from those saying we shouldn’t be doing this.”
Think about how many central Ohioans through the years have loaded their families in the car and made a pilgrimage to downtown Columbus, just a few blocks east of St. Joseph Cathedral, to see this Christmas season landmark. The company estimates that 200,000 people stop or get out of their vehicles each year to gaze at the depictions leading up to Christ’s birth and what happened immediately afterward.
“We actually did a brief video piece on a couple in 2014 when they were celebrating their 50th anniversary," Anderson recalled. "And on their first date in 1964, they visited Christmas Corner, and every year but for one, when (the husband) was serving in Vietnam, they would come to Christmas Corner on their anniversary. We hear from people in the com-
Through Facebook, visitors can tour the site from throughout the world, including former Columbus residents who moved out of town and even State Auto employees who work elsewhere.
One of the few complaints came after the display was moved in 2009 from the front of the building to Pein Park, which is named after the company founder and located next to the building. Visitors were no longer able to see everything while sitting in their parked cars.
“We heard from some who were not happy about it,” Anderson said. “But we felt that the new location offered visitors an opportunity to explore the display, as opposed to just viewing it from Broad Street. We do hope the (3D tour) is a way to bring the experience to even more people.”
That’s just one of many changes that have taken place over the course of the exhibit’s 90-year history.
In the 1930s, the second-story rooftop was the focal point and included Santa, a manger scene and choirs singing songs of the season. Images of Christ’s life were projected on a big screen.
In 1938, State Auto received a national “outstanding animated display of the year” award. Two years later, as World War II raged in Europe, a patriotic “Santa Claus still visits America” theme was adopted that featured the Statue of Liberty and the U.S. flag every 30 minutes while the rest of the Christmas display went dark.
A 1941 press release issued by the company just before the United States entered World War II read, “During these strenuous times, with hate, chaos, greed, tears and unhappiness all about us, the company would recall symbolically, the promise of Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Men; that if men will live close to Christ, as a Little Child, they will live at peace with one another.”
The company’s historical account pointed out that commercial planes circled before landing at the Columbus airport to allow passengers to view the display.
Through the war years and again from 1946 through 1953 while three floors were added to the building, the decorations were suspended. In 1954, the tradition was renewed with a roof scene of Bethlehem and a 12-foot shining star.
When Pein died in 1956, the company extended the display in his memory.
Pein was known for his benevolence and his flair for showmanship. Anderson recounted one story of Pein’s generosity, explaining that Pein bought thousands of eggs during the Depression and handed them out to people in need from the entrance of the State Auto building on multiple Saturdays.
“He became the city’s closest thing to Santa Claus, as one of the papers said,” Anderson noted. “I would say our associates are very protective of the tradition and bringing the holiday spirit to the community.
“He was quite a showman. He was described as kind of a P.T. Barnum character. He created opportunities to get attention. Christmas Corner was pretty clearly a passion for him.”
After State Auto added two wings to its headquarters, a Nativity with 25 life-size figures was set up in front of the building on East Broad in 1966, and the rooftop was no longer used. In the early 1980s, the manger scene became the focal point.
Restoration of the pieces began in 1993 and continued through 1995. In 1995 and 1996, the Journey scene and the Annunciation were added to the Three Kings, Old Town and Nativity scenes.
In 2007, lights and other decorations, which had been scaled back in the 1980s, returned to the building to enhance the grandeur of the spectacle. The 2009 relocation of the display to a grassy park area named after Pein resulted in a new configuration that had six scenes: Angel Speaks to Mary, Journey, Holy Family, Field of Shepherds, King Herod and the Wise Men.
Up until about 10 years ago, State Auto employees were involved in the labor-intensive setup, which takes approximately two months, and maintenance of the display, which begins after it is taken down, before the company decided to contract with outside sources for upkeep.
“I’ve spoken with many who associate (Christmas Corner) with the windows of Lazarus (downtown department store) that go back for decades,” Anderson said. “Some of those traditions are gone, and we’ve got new traditions that will continue for years, but I think Christmas Corner is one of the few that you can point to that’s been in existence this long.”
Let’s pray that many generations to come can experience the beautiful representation of Christ’s birth and be inspired by the Holy Family.
