>> PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR "THE
WEEKLY SPECIAL" IS PROVIDED
BY...
>> THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE AND
SEASONAL CHEER IS ALL AROUND.
TAKE A JOURNEY THROUGH THE
HOOSIER HOLIDAY TRADITIONS OF
THE PAST, PRESENT AND HOPEFUL
FUTURE.
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS BY
CANDLELIGHT AT THE WILEY HOUSE
MUSEUM IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA.
MEET THE HOOSIER PRESIDENT WHO
INTRODUCED CHRISTMAS TREES TO
THE WHITE HOUSE AT THE BENJAMIN
HARRISON PRESIDENTIAL SITE.
WELCOME REVEREND PAYTON FOR SOME
SOUNDS TO GET YOU INTO THE
SEASON.
AND DISCOVER YOUR INNER CHILD IN
RICHMOND, INDIANA, VOTED THE
STATE'S FAVORITE TOY STORE.
TRAVEL THROUGH ALMOST 200 YEARS
OF HOOSIER HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
RIGHT NOW ON "THE "WEEKLY
SPECIAL."
♪♪♪♪
>> WELCOME TO THE "WEEKLY
SPECIAL."
I'M ERICA SAGON.
AS INDIANA COMMEMORATES ITS
BICENTENNIAL EXPLORE HOW THE
HOLIDAY SEASON HAS CHANGED
THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES.
CHRISTMAS HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN
CELEBRATED WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS
AND SHIMMERING CONTINUE SELL.
STEP BACK IN TIME AS ONE
HISTORICAL HOME SHARES THE
SUBTLER APPROACH TO THE SEASON.
A WALK ALONG 2nd STREET JUST
EAST OF DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON
SUDDENLY REVEALS A UNIQUE BRICK
HOME WITH AN INTERESTING PAST.
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR VOLUNTEERS
CAN BE SEEN THERE PREPARING THE
STRUCTURE FOR A JOYOUS
CELEBRATION.
A CELEBRATION THAT IS BEST
APPRECIATED WHEN THE WINTER SUN
DISAPPEARS AND THE FLICKERING
LIGHT OF CANCELS BRINGS THE
HOUSE TO LIFE.
[CAROLING]
♪♪ O, TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND
JOY ♪♪
>> THE WILEY HOUSE IS THE 1835
HOME OF THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF
INDIANA UNIVERSITY.
AND INDIANA UNIVERSITY WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 1820, AND SO
PRESIDENT WILEY AND HIS FAMILY
CAME AROUND 1828 AND BUILT THE
HOME HERE A FEW YEARS LATER.
>> WE ARE THE OFFICIAL GREETERS,
AND DIRECTORS.
SO PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY
TO GO, WHICH WAY TO ENTER IN THE
HOUSE --
>> THE ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT OPEN
HOUSE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR
YEARS.
IT'S A WAY OF GIVING BACK AND
SAYING THANKS FOR SUPPORTING US.
IT'S ALSO OUR WAY OF INTRODUCING
THE MUSEUM.
THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE MUSEUM IS
LIT BY CANDLELIGHT THROUGHOUT,
WHICH IS, OF COURSE, IN 1835
WHEN THE FAMILY WAS HERE THEY
WOULD BE LIGHTING THE HOME BY
CANDLELIGHT.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN
THE HOUSE UP IN THE EVENING AND
SHARE WHAT IT MIGHT HAVE LOOKED
LIKE DURING THAT PERIOD.
AND DOUGH SAN ANTONIOS ARE HEED
TO GREET.
>> THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN
THE HOUSE, A LOT OF PEOPLE TO
COOK FOR.
[CAROLING]
♪♪ IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT
CLEAR ♪♪
MARK IS A VOLUNTEER.
HE COMES AND PLAYS THE 1795
PIANO THAT WE BELIEVE IS
ORIGINAL TO THE ANDREW WILEY
FAMILY.
HE'LL PLAY MOSTLY CAROLS AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WILEY
HOUSE VOLUNTEERS WILL SING ALONG
WITH HIM THROUGHOUT THE EVENING
IN THE PARLOR OF THE MUSEUM.
♪♪ CHILDREN LAUGHING ♪♪
♪♪ PEOPLE PASSING ♪♪
♪♪ AND ON EVERY STREET CORNER
YOU'LL HEAR ♪♪
♪♪♪♪
>> WE HAVE TWO STUDENTS PLAYING
CLASSICAL GUITARS.
THEY'LL BE OVER IN THE DINING
ROOM OF THE MUSEUM.
THEY'LL ALSO MOVE AROUND A
LITTLE BIT.
THEY'LL JOIN MARK ON THE PIANO
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
THEY'LL COME OVER TO THE KITCHEN
CENTER FOR A LITTLE BIT.
♪♪♪♪
>> OVER IN THE EDUCATION CENTER
WE'LL HAVE A STORY TIME FOR
CHILDREN.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A CHIMNEY
ANYMORE.
PLEASE COME THROUGH THE...
♪♪♪♪
>> WE THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING HERE
AND GRACIOUSLY VOLUNTEERING
THEIR TIME AND TALENT.
THEY'RE ALWAYS A HIT.
[SINGING]
>> WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL GROUP,
THE DICKENS CAROLERS.
WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE THEM THIS
YEAR.
[CAROLING]
>> PEOPLE REALLY ENJOY HAVING
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE HOUSE
GLOWING.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL HOME.
THE INTERIOR IS BEAUTIFULLY
DECORATED AND THEN TO ADD THE
CANDLELIGHT ADDS TO ITS CHARM
AND AMBIENCE AND HELP US TO
OFFER ANOTHER WAY TO INTERPRET
IT HISTORICALLY THAT PEOPLE
DON'T GENERALLY GET A CHANCE TO
SEE.
>> THIS IS THE LAST EVENT OF THE
YEAR FOR THE WILEY HOUSE MUSEUM,
BUT THEY WILL REOPEN IN THE
SPRING FOR TOURS.
LEARN MORE AT THEIR WEBSITE
LIBRARY'S.INDIANA.EDU.ASTHECOUNTRYMARCHEDTOWARDSTHEHES
AIDOFTHECENTURYTRADITIONSCHANGED
W
ITHTHETIMES.ONEPARTICULARHOOSIERHADANIMPACTO
NTHESEASON,NOTJUSTFORTHESTATEBUT
F
ORTHECOUNTRY.
>> WALKING ALONG DELAWARE STREET
NORTH OF INDIANAPOLIS IS LIKE
BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE
VICTORIAN ERA ESPECIALLY DURING
CHRISTMAS SEASON.
BUT ONE HOME HARBORS HISTORY
ABOVE ANY OF ITS NEIGHBORS, THE
BENJAMIN HARRISON PRESIDENTIAL
SITE.
>> BENJAMIN HARRISON WAS THE
23rd PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
SOME CALL HIM AMERICA'S FUTURE
PRESIDENT.
HE WAS THE ONLY PRESIDENT
ELECTED FROM THE STATE OF
INDIANA.
>> HE WAS NOT A HOOSIER BY
BIRTH, HE WAS A HOOSIER BY
CHOICE.
BORN IN OHIO, GOT INTO INDIANA
AS A YOUNG LAWYER AND WAS
STARTING TO BUILD A REPUTATION
AS A LAWYER WHEN THE CIVIL WAR
BROKE OUT.
AT THE TIME HE COULD HIRE A
SURROGATE, BUT HE WAS VERY
INVOLVED PHYSICALLY, AND
GOVERNOR MORTON HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH HIM LETTING
HIM KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT
LINCOLN'S CALL FOR MORE SOLDIERS
FROM INDIANA AND HARRISON
VOLUNTEERED.
HE SAID IF I'M NEEDED I WILL GO.
SO, OF COURSE, A YOUNG FAMILY,
TWO SMALL CHILDREN, NO PROMISE
OF FUTURE PROSPECTS, BUT REALLY
RECOGNIZED THAT DUTY AS A
CITIZEN TO GO TO WAR IN SUPPORT
OF WHAT HE VALUED MOST.
AND SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A
PLACE LIKE THIS AND THINKING
ABOUT WHY IT DESERVES ADDITIONAL
RECOGNITION, WHY SOMEBODY SHOULD
BE MEMORIALIZED IN THIS WAY,
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THEIR
SERVICE AS A PRESIDENT.
IT'S ABOUT THAT CALL OF A LIFE
LEADING UP TO THE PRESIDENCY AND
WHY THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS
THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE WORTHY OF
THAT OFFICE AND REALLY WHAT
BROUGHT THEM TO THAT LEVEL OF
RECOGNITION.
>> AFTER THE WAR, HARRISON
RETURNED TO INDIANAPOLIS AND TO
HIS LAW PRACTICE BUT STAYED
ACTIVE IN THE STATE AND NATIONAL
POLITICS.
HE TRIED 16 CASES IN FRONT OF
THE SUPREME COURT, SERVED AS
INDIANA'S UNITED STATES SENATOR,
AND IN 1888 HE LOVED HIS BEE
HUFD HOOSIER HOME FOR WASHINGTON
D.C. WHERE HE WAS INAUGURATED AS
THE CENTENNIAL PRESIDENT 100
YEARS AFTER GEORGE WASHINGTON.
>> PRESIDENT HARRISON'S LEGACY
IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COUNTRY FROM
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES.
I SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST HE WAS
RIGHT AT THE CROSSROADS OF THE
PRESIDENCY, SO RIGHT IN THAT
TRANSITION FROM 19th CENTURY
AMERICA TO 20th CENTURY
AMERICA HE HIMSELF MADE A NUMBER
OF PRIORITIES AS PRESIDENT THAT
HAVE RESOUNDED THROUGH THE
20th CENTURY, THE PRIORITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN SET BY MODERN
PRESIDENTS.
HE WAS VERY INTERESTED IN
CONSERVATION AND ACTUALLY CALLED
FOR AND SIGNED THE FOREST
RESERVE ACT AND WAS ABLE TO USE
THAT TO SET ASIDE 13 MILLION
ACRES OF FEDERAL LANDS.
HE ALSO WAS VERY FOCUSED ON
AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS
AND CIVIL RIGHTS, AND SO HE
ACTIVELY SOUGHT LEGISLATION THAT
WOULD HAVE PROTECTED IT, AND IT
WASN'T REALLY UNTIL THE CIVIL
RIGHTS ACT THAT THAT FULL VISION
CAME TO BE.
BUT THAT WAS A PRIORITY THAT HE
HAD SET FORWARD.
>> THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
CREATED MANY CHALLENGES THAT
HARRISON TACKLED THROUGHOUT HIS
PRESIDENCY, FACING AN AGING
POPULATION OF CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS
HE ESTABLISHED BENEFITS FOR
DISABLED VETERANS AND THEIR
FAMILIES, OPENED ELLIS ISLAND TO
MANAGE RAPIDLY INCREASING
IMMIGRATION AND PASSED THE
NATION'S FIRST ANTITRUST LAWS
AND DRAMATICALLY EXPANDED THE
UNITED STATES NAVY, BUT HIS NO
HOLDS BARRED APPROACH TO CHANGE
TOOK A TOLL ON HIS REPUTATION.
>> PEOPLE CHARACTERIZE HARRISON
AS ICY OR COLD BUT THOSE WHO
KNEW HIM DESCRIBED HIM AS A
WARM, CARING FAMILY MAN.
THAT'S REALLY EVIDENT IN HIS
INTERACTIONS WITH HIS CHILDREN,
GRANDCHILDREN BUT ESPECIALLY
HIGHLIGHTED, I THINK, IN HIS
TIME IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
HE AND HIS WIFE CAROLINE WERE
THE FIRST TO HAVE A DECORATED
TREE IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND
BENJAMIN HARRISON HIMSELF
DRESSED UP FOR HIS GRANDCHILDREN
AS SANTA CLAUS.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS BEING A
VERY TOUCHING SCENE, PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES WEARING A
SANTA CLAUS OUTFIT TO BRING JOY
AND DELIGHT TO THE HEARTS OF HIS
GRANDCHILDREN.
SO WE BRING SOME OF THOSE GREAT
STORIES AND TRADITIONS INTO OUR
RETELLING OF THE HARRISON AND
BEING ABLE TO SHARE THAT GREATER
HARRISON LEGACY.
>> WHEN HIS WIFE CAROLINE DYED
HIS WIFE ASSUMED THE ROLE OF
FIRST LADY.
HARRISON FAILED TO SECURE A
SECOND TERM AND HE MOVED HIS
FAMILY BACK TO INDIANA, MARRIED,
AND HAD A CHILD WITH HIS SECOND
WIFE MARY, AND RETURNED ONCE
AGAIN TO HIS LAW PRACTICE.
>> HE CONTINUED TO LIVE IN
INDIANA AND TO LIVE IN THIS
HOUSE UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1901.
THE HOUSE ITSELF WAS BUILT IN
1874, AND THE HARRISONS MOVED IN
IN 1875, AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL
MANSION, ABOUT 10,000 SQUARE
FEET IN ALL, 75 TO 80% OF WHAT
YOU SEE IS ACTUALLY ORIGINAL TO
THE HARRISONS, AND WE HAVE OVER
10,000 ARTIFACTS THAT ARE PART
OF OUR GREATER COLLECTION.
SO WHEN YOU'RE TOURING THROUGH
THE HOUSE YOU GET TO HAVE AN
INSIDE GLIMPSE AT THE LIFE AND
THE WAYS OF AN AMERICAN
PRESIDENT.
SO THE THINGS THAT HE SURROUNDED
HIMSELF WITH AND THE WAY HIS
FAMILY LIVED AND INTERACTED WITH
THE GREATER COMMUNITY, BUT IN A
PERSONAL GLIMPSE OF WHAT LIFE
WAS LIKE AND HOW THAT STILL IS
RELEVANT TO TODAY.
>> AND SHARING THAT MESSAGE WITH
YOUNGER GENERATIONS IS AN
ESSENTIAL PART OF THEIR MISSION,
WELCOMING OVER 17,000 CHILDREN
EACH YEAR THROUGH SCHOOL TOURS
AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS LIKE THE
FUTURE PRESIDENTS OF AMERICA.
DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON THE
HOME HOLDS SUCH EVENTS AS THE
CANDLELIGHT THEATERS PLUS THE
NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND
WALKING TOUR OF DELAWARE STREETS
FINEST HOMES.
>> THE HARRISONS REALLY
CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS AND I THINK
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM.
THEY HAD A VERY STRONG PERSONAL
FAITH AND WERE RECOGNIZED FOR
THAT IN THE COMMUNITY AND SO
IT'S AN HONOR FOR US AS AN
ORGANIZATION TO BE ABLE TO BRING
SOME CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS TO
LIFE OURSELVES AND GIVE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR GREATER
COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE
AND ENJOY AND CELEBRATE
ALONGSIDE REALLY AS WE CELEBRATE
THAT SPIRIT THAT ENLIVENS ALL OF
US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
>> THE CANDLELIGHT THEATER'S
PRODUCTION SHUN OF 'TWAS THE
NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS IS GOING
ON NOW AS WELL AS HOLIDAY TOURS.
NOTHING QUITE GETS YOU IN A
FESTIVE MOOD LIKE LISTENING TO
HOLIDAY TUNES.
REVEREND PAYTON'S BIG BAND IS
KNOWN FOR THEIR MUSICAL BLEND OF
TRADITIONAL STYLES AND MODERN
TONES.
HE WILL BE ON THE SHOW AFTER THE
NEW YEAR BUT ARE HERE NOW TO
HELP US GET IN THE SPIRIT.
♪♪♪♪
[SINGING]
♪♪♪♪
[SINGING]
>> REVEREND PAYTON'S BAND WILL
BE PERFORMING AT THE ANNUAL NEW
YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION AT THE
BLUEBIRD IN BLOOMINGTON,
INDIANA.
LEARN MORE -- FOR 78 YEARS BEACHES
TOY STATION HAS BEEN HELPING
SANTA FULFILL THE WISH LISTS OF
CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE.
A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES
TODAY.
>> IN 1938 AFTER TRAVELING
ACROSS THE MIDWEST, WORKING FOR
THE COMPANY THAT WOULD LATER
BECOME K MART, LEWIS DECIDED IT
WAS TIME TO SETTLE DOWN WITH HIS
YOUNG FAMILY, CHOOSING THE TOWN
OF RICHMOND, INDIANA TO START
HIS OWN 5 AND DIME STORE.
HE BOUGHT AND SOLD EVERYTHING HE
COULD GET HIS HANDS ON, FROM
LINENS, SOUPS, BASKETS TO BREAD.
MOST PARTICULARLY TOYS.
>> TOYS ARE -- THAT WAS WHAT WE
WERE KNOWN FOR IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE WHOLE DOWNTOWN AREA WAS FULL
OF FIVE AND DIME TYPE STORES,
AND THE COMMUNITY WOULD KNOW THE
OWNERS, THEY WOULD KNOW THE
PEOPLE THAT WORKED THERE.
THEY HAD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS.
I STARTED WORKING HERE WHEN I
WAS 8 YEARS OLD.
I WOULD COME AFTER SCHOOL AND
PUT PRICES ON MERCHANDISE ANDIZE
GOT OLDER I LEARNED HOW TO RUN
THE CASH REGISTER AND COUNT BACK
CHANGE TO CUSTOMERS.
I LEARNED THE VALUE OF TREATING
CUSTOMERS RIGHT AND PUTTING A
SMILE ON THEIR FACE TO MAKE THEM
FEEL HAPPY TO COME HERE.
>> HE EVENTUALLY BECAME THE
THIRD GENERATION OWNER.
HE KNEW THE STORE NEEDED A WAY
TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY BUT THE GROWING
COMPETITION OF BIG BOX STORES
AND RETAILERS.
IN 1996 THE BEACHES DECIDED TO
DEDICATE THEIR ENTIRE 16,000
SQUARE FOOT STORE TO THE ONE
THING THEY WERE KNOWN FOR IN THE
COMMUNITY... TOYS.
>> IT'S ALMOST NOT A JOB.
I HEAR CUSTOMERS SAY ALL THE
TIME, YOU MUST PLAY ALL THE
TIME.
WE DO HAVE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN DOING.
IT TAKES ME BACK TO WHEN I WAS A
KID.
WE'RE ESPECIALLY A TOY STORE.
IN FACT, MANY TOYS YOU DON'T SEE
ADVERTISED ON TELEVISION.
THESE ARE TOYS THAT HAVE A LOT
OF PLAY VALUE, THAT ARE
EDUCATIONAL.
WE WANT THE KIDS TO USE THEIR
IMAGINATION.
SO MANY TIMES I SEE PARENTS BUY
A TOY AND THE CHILD WILL PLAY
WITH IT FOR FIVE OR 10 MINUTES
AND THEN NEVER GO BACK TO IT
AGAIN.
WE TRY TO PICK TOYS THAT KIDS
ARE GOING TO PLAY WITH DAY AFTER
DAY, WEEK AFTER WEEK, MONTH
AFTER MONTH.
IT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE TOY IS
THE TOY THAT'S NOT PLAYED WITH.
>> BEING A FAMILY ON BUSINESS,
THERE IS THE OBVIOUS THING LIKES
GOOD QUALITY, SOMETHING THAT'S
GOING TO LAST, SOMETHING THAT'S
FUN, SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD VALUE
BUT ALSO THE FACT WE'RE A HARD
WORKING SMALL BUSINESS.
WE LOVE TO BE ABLE TO FIND THOSE
TOYS THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE
MAKING IN THEIR BASEMENTS, FOR
STARTERS, AND WE LOVE THOSE
STORIES ABOUT HOW IDEAS COME
INTO BEING, INTO CREATION AVENUE
TOY, AND WHEN WE CAN FIND THOSE
THINGS, WHEN YOU HEAR WHY THEY
MADE THE TOY, OF COURSE YOU WANT
TO BRING IT HERE.
YOU WANT TO RETELL THEIR STORY.
SO IT'S PROMOTING FAMILY,
PROMOTING SMALL BUSINESS.
YOU FEEL A CONNECTION TO THE
TOY.
YOU KNOW THE PURPOSE.
YOU FEEL THE PASSION IN IT.
THAT MAKES IT ALL COMPLETE.
>> HOOSIER ARTISANS ARE FEATURED
THROUGHOUT THE STORE, FROM HAND
MADE DOLLS TO BOOKS THAT TAKE
PLACE RIGHT HERE IN INDIANA AND
THE BEECHES TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN
NOT JUST SHARING THE STORY OF A
TOY BUT SHARING THE TOYS
THEMSELVES.
IN ADDITION TO SPONSORING GAME
DAYS TO INTRODUCE PARENTS AND
CHILDRENS TO NEW NOISE, THEY
ENCOURAGE INTERACTIVE PLAY.
>> KIDS JUST -- THEY LIGHT UP.
THEY SEE HOW FUN IT IS.
THEY CAN COME IN AND THEY CAN
PLAY WITH TOYS AND NOT GET IN
TROUBLE.
THAT'S FUN TO SEE THE REACTION
OF THE ADULTS.
IT'S FABULOUS.
>> FOR THE BEECHES, AN IMPORTANT
ASPECT OF THEIR BUSINESS EXTENDS
BEYOND THE DOORS, GOING INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND CLASSROOMS TO
INTRODUCE PARENTS AND TEACHERS
TO NEW PRODUCTS, HOSTING CRAFT
DAYS AND EVEN SELLING TOYS MADE
BY THE LOCAL BOY SCOUTS TO HELP
FUND RAISE FOR UPCOMING TRIPS.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO
HAVE FUN, TO LEARN, BY HELPING
IN THE CLASSROOM WITH OUR
TEACHERS AIDS, HELPING AT HOME,
HELPING WITH THEIR SOCIAL
SKILLS, WITH THEIR
PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, AND
THAT'S -- THAT'S KIND OF OUR
MISSION, IS TO BE AN ASSET TO
THE COMMUNITY.
>> BEECHES IS UNIQUE AND HOW
IT'S SUCH A GREAT FOUNDATION, A
GREAT LOYALTY.
SO MANY PEOPLE CONNECT BEECHES
WITH RICHARD FOR GOOD REASON.
WE HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
SUPPORT THAT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE
IDENTITY OF A COMMUNITY, WHAT
MAKES IT SPECIAL.
>> AND THE BEECHES TOY
EXPERIENCE HAS BECOME A VITAL
PART OF MANY LOCAL FAMILY
TRADITIONS FROM ANNUAL TRIPS TO
THE BEECH BIRTHDAY CASTLE WHERE
CHILDREN GET TO PICK OUT A
SPECIAL GIFT AND RING THE
BIRTHDAY BELL TO FREE GIFT
WRAPPING AND LAYAWAY OFFERS TO
HELP SANTA HIDE PRESENTS FROM.
>>ING EYES.
>> GOSH, WHEN NEW PARENTS COME
IN AND WATCHING THEIR CHILDREN
GROW FROM NEWBORN TO TODDLERS,
YOU KNOW, TO GRADE SCHOOL, AND
THEY COME AND EVOLVE, AND IT'S
NEED TO SEE HOW THEIR MINDS
WORK, WHAT KIND OF TOYS THEY
GRAVITATE TO.
PARENTS COME IN AND THEY SAY WE
BOUGHT A MICROSCOPE HERE AND NOW
MY SON OR DAUGHTER IS INTO
SCIENCE AND THEY'RE PURSUING
THAT MAYBE IN COLLEGE.
THEY GOT THEIR START HERE IN OUR
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT.
THEN AS THOSE KIDS GROW UP, THEY
COME BACK WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR
OWN KIDS.
THEY WANT THEIR KIDS TO HAVE THE
SAME EXPERIENCE.
WE GET TO KNOW OUR FAMILIES VERY
WELL.
WE GET TO KNOW MOM AND DAD AND
BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND EVEN
THE FAMILY DOG WILL COME IN
SOMETIMES.
THAT'S REALLY NEAT.
>> WE JUST SAW A
THREE-GENERATION FAMILY HERE
OVER THE WEEKEND AND THEY WERE
INTRODUCING THE NEW GRANDBABY TO
THE STORE AND SAID "WE'LL BE
HERE MANY MORE TIMES."
ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES WAS
RIGHT AFTER JOHN AND I WATT THE
BUSINESS FROM HIS PARENTS, I WAS
WORKING AT THE -- IN THE OFFICE
WITH JOHN, AND DOWN BELOW US WAS
A LITTLE SOUND THAT CAME ACROSS
FROM A SMALL CHILD.
I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE BOY WHO
SAID, "WOW!"
I LOOKED AT JOHN AND HE SAID
THAT'S THE BEST PART OF THIS
JOB.
SO JUST -- IT'S THE PURE JOY
THAT COMES FROM WITNESSING THAT
ON A DAILY BASIS IS REALLY COOL.
>> FIND YOUR PERFECT SEASONAL
GIFT AT INDIANA'S FAVORITE TOY
STORE.
GET HOURS AND DIRECTIONS AT
BEECHES NO, SIR TOYSTATION.COM.
THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.
HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY.
ONCE AGAIN, ENJOY THE BAND AS
THEY GIVE US A SNEAK PEEK AT
THEIR NEW YEAR'S EVE
PERFORMANCE.
GOOD NIGHT!
[PLAYING "AULD LANG SYNE"]
PRODUCTION SUPPORT FOR "THE
WEEKLY SPECIAL" IS PROVIDED
BY...