‘Boat’ is a fun fundraiser for Boy Scout Troop 799
Published in the Nov. 26 – Dec. 9, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Marty Cheek
Photo courtesy Boy Scout Troop 799
Santa Claus and his Boy Scout helpers stand in front of the Magic Ship of Christmas prior to the 2013 holiday parade through downtown Morgan Hill.
At the very end of the annual downtown Holiday Parade Saturday Dec. 6, Santa Claus will ride down Monterey Road on the colorfully decorated Magic Ship of Christmas to the delight children of all ages. The ship will end its yuletide “voyage” at the Community and Cultural Center where the jolly old elf will assist Mayor Steve Tate in a count down to light Morgan Hill’s holiday tree.
For four decades, the Magic Ship of Christmas has been a fun community tradition for local residents, appearing at shopping centers, schools, retirement homes and private functions. Born as a 1963 Studebaker Lark, the vehicle made its transition into a 35-foot boat for a parade in Fremont in the 1970s. The body was cut off and a pseudo-Spanish galleon was placed on the chassis frame.
After its first appearance, the Magic Ship was placed in a field where for several years it deteriorated from the weather. Then the magic really happened. A scout master with Morgan Hill Troop 799 and Venture Crew 799 discovered it and he and the scouts brought it back to a prime condition where it could once again delight people during the holiday season.
“This year is the 40th anniversary for the Magic Ship of Christmas serving Morgan Hill,” said Richard Sweatt, assistant scout master with Troop 799. “The Magic Ship has become a tradition that adds to the charm of our community.”
The Magic Ship is operated as a community service project by the Boy Scouts of Troop 799 with the support of the Morgan Hill Kiwanis Club, he said. Every year, it becomes a unique part of Morgan Hill’s Christmas tradition as it rolls through the community bringing Santa to various locations and creating smiles on the faces of children in the Morgan Hill area.
“The ship spends several weeks during the holiday season sailing about town bringing cheer to local businesses, Christmas parties, rest homes, neighborhoods and day care centers,” Sweatt said. “Many long-time residents remember it from their own childhoods, and now share the tradition with their children and grandchildren.”
Photo courtesy Boy Scout Troop 799
Santa Claus and his helpers prepare the Magic Ship of Christmas before a recent parade.
Children can board the ship to visit with Santa and are given a candy cane and small toy at no cost. The Boy Scouts also provide a photograph of the children with Santa for a nominal donation if their parents want a memento of the visit.
“We have been told by enthusiastic and supportive residents of Morgan Hill what a special and enjoyable part of their own childhood memories of Christmas holiday experiences the Magic Ship of Christmas has provided,” Sweatt said. “And they are also able to share these memories and experiences with new generations of their families and friends in the community.”
The Magic Ship of Christmas also brings joy to the Morgan Hill community in the annual Fourth of July parade through the downtown as well as the downtown Safe Night Halloween celebration in the haunted Pirates Cove organized in past years by the Morgan Hill Kiwanis Club. It also takes Santa and Boy Scouts troop members to visit residents in the senior assisted living and retirement centers in Morgan Hill, said Chris Colly, Troop 799 scoutmaster.
“Maybe the residents don’t have family who visit them so we try to bring the spirit of Christmas into their lives,” he said. “It’s really about doing that and sharing the friendship of the season.”
The Boy Scouts troop also takes the Magic Ship for visits to neighborhoods where the residents might be struggling financially, he said.
“A lot of times in the community we have cases where some families are not so well off and they can’t afford to go to the shopping malls and pay for their children to see Santa, and so this is a good way for them to have that opportunity,” he said.
In addition to the city parades and events, the Magic Ship of Christmas also provides Santa visiting and photo experiences for family activities, private company events, and many public greeting times at businesses like the Morgan Hill Library, Mountain Mike’s Pizza, Betsy’s Restaurant, Baskin Robbins, Red Robins, Fro-Yo, Chili’s, Grinds Vines and Automobilia Café, and the San Martin Christmas Tree Farm.
“The Magic Ship of Christmas is happy to provide many children in the Morgan Hill community with a completely free experience to visit with Santa,” Sweatt said. “They can tell him exactly what they really want for Christmas – and we can even let the parents in on the information.”
The Magic Ship of Christmas brings benefits to the Scouts of Troop 799 as well, he said. The scouts experience the act of serving and supporting the residents of the Morgan Hill community, especially the children and seniors. They learn public speaking skills, volunteer management, public safety and crowd control, business practices and entrepreneurship, and community service. The scouts also learn business and leadership skills as the operating crew for the events.
“As far as the parade is concerned, they’re giving something to the community and they enjoy being a part of that,” Colly said. “They work with the parade and collect garbage and take down signs for the parade. It’s all about the community service.”
The Magic Ship of Christmas is available for party and special event rentals and Troop 799 is scheduling its 2014 calendar now. Money raised helps Troop 799 with its community projects throughout the year, Sweatt said.
“The Magic Ship of Christmas is a special part of Morgan Hill’s holiday traditions,” he said. “It is really touching to pilot the ship through town to our events and to witness the outpouring of support and the smiles we leave on people’s faces. Cars pull off to the side, people roll their windows down and wave, honk their horns, and shout, cheer, and smile.”
CHRISTMAS PARADE
When: 6 p.m. Dec. 6
Where: Monterey Road, downtown
Details: Anyone who might be interested in having the Magic Ship of Christmas come to their home, community even, or company event can call (408) 782-4031 or e-mail [email protected]. Those who wish to make a donation to support the holiday tradition can mail a check made payable to “Magic Ship of Christmas/BSA Troop 799” to Magic Ship of Christmas, P.O. Box 1597, Morgan Hill, CA 95038-1597. The troop also provides an option to make a donation using PayPal through its website at www.MagicShipOfChristmas.org.
