An unattributed article in the December 25, 1931 issue of the Arizona Blade Tribune describes Florence's first public Christmas celebration.
The year was 1884 and a party for the children of the town was being held at the new grammar school. Excitement reigned as the kids were told that Santa Clause would visit. A giant Christmas tree that reached the ceiling was decorated with strings of popcorn, Christmas candies, glass ornaments, Christmas candles, and masses of cotton on the top to represent snow on the tree's branches.
Santa arrived in his red suit with white cotton around his waist, collar and cuffs and a big white snowy beard. Santa visited with the children and just as he was ready to distribute presents, someone shouted "Fire". The candles on the Christmas tree had ignited the cotton on the Christmas tree and it in turn ignited Santa's cotton belt.
Confusion and chaos ruled the scene. Parents hunted for their children. Many stampeded for the door. Some jumped out of the windows. The older boys "as older boys will do" ran for the Christmas candy and fruit and even snatched some of the presents. The fire was brought under control and everyone calmed down. "The children were saved and the building received little injury" but many of the parents vowed to never let their children attend again. The man in the Santa suit, Hinson Thomas, apparently was in the hospital for several months and the building did have a burn scar on the east windows as a reminder of Florence's first public Christmas celebration.
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