Picture perfect holidays from Chattanooga, TN

scary santa 1964

This (absolutely horrifying) Santa rides shotgun in Chattanooga Police squad car in 1964 | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

Table of Contents

Ebenezer Scrooge here. All I have to say about 2020 is, “bah humbug.”

Just kidding, but we are going to have a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past this morning — past pictures that is. Chattanooga has a few holiday photos worth a share to remember the good times of togetherness + the holidays of years long past.

Pictures hold a lot of memories, including everything from the good, the bad, and the downright holly jolly. Let’s see what Chattanooga looked like in previous years around the holidays.

market street 1950 SS

A view of holiday lights on Market Street in 1950. | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Paul Heiner collection

savlation army 1951

Volunteers with the Salvation Army celebrate in 1951 | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

market street 1951

Market Street during the holidays in 1951 | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

1951 lions club lookout

A 1952 tree sale with the Lookout Valley Lions Club | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

santa 1954

Children pose with “Santa” in 1954, who clearly didn’t quite convince the boy on the far right | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

decorating 1958

Children help decorate a small tree at Signal Mountain Baptist Church in 1958 | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

Singing 1959

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” A group sings carols in 1959 | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

Teens:tweens 1959

A group of teens + tweens attend a holiday party in 1959 | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

market 1959

Another view of Market Street, this time in 1959 looking north from 9th and Market streets | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

nativity 1963

An outdoor Christmas display with reindeer and a nativity in 1963 | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press collection

salvation army 63

A Salvation Army wishing well in 1963 | Photo via Picnooga

market street 64

A view of Market Street in 1964 during the holidays | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Times Free Press collection

scary santa 1964

This (absolutely horrifying) Santa rides shotgun in Chattanooga Police squad car in 1964 | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

teachers 1965

Students help their teacher decorate a Christmas tree in 1965 | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

Even Santa Clause can see the 7 states from Lookout Mountain. This photograph was taken around 1990 in Rock City.

Santa at Rock City in about 1990 | Photo via the Chattanooga Public Library, Chattanooga Times Free Press

Poll

More from NOOGAtoday