Once in awhile, I like to find a picture that matches the date of when I post an article. It just so happened that this photo of the week appeared on the front page of the January 1, 1976 issue of The Romeo Observer - 50 years ago today.
It looks like Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer was hitting the gym at the time since he's pullling a team of tractors. Also, if you look closely, you can see Santa in the shovel loader behind the tractor team. But why? Santa had an explanation for that. He said, "Why go over the snow...when you can just as easily remove it."
This was a product display outside of the Romeo Ford Tractor Plant, which is now the Ford Romeo Engine Plant, along 32 Mile Road. The plant was hosting an open house for the public, employees, families, and friends the week prior, and the display was a part of the program. According to the article about the event, over 3,600 people attended with employees coming from Detroit, Brown City, Fenton, Lexington, and areas closer to Romeo. Entertainment included Christmas carols, a balloon man who twisted balloons into various animals, and Santa giving gifts to each child. Refreshments like pop, sandwiches, and cookies were also available.
Ford officials were pleased by the turnout and interest shown in the plant by the Romeoites. The plant had been turning out tractors since 1973, so it was good publicity for the company. Do you know who was also pleased with the event? Santa and Rudolph! Santa was happy to see all the children, and Rudolph confessed that a sleight of tractors was a lot cleaner than reindeer, but he still prefers the company of the latter.
I'm glad the Rudolph-tractor display was a big hit at the open house in 1975.
The Romeo Community Archives hopes that you have a great 2026!
To learn more about the Ford Romeo Engine Plant, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890. If you want to search for articles on that topic, you can find the Romeo newspapers like The Romeo Observer on the Suburban Library Cooperative's Local History Digital Collection website.
Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; Melvin E. and Joan D. Bleich Collection, The Romeo Observer, January 1, 1976, p.1-A