Scio Christmas has always been about community and joy

Though the village of Scio never hosted a traditional Christmas parade, the spirit of the season has long shone brightly, thanks in large part to the generosity and leadership of Scio Pottery President Lew Reese, whose influence is still seen in town during the holidays.

In the 1950s, when Scio Pottery was bustling at peak production, Christmastime brought excitement on a scale rarely seen in small-town Ohio. Reese, well loved by his employees and friends, made sure the season was nothing short of magical.

“My parents were close friends with him, and I remember stories and real events of this time,” longtime Scio resident Dee Horstman said. “Lew would have a passenger train on the Pennsylvania Railroad stop in Scio where he had all his employees and friends board the train for Pittsburgh to attend a grand party at the William Penn Hotel. At one party, the governor of Ohio, Frank Lauche, was there and spoke to the crowd.”

Women supervisors received fur coats, music and dancing filled the ballroom, and the banquet lasted late into the night. As dawn approached, the group boarded the train once more and returned to Scio — tired, full and dazzled by the experience.

Reese also ensured every employee received Christmas bonuses and small gifts, adding another layer of warmth to the season.

Even hardship couldn’t dim Scio’s Christmas spirit. In November 1947, a devastating fire swept through Scio Pottery, leaving many workers suddenly unemployed. With the future uncertain, holiday cheer seemed unlikely.

“Thinking Scio would not have much of a Christmas, the workers, townspeople and out-of-towners went to the pottery to help clean up after the fire. I have a newspaper clipping with photos at the museums, and its headline was, ‘Christmas comes to Scio after all,’” Horstman said.

That year, Scio’s holiday spirit became stronger than ever.

Reese’s civic involvement extended beyond the pottery doors. As founder of the Scio Civic Club, he helped guide one of its first major projects: financing Christmas lights and decorations for Main Street. The festive glow became a beloved symbol of the season.

Today, memories of those golden Christmases live on through photographs, menus and memorabilia preserved in the Scio Museum. Many families still treasure the iconic Scio Christmas plates featuring a holly design. These dishes appear on holiday tables across America, linking past and present with every Christmas meal.