TONAWANDA, NY - As the calendar page flips to December, the Christmas carols begin to dominate the airwaves, and holiday flair appears around the neighborhood, travelers along Sheridan Drive are also greeted by a familiar face.
For more nearly three decades, Paul Bunyan has stood watch over the Arida Christmas Tree lot at Anderson's Custard. It is a part of holiday tradition in the northtowns. A tradition that brings back even deeper memories for Tom Arida, who owns the business. "Well there were seven of us, seven boys and we grew up wanting to go to Crystal Beach. It was the best time of the year."
Arida remembered that Paul Bunyan was the first thing you would see when you arrived at Crystal Beach.
So, when the park closed in 1989, Tom's brother went to the public auction and bought as many pieces of the park as possible, including, you guessed it, Bunyan.
Tom's brother passed away a decade ago, and each year, when the holidays come around, Paul Bunyan emerges in the parking lot of Anderson's Custard on Sheridan Drive , he stands as a tribute to Tom's brother and memories of a special place and time.