Woodward's Tower Christmas Ornament

If you’re over a certain age, you might remember the festive Christmas window displays at Woodward’s, often featuring an animatronic Santa Claus. If you’re like me, every once in a while, the $1.49 Day jingle from their radio and TV commercials suddenly pops into your brain: “Dollar forty-nine day, Tuesday. Dollar forty-nine day, Woodward’s.”

For those unfamiliar, Woodward’s Stores Ltd was a department store chain that operated in Alberta and British Columbia for over one hundred years before it ceased operations in 1993. The downtown Vancouver building—the flagship store—was eventually demolished in 2006 to make room for housing complexes and new businesses. In 2010, the original W sign was relocated to the grounds outside the new Woodward’s building and a replica tower and LED-illuminated W was reinstalled atop the complex, restoring a beloved landmark to the Vancouver skyline.

Did you know?

• The tower for the original 1944 Woodward’s sign was a replica of the Eiffel Tower.

• Prior to 1944, the Woodward’s building sported a searchlight beacon that could be seen at night from as far away as Abbotsford and Mission. Once World War II started, it was shut down to avoid it being used as a landmark for enemy attacks.4.5 inches (11.5 cm) tall X

Ornament details:

My Woodward’s ornament is 4.5 inches tall and is made entirely of blown-glass. The warm red W on top is outlined with orange to hint at the neon glow of the original sign. What’s special about this ornament is that you can see through the clear glass between the tower supports, and between the arms of the W. Also, it’s blown from the bottom, so it’s possible to use the ornament as a tree-topper on an artificial tree with a slim top.

Size: 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) tall X 2 inches (5 cm) wide X 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep