When Santa Lived in Iowa is the inspirational true story of a man whose generosity and unselfish giving convinced several generations of children that he was Santa Claus, and in a very true sense, he was. Earl Joy Roberts acted as Santa Claus in Spencer, Iowa, for 35 years, from 1913 until his death in 1948. Driven by memories of his own childhood where he went without during the holidays, Joy took it on himself to ensure no children were forgotten at Christmas. He kept his own list, not of who was naughty or nice, but of needy children and families. Every Christmas he would make rounds delivering toys, food, and clothing to the less fortunate in Clay County. Many of the toys he distributed were built or refurbished in his own toyshops where he collected used and discarded toys, as well as warm clothing enthusiastically donated by a grateful community. He was one of Spencer's most beloved citizens and many children truly believed he was Santa Claus.
The story of Joy Roberts is more than just a Christmas story. Joy's history is the history of Spencer. His father was a pioneer resident who received land in the area under a soldier's claim thanks to his service in the Civil War. The Clay County Fair is Spencer's biggest attraction, and Joy was active in growing the fair from its inception, known for his unrivaled ability to sell tickets and promote the fair throughout the Midwest. His charitable work helped Spencer navigate two world wars and the Great Depression; and he was in the middle of the action during one of Spencer's best-known historical events, the Spencer Fire of 1931. Christmas was always his first love, however, and the reason his name still resonates in Spencer.
Today, there is a memorial plaque in his memory in Spencer, and residents still honor him by lighting the physical Tree of Joy and through the Spencer Jaycee's annual Tree of Joy toy drive. Many people in Spencer, however, have forgotten that "Joy" in the Tree of Joy refers to a person and not a holiday emotion. This book has been written in hopes of keeping the memory of Joy alive by telling his story to a new audience. It is a story that should not fade with history. Even the local museum in Spencer does not have a section on Joy to keep his memory alive. I have sought to correct that by sending them pictures and documents. It is my sincere hope that this book will do the rest.
