Jeanerette residents can enjoy the return of a Christmas tradition this year as the famous “Mr. Borel’s Santa” has made its return to the city.

The robotic Santa, originally built in the 1950s by Joseph “Lu-Lu” Borel, was a well-known holiday attraction in Jeanerette, attracting scores of Christmas lovers to watch the robot walk, wave and ring bells up and down its track.

This year, Santa has made his return to Jeanerette, taking up his post on the front porch of Randy and Gisele Sherville.

The triumphant return of Santa wasn’t without hurdles. Originally built in 1956, the robot was in desperate need of care and maintenance after over six decades of use and storage. Four Jeanerette residents (Randy Sherville, Bob and Sammy Holbrook and Jim Farmer) joined forces to bring the six-foot marvel back to life.

Holbrook detailed the account in his own writings, including both the successes and failures necessary in getting the machine back in working order.

“First thing we had to do was clean, lube and strip years of rust and gunk off of everything,” he wrote. “The process took a while. Then came the wiring! This was a custom-made machine of the late 50’s, and had been rewired several times.’ Thankfully, Sammy had worked on the wiring of the Santa twenty years earlier and he remembered the sequencing. A Christmas miracle! Jim Farmer took the lead rebuilding parts from scratch, recreating a multi-function pulley ramp, lift pins for the head nod and a hand actuator to drive Santa’s wave. It all had to be custom re-made and Jim pulled it off, as if his hand were guided by the spirit of Lulu Borel himself.”

Holbrook and the rest of the team spent hours upon hours getting Mr. Borel’s Santa back to the condition of their youth, including adding new clothes and jingle bells.

“After over 100 Santa man hours the man of steel (and plastic, rubber and wire) was ready for the test which he passed with flying colors (but no clothes). Ho-ho-ho! Mr. Borel’s Santa was ready to go-go-go… Team Borel has rebuilt Mr. Borel’s Santa and with it, restored a piece of Jeanerette, Louisiana’s Holiday history.

The Santa didn’t just mean a lot to Sherville and Holbrook. As one of Jeanerette’s longest holiday traditions, the robot has earned a place in the memories of thousands of residents and tourists alike.

Across Facebook, Jeanerette natives recounted their memories.

Jennifer Hebert said Santa was something to look forward to each year.

“Oh my gosh. It was what we all looked forward to as children growing up during Christmas time,” she said. “Vehicles would line Main Street with windows down as they passed his house slowly to listen to the music, hear Santa say ‘Ho Ho Ho’ and pace the front porch.”

Norma Dubois relayed similar memories.

“I will always remember parking in front and watching it walking back and forth, just ringing his bell. Best childhood memories, plus Mrs. Fremin’s house, just so beautiful.”

Lyle LeJeune said that his memories of Mr. Borel’s Santa include building a replica of his own.

“My grandmother lived directly across the street from Mr. Borel, so I’d go ‘visit’ Santa in person very often. I was always intrigued at how he worked. I built a replica of this one in 2000, although not mechanical, and display him under my porch every year. Fun fact, during the offseason Mr. Borel would dress him up as a man named Moses in his backyard, and if you stepped on a plate in front of him, he’d shake your hand. There were other inventions he created in his backyard as well, great memories I’ll cherish forever!”

Penny Derise said that Mr. Borel’s Santa came to symbolize the arrival of Christmas itself.

“Oh the memories! My mom and dad brought me and my sister every year to see it,” she said. “I can actually still picture their smiles especially my dad’s because he was as excited as we were to see it! Seeing that Santa was what symbolized Christmas was coming in my eyes at that age. Both of my parents are gone but those wonderful memories live on in me!”

Santa is already back up and running, just without a voice. Holbrook and his team will be working to get one installed soon, but in the meantime anyone wishing to see Santa march and wave can witness it at the Shervilles residence, located at 408 Ramona St.

Having a piece of his childhood on his own porch has meant a lot to Randy Sherville. With Santa in a new location, he considered renaming it to “Randy’s Santa”, but decided against the idea.

“He’ll always be Mr. Borel’s Santa Clause,” Sherville said.