The musical Little Gnomes have been a Christmas tradition in Petaluma since the 1950's. The originator of the Little Gnomes was Brad Datson, and I was with him when he came up with the idea of forming the group. Datson was an unusual man with an abundance of energy, and I'll always remember his enthusiasm when he founded the group that eventually became Petaluma's long-established musical Christmas marching band.

The original members were composed of well-known Petalumans. John Olmsted was the musical coordinator, and the legendary Judge Rolland Webb used to laugh and say, "I'm their legal advisor and singer of songs." They ranged from "Danny Boy" and "Jingle Bells" to "Silent Night."

Robert E. Brunner, local insurance man and Minority Leader, marched with the group and so did organ player Earle Bond. Datson encouraged colorful Petalumans like Hank Andresen, Ray "Hideaway" Wilson, Coach Hi Jennings, Mayor Leland Myers and a wide variety of Petaluma merchants to join the early Christmas Marches.

It was Datson who bought the first Little Gnomes jackets. Datson not only bought all the jackets for the early Little Gnomes, he also designed them. He also purchased the drum that sent booming sounds to Petaluma, first during the Christmas season and then on into many festive occasions.

At first Datson called the group the Little Gnomes. He was then inspired to add the name Leprechauns because of the wee little man named Tommy Shields who was known to many as the Petaluma Leprechaun.

It was Datson who first thought of the idea of entertaining at rest homes, a tradition the Little Gnomes carried on for years.

The Little Gnomes Christmas marches raised thousands of dollars for different charities. It was Datson who started this charity fund raising by making the first donation.

The Little Gnomes stopped and sang and made music at most of the stores in Petaluma. Local bars such as Andresen's, Volpi's and the Hideaway were pit stops for the members. When they left the bars, many of the customers left with them and joined the march that in past years had hundreds of non-members marching too.

Datson used to say, "We have a wonderful time spreading the Christmas spirit, and while doing so raising money for some wonderful causes."

There are many sidebars about the Little Gnomes, and here are a few of them:
While marching down Kentucky Street, they encountered a man pushing a piano. The man rolled the piano into Andresen's Western Avenue Tavern and said, "It's yours," and he was never seen again by Datson and the Little Gnomes. As far as I know the piano is still there.

Another one of the unusual happenings, when Datson headed the Little Gnomes, was a masked person who proved to be a very fine singer and did a ancy tap dancing routine as he marched down Kentucky Street. The tap dancer disappeared, and although Datson tried to find his identity, he failed to do so. The appearance of the tap dancer added a shroud of mystery to the group. Talking about the tap dancer, Datson said, "He added a touch of excitement to the march."

Hank Andresen, who headed Petaluma's colorful and once powerful Western Avenue Rover Boys, became the official party giver for the Gnomes and then-City Manager Ed Frank joined the group.

Upon retiring, Datson made the late Charles Hodges the leader of the Gnomes, and Hodges, along with people like Bill Symons, carried on the tradition that was started by Datson. After Hodges died Jack Sinclair took over. Later Fred Katen led the group.

The Little Gnomes made more Christmas marches than any musical group in the history of Petaluma.

I'll long remember Datson telling me, when we first talked about forming the group that became known as Petaluma's Little Gnomes, Leprechaun and Chowder Marching Society, "I hope the group will create a lot of fun in Petaluma, enjoy themselves and never forget the true spirit of Christmas."

I think Andresen summed it up best when he said, "Brad started a group, without any sponsors, that brought a unique Christmas spirit to Petaluma, and while so doing had a good time."

Andresen continued, "They gave of their time, helped people who need assistance and that's why Brad Datson should be honored as one of Petaluma's all-time colorful and great citizens." Having started out with the Gnomes with Datson, I agree with what Andresen had to say.

One of the first ladies to join the Little Gnomes was Petaluma's late Mayor and Supervisor Helen Putnam.

Walter Jeltch, who played the accordion for the Little Gnomes, kept track of their activities after moving back to his native Germany.

Since its founding by Datson, there have been many members who helped carry on the tradition of the founder. Although plans for a plaque to founder Datson were talked about, they never materialized.

Datson's Little Gnomes have survived the population explosion in Petaluma, the changing political scene, and they gave Petaluma a special flavor of Christmas, and hopefully the Little gnomes will overcome rumors they may become a page from Petaluma's past.

The Little Gnomes are now a five-decade organization in Petaluma. I do hope they will fulfill Datson's dream by playing at the turn-of-the-century celebration.

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