Target Village - You are Now in Bedford Falls Sign

This sign welcomes you to the warm village of Bedford Falls. It also tells George Bailey that he has returned from Pottersville.

Target Village - The Bedford Falls Bus

This bus was one of the first pieces I got from the Target collection. I didn't know this village set existed the year it came out until I opened the gifts under the Christmas tree. I believe this is the very first piece I opened.

The bus can be seen in the opening scene of the film as people pray, and it travels across the screen.

We find out during the run on the bank that Potter owns the bus line.

Target Village - Mr. Gower

Mr. Gower is a hard-working, caring resident of Bedford Falls who has a tendency toward alcoholism. If given bad enough news and the right opportunity, Mr. Gower can spiral into the depths of alcohol that can lead to deadly decisions and unfortunate consequences, if it weren't for his very own guardian angel, George Bailey.

Target Village - Travel Agency of Bedford Falls

George doesn't get his travel brochures from just anywhere. He gets them at the travel agency.

The side of the box reads, "Even as a child, George Bailey dreamed of travel and exploring the world. George often lingered in front of the travel agency and read the posters and dreamt about the places he would visit. He planned to tour Europe right after college. Alas, he would never buy his ticket to Europe; fate saw to that."

This is the last building in my collection.

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Target Village - The Bedford Falls Record Shop

The record shop can only be seen in the background, and I'm not even sure exactly where it is in Bedford Falls. But it's the best place to go get the newest tunes, including "Buffalo Gal".

The side of the box reads, "This was the favorite spot for young and old alike. They could purchase the latest popular music, or the grandest classics. Mary purchased the hit record, Buffalo Gal, from this very store. She played it for George on her old victrola (sic). It turned out to be 'their song'."

But first they needed to buy a second copy after she destroyed her first one.

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Target Village - Potter's Mill

This building is huge. It is one of the three largest buildings in this collection.

In the film, it can kind of be seen in the background when the Martini family moves out of Potter's Field.

The side of the box reads, "Bedford Falls is named after the waterfall on the Bedford River. It is the falls that created the industry that gave the town its life. The old sawmill and lumber supply was the beginning of the Potter family fortune. The mill still provides jobs for many of the immigrant families who have settled in bedford Falls over the decades."

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Target Village - Bedford Falls Post Office

It is my firm belief that all of the buildings that were part of the Target village either actually appeared in It's a Wonderful Life, or were at least referred to in the film. But the post office is one that stumps me. I don't recall a reference to it, but I also don't remember ever seeing it in the background of any of the scenes.

There are several very large buildings in this collection, and the post office is one of the largest three.

The side of the box reads, "The people of Bedford Falls knew they were a city of some substance when the new Post Office was built just after World War I. Located near the railway station, it has been a link between Bedford Falls and the rest of the world. During World War II, just recently over, it was the center of activity in the town."

Well look at that, the box gives me a clue for where to look. It's amazing that in all of the years of owning this collection, I have never read the building descriptions on any of these boxes.

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Target Village - The Bedford Falls Police Station

I bought the police station and the police car from someone I met online after these buildings were no longer available in stores. The police station is located at the end of Genessee Street next to City Hall.

The side of the box reads, "In the sleepy town of Bedford Falls, a good cop is never far off. In fact, one always seemed just around the corner or down the street. And whenever George Bailey was in trouble, he'd turn to Bert, the truest, bluest cop on the force."

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Target Village - The Bedford Falls Sentinel News

I can't say for sure if I have ever seen the Bedford Falls Sentinel news building in the background of the film, but I know we have all seen its product. The newspaper, combined with pride, are the two ingredients that get Uncle Billy and George in a heap of financial trouble. Additionally, a reporter and a photographer are waiting for George when he returns from the Pottersville sequence.

The side of the box reads, "The proud daily newspaper of Bedford Falls and the greater Bedford County region, the Sentinel has covered the comings and goings of all Bedford Falls for more than a century. This stately building proclaims the newspaper's importance to the whole community. The banner headline of the Sentinel on Christmas Eve shouts 'President Decorates Harry Bailey' in honor of Harry's return as a war hero."

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