Where do you think the letters your kids write to Santa Clause go? Not many parents know and I suppose that most parents don’t even know where the destination of those letters. It was 1852 and the Christmas Eve church service had just concluded. Being that the whole town was present, it was a good time to hold the final town meeting of the year. For years, this small town in Spencer County of southern Indiana, founded in the late 1840′s, had been known as the “nameless town.” This was simply because the settlers, of mostly German descent, could not decide on a name.
All were gathered around the pot-bellied stove, including the children were included in the most important town meetings. As the frustrating discussion of naming the town continued, a chilly December gust blew open the wooden doors of this small log church, and it was the adults who fell silent as the youngsters came to life. With a magical scene of snowflakes glistening on black velvet, mysterious sleigh bells were heard through the picture-framed doorway. It was then the children, almost in one, simultaneous voice exclaimed, “Santa Claus, it’s Santa Claus!”
Over 150 years ago, on one Christmas Eve, the little nameless town finally got its name. Santa Claus, Indiana as it is still named to this day. This small town of just over 2,000 residents is all about Christmas. The holiday spirit year-round is very evident from the town’s name to the names on the street signs, as well as witnessing the town’s village décor.
Hundreds of thousands of letters arrive at the town’s small post office each and every Christmas season. In fact, this post office handles more mail, many times over, during the holidays than it does all other months combined! These letters, often inscribed in crayon but with the utmost sincerity, have but one name addressed on the envelope’s face, Santa Clause, that is.