HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-12-20, Page 3•
Imektiow Sentinel, Wedneoday, Decerabor 20, 197$i-APage 3*
THE MOST FAMOUS RESIDENT in the town of Santa Claus,
Indiana, population 300, -is Santa Claus himself who re-
ceives well over 100,000 letters annually from children
across the country and around the world. As Santa Claus
in costume and Jim Yellig out of it, a 42 -year career has
been devoted to making sure letters are answered.
Letters to 'Santa'
Overflow Mailbox
There's something special
about Santa Claus in a small
southern Indiana town where
the famous Christmas legend
has become somewhat of .an
everyday reality.
This town with a popula-
tion of about 300 year-round
residents, and a family of
deer, is the jolly old gent's
namesake home - Santa
Claus, Indiana - as well as
the home of his helpers, and
the location of his overflow-
ing mailbox.
A unique landmark in
Santa Claus is the U.S. Post
Office near the intersection
of Indiana highways 162 and
245, and next to the entrance
to Santa Claus Land.
There is nowhere in the
world where you can find a
post office lire this one. Its
architecture is that of a
stone -fronted fairyland castle
in design and while the
community has but slightly
• more than 300 year-round
residents this post office
each year is flooded with
about four million pieces of
mail. The bulk of all this mail
comes around Christmas
time to receive the cherished
Santa Claus- postmark. Still
others arrive addressed sim-
ply to "Santa Claus, 47579".
Letters addressed to "San-
ta Claus" represent the tens
of thousands of children's
"want fists that foretell
visions of Christmas morn-
ing, •promise cookies and
milk, and extend best wishes
4
to Santa, Mrs. Claus, and
Rudolph. And, to the delight
of children everywhere, all of
these letters receive an an-
swer from Santa Claus.
This unique practice dates
back to the late 1920s when
Robert L. Ripley popularized
the town by featuring it in an
article in his "Believe It Or
Not" column. After the
article appeared, mail began
to mushroom, especially let-
ters addressed to "Santa
Claus".
Tourists with children also
started to arrive and make
visits tO"the post office with
their. Christmas mail, follow-
ing the steps of Ripley who
also sent his Christmas,cards
through the office here as
proof that there was indeed a
Santa Claus - as verified by
the postmark. For over 40
years, children have met
Santa himself, played by
Raymond Joseph "Jim" Yel-
lig.
Besides taking up the role
of Santa Claus at the Santa
Claus Post Office in the early
'1930s, Yellig aiso embarked
on a project that now involv-
es much of the community of
the Santa Claus, Ind. area.
He noticed that the incoming
letters were being stored
away because there were too
many for the postmaster of
the day to answer and took
pen in hand, along with his
wife, to make sure children
who cared enough about
Santa Claus were answered.
For the kids to make
baker's dough ornaments
Bakers' dough ornaments are a delight for
children to make and paint at Christmas.
Santas, carollers and animals grow out of
their imaginations in the brightest of
colours. Materials: 7 hairpins, cookie sheet,
oven, bakers' clay: 4 cups of flour, 1 cup of
salt, 11/2 cups water; covered bowl or plastic
bag, acrylic or plastic paint, brushes,
varnish.
Instructions: .(Note: Ornaments are not
edible.)
Mix baker's clay and knead thoroughly
until clay consistency is reached. Keep in
tightly covered bowl or plastic • bag,
removing pieces only as nteded.
Each ornament is formed beginning with
the following basic shapes, with movement
and design varying according to character.
Make.each ornament about four inches high.
Use pictures of figures you wish to make as
guide for shaping of figures and accessories.
When attaching shapes together, moisten
the added piece slightly on surface that will
touch body. Form ornaments on cookie
sheet.
Arms and legs: Roll to 11/2 inches long.
Body: Make a bell shape.
Hair: Roll small balls for curls, small ball
for bun and make flat pieces.
Nose: Tiny ball.
Eyes: Poke holes with head of pin.
Mouth: Carve with bowl edge of spoon.
Insert hairpin into head with % inch
extending out. Bake at 350 for one hour. Let
cool. Paint ornaments, referring to the
pictures for colour and detail. Varnish each
thoroughly on all sides to preserve. Store in
a dry place, avoiding dampnes.,
OY CO Cb€ WORLD
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To all the bright melodious
messages of Tliristmas title
to abb a Imam of appreciation
for gum hinki friettbstlip.
GERRIE GLENN INC.
GERRIE AND BERNICE
ANGELA, ARLETTA, ANDREW, AMY JO
stocking be
filled with all
MARY
LOU'S
BEAUTY
LOUNGE
ay- the -happy
musie'of Christmas
fill all your days
with harmOng.
is a joyous note
we say thanks.
PORTER'S SEPTIC TANKS
•L
Greetings for
a Christmas,.
decorated
with -fun and
laughter.
Thanks all.
May all the good
things Christmas has
in store be yours
peace, joy and serenity. We are
forever 'grateful for your kindness.