| In anticipation of the most magical time of year, a | | | | log church, and it was the adults who fell silent as |
| child poetically articulates on paper exactly what | | | | the youngsters came to life. With a magical scene |
| she wants for Christmas, pleading her case as to | | | | of snowflakes glistening on black velvet, |
| why she overwhelmingly deserves everything for | | | | mysterious sleigh bells were heard through the |
| which she is asking. Then, with the greatest of | | | | picture-framed doorway. It was then the children, |
| care, she places her magical letter into an | | | | almost in one, simultaneous voice exclaimed, |
| envelope, writes "To Santa Claus" on the face, | | | | "Santa Claus, it's Santa Claus!" |
| attaches the postage stamp Mom gave her to | | | | It was so...one Christmas Eve, over 150 years |
| use, and carries it to the mailbox. Then, of course, | | | | ago, the little nameless town finally got its name. |
| the mail carrier grabs the letter and off it goes. | | | | Santa Claus, Indiana as it is still named to this day. |
| Well, to little Abigail who wrote the letter, there is | | | | As you may have guessed, this small town of |
| no question as to where the letter is | | | | just over 2,000 residents is all about Christmas. |
| heading...Santa Claus, of course. But would you be | | | | From the town's name to the names on the |
| surprised if I told you that little Abigail is most | | | | street signs, as well as witnessing the town's |
| likely exactly right? | | | | village décor, the holiday spirit year-round |
| It was 1852 and the Christmas Eve church | | | | is very evident. |
| service had just concluded. Being that the whole | | | | Each and every Christmas season, hundreds of |
| town was present, it was a good time to hold the | | | | thousands of letters arrive at the town's small |
| final town meeting of the year. You see, for | | | | post office. In fact, this post office handles more |
| years, this small town in Spencer County of | | | | mail, many times over, during the holidays than it |
| southern Indiana, founded in the late 1840's, had | | | | does all other months combined! These letters, |
| been known as the "nameless town." This was | | | | often inscribed in crayon but with the utmost |
| simply because the settlers, of mostly German | | | | sincerity, have but one name addressed on the |
| descent, could not decide on a name. | | | | envelope's face. Yeah, you guessed it...Santa Claus. |
| All were gathered around the pot-bellied stove, | | | | So, this holiday season when your child or |
| including the children...although quiet and not really | | | | grandchild asks you for a postage stamp so that |
| participating, were included in the most important | | | | they can mail their heart-felt message to Santa |
| town meetings. As the frustrating discussion of | | | | Claus, you can honestly agree that their letters will |
| naming the town continued, a chilly December | | | | most likely find its intended destination... |
| gust blew open the wooden doors of this small | | | | |