Keep tradition of writing letters to Santa alive

I heard an item on the radio a couple of weeks ago that said that rather than old-fashioned letters to Santa, some of today’s youth (being much more adept at technology than … say … me) are now using PowerPoint presentations to compile their Christmas gift lists.

While this arguably makes for a more efficient shopping experience for Santa, it cuts out an important historic link for our newspapers.

For generations, many kids’ letters to Santa have been routed through their closest newspaper on their way to the North Pole.

It’s a long-standing tradition that not only allows us to get a glimpse of the trends of the day, but captures sweet moments in time.

A couple of the earliest I could find in Roosevelt County newspapers appeared in 1926.

The first, from “your little friend, Maxine Swafford,” asked Santa for a “baby doll and a story book and a fingernail file and ink and an ink pen.”

The second, penned to Santa by Guy Holmes of Elida, was succinct and to the point.

“Dear Santa,” Guy wrote. “I have been a good boy. I want two pairs of long pants and a belt, and I want them to be blue.”

When Norene Talley of Rogers wrote her letter to Santa in 1932, she acknowledged the ongoing depression.

“I know times are hard so I won’t ask for much,” young Norene wrote. “I just want a little doll, some candy, nuts, and oranges.”

That same year, in a short letter signed only, “A friend,” another Roosevelt County youngster wrote, “I want you to bring me a pair of rubber overshoes, size 1.”

Going back through the years, plenty of kids have picked up that pen or pencil or crayon and written on behalf of their siblings.

In 1948, Tommy Mullins let Santa know that he wanted “a basketball and two goals and a pump,” and added, “My brother wants a cap gun and a set of crayolas. My sister wants a record.”

Possibly hoping to be rewarded for his thoughtfulness, Tommy concluded with this line: “I forgot to tell you that I want about five pounds of candy and be sure to bring plenty of nuts.”

In 1955, the Brown family of Portales – Glenda, Eva, Carolyn, and Wesley – collaborated, requesting “two baby dolls and a walking doll and a little stove and a Jungle Jim and a ball and a tractor and a Bible – and some candy and some apples and some oranges.”

In 1962, Evangeline Velasquez wrote that she was hoping for “a Smarty Sue, a Ben Casey doll, a piano, and a Thumbelina doll.”

Evangeline promised to leave Santa “some cake, candy, and hot coffee on the table,” but turned up the heat in her post script where she added, “I will like you lots more if you will bring me everything I want.”

That same year Steven Hartley took a softer touch.

“I will leave you some candy and milk,” Steven wrote in his letter. “Leave me what you want to.”

In 1965, John Lees offered Santa some gift-giving options, but made it clear what was priority one.

“I want a Secret Sam, a t.v., a pair of boots, a billfold, and another plant for my room,” John wrote. “But most of all I want a Puppy. It may be a lot but I don’t care what I get as long as I get a Puppy.”

I hope he did.

While I have no memory of this uncharacteristically generous act, it appears that in 1968, I wrote a letter for my younger brother, Gary.

I was 7 and he was 5 and he gave me credit.

“My name is Gary,” his letter began, “My sister wrote this letter for me.”

(Oh, wait. I clearly gave myself credit.)

“Gary wants the Boys World Thingmaker,” I would have carefully printed. “He also wants Go Go the Burro and the whole set of Johnny West. He wants one more if you don’t mind. It’s Green Ghost.”

I looked up all of those toys and it appears that we scored. Except maybe on the Green Ghost. Santa might have taken a pass on that one.

I wonder if I demanded a percentage of the loot for my role.

My bet is yes.

Keep on writing letters to Santa, kids.

I’ll like you lots more if you do.

Betty Williamson wishes Merry Christmas to all, and warm puppies to those who asked. Reach her at:

[email protected]