Annette Pfannebecker: Season of giving

The spirit of Christmas came early this year. It arrived in a car and a tall man with white hair and a white beard knocking at my door. Hello, he said, my name is Peter Thomas. Years ago your children wrote letters to Santa and I am here to give you copies of these letters. There they were, a clear plastic cover and cover sheet bordered by a wreath with red ribbons with our family name and the years the letters were sent, all held together in a binding.

I looked up as time had stopped and the years had rolled by. Years ago children could write letters to Santa and take them to the Old Deerfield post office. Then a letter would appear in our mailbox from Santa. Peter explained the letters were written by Betty Hollingsworth, who was business manager at the high school from 1963 to 1994. She wrote these letters for 56 years until the program ended — and 564 letters written by kids were given to Peter Thomas.

Peter researched who was in town and where the letters could be returned as well as digitizing all these letters which will be archived at the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Library. Peter is also the person who digitized all the old records in town which are now safely housed in the library.

I was deeply touched to receive these letters and memories. Santa came early this year and he looks like Peter Thomas. Peter is still actively involved in archiving the history of our town.

Annette Pfannebecker

South Deerfield