You can find all kinds of things at the Revelstoke Museum & Archives and one of the more interesting things on display in the second-floor hallway is the following set of letters written in 1934 by local-area children to Santa Claus.
According to Museum Curator Cathy English, the letters to Santa were from the children at the one-room Craigellachie School in 1934. The letters were found in the walls of the home at 403 Mackenzie Avenue and were written by kids planning for their Christmas concert on Dec. 19. All of the youngsters were expecting Santa Claus to be there. They were donated to Revelstoke Museum and Archives by the current homeowner.
If you’d like a truly festive seasonal smile (please note that the spelling and punctuation have been kept in their original form) please keep reading:
Dear Santa;
For the last few weeks I’ve been trying to make up my mind what I want you to bring me when you come to see our concert. I’ve been thinking and thinking and at last I’ve made up my mind what I want you to bring me.
I want a water-pistol, or else if that’s too expensive you can bring me a mouth-organ.
Well I guess I’ll close now because we are all eager to practice for the concert.
I wish you a Merry Christmas.
Your friend,
Edwin Boyes
***
Dear Santa;
Christmas is here and I am writing to you just what to bring me. I want a pair of nice warm mitts. I haven’t got a pair. I guess you have a lot of work to do ever Christmas. I wish I could do some of your work for you. I guess you got lots of helpers. Is it cold in the north pole. I like to see you ever Christmas. Will you tell us how many miles it is from the North Pole down to Craigellachie. I hope to see you at the concert. It is going to be a nice concert. I think I’ll close now.
Your loving friend,
Leonard Fuller
***
Dear Santa;
We are practicing for the concert. I think I will have lots of fun.
I hope you will be here to see the concert. I want some fingernail polish and a string of beads.
Is it very cold up the north pole – it is not very cold down here.
Your loving friend,
Eileen Austin
***
Dear Santa Claus;
I hope you do not get cold on the way coming. I would like to get a string of beads or a Story book. I hope I am not asking for too much. Do not get any expensive beads. Do not get an expensive book.
When you get here you will be quite welcome from all the people and children.
Your friend,
Joyce Austin
***
Dear Santa;
I am just writing you a few lines to tell you what I want for Christmas. Will you please bring me an automatic repeating cap pistol if it is not too expensive.
Well I hope to see you come to the Christmas concert.
Your loving friend,
Kenny Boyes
***
Dear Santa Claus;
Christmas is here. I want a doll and a string of beads. I am glad that you are going to be here. I am going to speak one piece. The snow is here. My sister Anny wants a doll and my brother Billy wants a Teddy Bear.
Your friend,
Mary Straga
***
Dear Santa Claus;
Would you please bring me a helmet with gogles. If you can’t get one with gogles get me one without gogles. I ges there both just as warm. Bring me one of those.
Your loving friend
Mike Makarenko
***
Dear Santa;
I hope you will come to our concert and see the joke that three bad boys played on Santa. But don’t think that we would do that.
I would like a mouth-organ or a brush and comb.
I would be grateful to get them.
Your loving friend,
Dennis Austin
***
Dear Santa Claus;
I wish you are very fine in the North Pole. I wish you would come down and see me. I haven’t seen you for a long time. I would like to see you now. I would like a pair of leather mitts with wool mitts inside. Another thing I want is a train to play with. When you come down the chimney watch out you won’t fall. I would like a belt and holster and gun.
George Makarenko
***
Dear Santa Clause;
We are having our concert and hope that you will be there. I will try act my part very well so that you may see it and when you come I would like you to bring me an accordion or else the piece music outfit. Hoping that you will bring it on the 19th night of December.
Your greatest friend,
Asa Van Gilder
***
Dear Santa,
I would like an automobile transport for our school tree and I would like a pistol belt and holster.
Dear Santa, I wish I could have some more things but they are to expensive I will leave of.
Your friend,
Donald Paterson
***
Dear Santa;
We are having our Concert on December 19th so please don’t forget to come at the beginning and see it.
I would like a leather belt with a slide buckle. Don’t get one that’s to expensive because you have to get so many other presents.
My little brother Johnie told me he wanted a few quarts of reindeer milk to make him strong but I guess you can get him what you think is best.
Hoping you don’t bring the north coldness.
Pleased;
Steve Makarenko
