News – Sheridan Media
As it is the Christmas season, many youngsters have been visiting Santa and giving him their Christmas wish list or writing letters to Santa. This column is a look back in time at some of the letters to Santa that the newspapers received.
Laramie, Republican Wyoming, Friday Evening, December 18, 1908 – Letters To Santa Claus Little Folks Continue To Pour Their Tales Into Ears Of Jolly Elf. Large Number of Letters doing By Today’s Post and Some of the Requests are Modest in the Extreme — Pretty and Useful Presents to Constitute This Year’s Pack.
By Mary Jane Terrell, 4 years old, Laramie, Wyo., Dec. 18, 1908. Dear Santa Claus: Would you please please send me a little Buck range stove, a little doll and a little doll buggy.
Charlie Terrell, I am 5 years old. Would you please send me a pony, saddle and bridle and a pair of chaps.
By Gustaf Skogerson. Laramie, Wyo., Doc, 18, 1908. Dear Santa Claus: I wish you would please bring an an air gun. and a tool chest.
These were from The Lusk Standard, December 12, 1919 – Children Ask For Christmas Gifts – The Santa Claus editor is getting a lot of fun out of the letters to Santa from the children of the city and county. After they are printed, they are sent to Santa Claus, and he puts the orders in his big books and his helpers get busy at once fixing up the packages wanted. Santa has a department where he keeps the records of every little boy and girl and if they have been good, he generally sees that they get what they ask for. Sometimes it happens that Santa can’t make everything asked for. In that case, he gives something just as good, just as beneficial. He knows better than the children what is good for them and when a child does not receive what he or she asked for it may be because Santa knew that the boy or girl should not have it but need other things more than they do those things asked for.
But it is a good thing to write to him and tell him what you want for Christmas. In addition to stating your wants you stand a chance of winning one of the money prizes which the Standard is offering for the three best letters written by the children to Santa.
For the best one, a prize of $5 will be given; for the next best, a prize of $3 will be given; and for the third best letter, a prize of $2 goes to the writer.
In 1919, that was a lot of money for a youngster, so having the best letter must have given them a lot of incentive to write a good one.
Miss Delia B. Abbott, the county school superintendent, has kindly consented to act as judge and the prizes will be made according to her selection. The letters will be printed in every issue of the Standard until Christmas so every child who has not yet written should get his or her letter to us by Monday, Dec. 22. The winners will be announced in our Christmas issue and we hope to have the prizes in the hands of the winners by that day. Just write a letter to Santa, using but onside of the paper and mail it as follows: Lusk Standard, Lusk, Wyoming—care of Santa Claus editor. We will see that it reaches Santa so that you will not be forgotten.
Be sure to have it reach us by December 22.
Keeline, Wyo. Dec. 3, 1919 Dear Santa Claus: — I have not been a very good girl at school but have at home so I would like a big doll and some books and a doll carriage for my doll. I mustn’t forget to tell you that we do not live where we did last year but have moved just two miles up the road. You can’t miss it, I’m sure. My stocking will beat the back of the stove waiting for you. You must give my love to Mrs. Santa Claus. Your loving girlie, Helen Hungerford. Age 9, Bopp School. Maude C. James, Teacher. Keeline, Wyo.
At least the writer of the next letter was honest.
Dec. 3, 1919. Dear Santa Claus:— I suppose you are starting to plan to go and look for the good boys and girls again I have been a pretty good boy for the last twenty four hours, but I did untie the girls’ ribbons and stick their braids in my ink bottle yesterday. But I have been good quite awhile now. I would like for you to bring me a watch, a sled, a car, a pair of mittens, a knife, and lots of candy nuts, peanuts and fruit. I would like to have a ride, too, but I will wait until next Xmas for that. If you have to much of a load, I would want you to leave some of it as I would not want you to break down and not come at all. I didn’t think you would be around this year because it is so cold, and I thot (sic) Dasher, Vim and Prancer are getting pretty old. I think you will arrive with the good old faithful reindeer and the good old sleigh, though. Your patiently awaiting boy, Cordie Petersen. Age 12. Bopp School. Teacher: Maude C. James. VanTassel, Wyo.
Many even thought about their siblings.
Dec. 2, 1919. Dear Santa: — I heard there was a prize to be given to the child that wrote the best letter to Santa. I will tell you first what my brother wants for Christmas. He wants a little wagon and a sled. Now I will tell you what I want for Christmas. I want a pair of overshoes, about three school tablets and a new dress. I am ten years old and in the sixth grade. My teacher’s name is Mrs. Alderman. Your friend, Blanche Erlewine, Lusk, Wyo.
December 6. Dear Santa Claus: I stay with my daddy almost every evening, and I get so much lonesome. I would like for you to send me some good story books and a big baby doll so I can make clothes for the doll. I have two sisters and two brothers, please don’t forget them. I am twelve years old. I am in the sixth grade. My teacher’s name is Miss Reed. I have been a good girl in school. Your loving friend. Mary Kosson. Keeline, Wyoming
In 1919, WWI had only been over for a year. Many remembered the children in Europe who had survived the war.
December 2,1919 Dear Santa: I have tried very hard to be a good child this year. I would like very much to have a wristwatch. I hope you remember the European children, especially the Belgians and Armenians for they have certainly suffered some hardships during and since the war. They certainly deserve kindness and a stocking filled with toys on Christmas morning. If they should be disappointed they would never want to see Christmas again. How many orphans there are I do not know, but there must be a great many I am sure. The war and the flu have caused a great many boys and girls in the world to be orphans. The time is rapidly passing and I must get to work for I have lots of work to do. I shall have a white stocking and my brothers and sisters will also have a stocking a waiting to be filled. I shall close hoping to hear that you visited all the children. Your little friend, Emilia Froshiser. 12 years old—6 grade. Teacher—Emma Bushey. Lusk, Wyo.
Pretty heavy thinking for a 12 year old.
Dec. 1, 1919 Dear Santa Claus: I don’t think you can come down the chimney but you can come through the door. Don’t give me many things for Christmas, give them to children in France. Lovingly, Leola Jenkins. Age 8 years, Cottonwood Grove School, Dorothy Watson, Teacher. Warren, Wyo.
This youngster didn’t ask for anything for herself, but just a load of hay to feed their livestock.
Dec. 1, 1919 Dear Santa Claus, Please send a big load of hay for our poor old cows, because the roads are so bad that papa cannot haul oil cake to them and we haven’t much hay. I hope you will soon be here with the load of hay. Lovingly, Verda A. Jenkins. Age 10 years, Cottonwood Grove school. Dorothy Watson, Teacher. Van Tassell, Wyo.
Of course, some wanted a great many presents, like this youngster.
Dec. 3, 1919. Dear Santa:— I expect it is about time for you to distribute presents again. I have not been good and I do not expect much this Christmas but I would like a watch, knife, car, pony, saddle, punching bag, boxing gloves, base-ball outfit, good sled, rifle, skates, one volume of Boy Scouts books, pair of snowshoes, and every thing that you think I’d like. If you don’t think you can get them all here with-out having a break-down you can send some of them by Parcel Post. Your impatient lad, Albert Petersen. Age14. BoppSchool. Teacher: Maude C. James. Keeline, Wyo.
And this young boy thought about those who were less fortunate than he was.
Dec. 3, 1919 Dear Santa— As you will be starting soon on your Christmas trip, I will tell you what I would like for you to bring me. I would like to have a watch and some nuts and that is all I want because there are so many little children that haven’t even any coal to keep them warm in the wintertime, so you can take the money you would buy my toys with and give some poor little children food and coal. Your true friend, Harold Peterson. Age 8 Bopp School. Teacher—Maude C James.
So, though the years in Wyoming, and throughout the world, children believe that Santa will fill their stockings and they will have a merry Christmas morning.
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Last modified: December 8, 2025