Santa and the Postmaster

ABC Family will premiere a one-hour holiday special titled, “Dear Santa” on Tues., Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

According to a USPS press release, the Postal Service provided the producers of the show with letters to Santa from around the country.

Letters featured on the show helped make children’s Chirstmas wishes come true.

In 1912, Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local postmasters to allow individuals and institutions to use letters addressed to Santa Claus for philanthropic purposes.

In the photo above, Postmaster Hitchcock is shown handing Pilot Earle Ovington the first pouch of air mail on Long Island, New York, Sept. 23, 1911.

Could it be the letters in the sack were destined for the North Pole? We'll never know.