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Pennsylvania couple find 60-year-old Santa letter while remodeling

By Ben Hooper
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Dec. 13 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania couple remodeling their new property discovered something surprising while ripping out cabinets -- a 60-year-old letter to Santa Claus.

Michael Nahodil and Alyssa Baches said they recently purchased the Shamokin building that houses their business, Dapper Tattoo, and they decided to remodel the apartments over the shop to become their new home.

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The couple said they were ripping out kitchen cabinets when they discovered an envelope bearing the iconic image of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

The envelope contained a letter dated Dec. 2, 1956, and it began: "Dear Santa, How are you? I've been a good girl."

The couple took to Facebook to see if they could find the family of the letter's author, Susan Kleis.

The search was initially unsuccessful, but a post with a photo of the letter came to the attention of Angelica Krieger, who spotted the letter thanks to comments from mutual friends.

Krieger showed the post to her father, John Krieger, who confirmed the letter belonged to his mother.

Susan Krieger -- formerly Susan Kleis -- said she remembered her mother writing the letter on her behalf.

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"When I saw it, I recognized my mother's handwriting right away and I got really tearful," she told The News-Item.

Susan Krieger's family met with Nahodil and Baches to accept the letter on her behalf, and she was able to virtually attend from Massachusetts via Facetime.

"Everyone hopes they find money in the wall, but I think this was a little more special," Nahodil told WNEP-TV.

The couple said they were pleased to help Susan remember her mother.

"I figure we can give a part of her mom back for Christmas," Baches said.

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