Santa, Mrs. Claus And The Elves Take Up Residence In Spencer

BY JOHN PATTERSON
SALISBURY POST

Yes, that is a live Santa sitting on the porch at 216 W. Jefferson St. in Spencer.

And a real Mrs. Claus and elves, too.

If you're like anyone who's passed by Jeff and Sherri Caster's house since the beginning of December, what you saw on their porch probably made you look twice, just to check your eyes. And, according to the Casters, many have done more than that.

"A lot of people just blow their horn or wave," said Jeff Caster, who's been dressing like - and "representing" - Santa since Dec. 1. "But a few people will actually look and then come back just to see if that was really what they saw.

"And some of them will bring their kids and they'll sit on Santa's lap. We give them candy canes. And a lot of them want to know if they can get their picture made with Santa because it's getting so expensive to do it elsewhere."

This is the third year that Jeff Caster has dressed as Santa, an idea he says came from his wife. But Sherri Caster said she actually got the idea from her husband's cousin, who once did the same thing at his home in Granite Quarry.

"I really liked the idea," Sherri Caster said. "He (Jeff) claimed it was only going to be a one-year deal, but I think he really likes it."

The Casters' two girls - McKenzie, 3, and Lindsay, 5 - joined Santa last year as elves. "And we just added Mrs. Claus two weeks ago," Sherri Caster said.

And do the girls wonder if Dad really is Santa?

"They never really ask about it," Sherri Caster said. "I guess they just assume that he (Jeff) is Santa's helper."

Tonight is actually the last night the Casters will be out on their porch. Jeff Caster said he usually goes inside when it gets real cold or by 9 p.m. (because he "doesn't want a lot of people blowing their horns and bothering people" after 9 p.m.).

But, he said, he's willing to make sure everyone who comes by gets to talk to Santa.

"We don't mind at all, being the last night," Jeff Caster said. "It would probably make my wife happy if there was a line."