News 12 at 6, December 27, 2008

BETHLEHEM, GA---You may not realize it, but there is a little town of Bethlehem not too far from Augusta. We're not sure how many dark streets shineth there. Or how much dreamless sleep happens. But it does have a big attraction, the post office. And it really shines this time of year.

The post office in the little Georgia town of Bethlehem is never as popular as it is during the holidays.

"Turbo. Turbo post office." one worker said.
"Gets real hectic." another said.

Every year, the staff more than doubles from 2 workers to 5 to help handle the load.

The star of the show is an ink stamp that lets everyone know the letter came from here. Some stamp the cards themselves. Others send them in from around the country to get stamped here.

"We have some from Fort Wayne, Indiana, New Jersey, Long Beach, California." one worker told us as she looked through a box of envelopes.

The ones that are sent in will go through a stamping machine more than 100 years old that's only brought out once a year. The machine and the workers help stamp hundreds of thousands of letters every holiday season.

And 2008 is no exception.

"We're very busy this year." a worker said as she hurried through some envelopes.

A true passion for some.

I love it. I love to receive mine." one woman said.
Have you ever mailed any to yourself?" I asked her.
"No" she said with a laugh "That's a good idea. I'll remember that."

Something new for others.

"I thought it would be nice for the family to have." a first-timer said as she toted a big box and 2 little ones through the lobby.

A holiday tradition for decades.

And if you haven't been a part of it yet, maybe next year, you'll consider.