By Anna-Claire Terry
Staff Reporter
Many are familiar with Opelika’s annual Christmas in a Railroad Town event. However, one of the most unique aspects of the event that often flies under the radar is the special Christmas hand stamp that the U.S. Postal Service has created for the event for the last 20 years.
According to Pam Powers-Smith, director of Opelika Main Street, the postal service does not give these kinds of stamps to many cities, and this particular stamp is only available on the night of Christmas in a Railroad Town. The event is scheduled for Dec. 11 this year. On this night, mail can be taken to the Museum of East Alabama from 6-9 p.m., and the stamp can be placed on it and mailed out from there. Many people take advantage of this opportunity for their Christmas cards. “It’s a little bit bigger than a postage stamp. It’s just beautiful, and when people get your Christmas cards, they see the design that says ‘Opelika, Alabama,’ and there aren’t any of those marks from the post office,” Powers-Smith said.
The design of the stamp is different every year, and for the past four years, actual photos have been transformed into the stamp design. This year’s stamp will feature a Santa Claus decoration from the Victorian Front Porch Tour. The Opelika Post Office is tasked with designing the stamp each year.