Santa Was at Point Boro's Bennett Cabin Again on Sunday

The only thing better than Santa Claus visiting a log cabin in Point Borough once is Santa visiting twice.

And that's exactly what happened from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday when again greeted visitors at the historic at at River Road and Maxson Avenue.

On Saturday, Santa had numerous visitors of all ages at the historic cabin, which volunteers had decked out in holiday splendor inside and out.

Some wanted to sit on his lap and tell him what they want to see under the Christmas tree and in their stockings Christmas morning, as their parents snapped photos.

Some wanted one of the candy canes he was handing out. Some wanted to gaze at his fluffy white beard or just touch him.

But one boy had his mind on something else entirely.

"Hey, there's  trains!" cried Ben Peterson, 6, as he raced right past Santa towards the spectacular train display on one end of the cabin.

The Christmas tree, that serves as the centerpiece of the train display, was decorated by Adaptive Arts Memorial Middle School students who are mentally and physically challenged, said Dawn Wagner, a middle school teacher.

Outside the cabin, Point Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Eileen McCabe and a few other merry volunteers served free, hot cocoa and cookies to children. Admission to the cabin was also free.

Some of the Point Borough High School band members played Christmas and holiday music. First, the duet of flutist Allison Moran, 16, and Bronte Ford, 15, on clarinet, performed, followed later by trumpeters Zach Paulus, 17, Bill and Christopher Elwell, 15, and Connor Wagner, 14.

Borough resident Richard Morris and a group of local volunteers had labored long and hard to move the cabin from the former Bennett Farm on Dorsett Dock Road and rebuild it in the park, so the historic home can be preserved.

But the work is never done, and they've been busy decorating the cabin for Santa's visit, said Morris, who got to see lots of area residents enjoying the fruits of the volunteers' labor on Saturday.

Sharon Morris, Richard's wife, said she was tickled pink when a little girl asked her, "Are you Mrs. Claus?" She nearly could have been, given her kindly way towards the wee ones streaming in and her Christmasy red and green attire.

Brenda Henry said she was happy to have a place close to home to bring her four children to see Santa.

"This is great, and we're not dealing with the mall," she said. "I hate the mall, especially at this time of year. And look at the nostalgia here, it's great," she said, looking around at the cabin, complete with historic kitchen items and wood stove.

Her kids, Matthew, 9, Caitlyn, 4, Abigail, 4 and Bridget, 7, had some quality face time with Santa, who gave them candy canes and good reason to be optimistic about Christmas morning.

Point Beach Councilman Sean Hennessy, his wife, Tina, and their three sons, Daniel, 4, Thomas, who is nearly 3, and Patrick, 3 months, and numerous other families from the greater Point and Brick area also visited.

And when the kid traffic finally let up and Santa had a break, it was Morris' turn to sit next to Santa and give his best pitch.

"I've been good this year," Morris told Santa, man to Kringle, eye to eye.

"Oh, no you haven't," said Santa, his eyes sparkling with that trademark twinkle. "I know something you did in third grade."

And so it went, back and forth, for a few minutes, until more kids flocked to Santa, the music played, the trains chugged and Point Borough enjoyed a little Christmas magic.