Debra Puckhaber — who fills the role of Mrs Claus for Westfield alongside her husband Mark who plays Santa — said the sleigh was found with the help of Westfield’s unofficial photographer Shelly Hunt Bowen.

“She found the sleigh online through Facebook marketplace and let me know,” Puckhaber said. “We had talked about it in the past, because we thought Santa needed a sleigh for his float in the parade. The sleigh was in the North Collins area and Shelly’s husband Tim was actually the one who rebuilt it.”

Puckhaber said the sleigh was antique and falling apart, adding that there was no way the original would have held Santa and Mrs Claus. The framework was still good though, and Tim Bowen added in many new types of hardwood, but kept a lot of the original parts. The Puckhabers added the finishing touches, such as new paint, along with sanding and grinding the wood. Puckhaber said they had it for about six weeks to finish it up.

The original sleigh belonged to Scott Serafin who played Santa for the town for over 50 years before passing away. His widow, Terri Rinaldi, said being Santa was a big part of his life.

The plaque on the float, dedicating it to Scott Serafin, who played Santa for over 50 years before his passing this year.

“The first time he was Santa was in Vietnam,” Rinaldi said. “He told me that he made a deal with God that if he came home alive he would continue to do it. He did it up until the last year of his life.”

Rinaldi thought Serafin had bought the sleigh from their Amish friends. After it did not sell at the estate sale, she was not sure what to do with it, saying that she was happy that Puckhaber saw it and thought it was perfect for the Santa float.

Debra and Mark Puckhaber have been Santa and Mrs Claus for the village for the last three years. Sue Poster, who works with Westfield Development Corporation and helps work on the parade every year alongside Marilyn Hemmer, said that the pair does many things for Westfield during the Christmas season besides the parade, including doing the tree lighting in Moore Park each year after Thanksgiving, and handing out cookies at that event as well.

“They truly imbibe the spirit of Santa and Mrs Claus lighting the tree in Moore Park each year and appearing in the parade,” Poster said. “They are very dedicated citizens.”

Puckhaber said the two fill the roles of Santa and Mrs Claus each year because they enjoy it, and that of their 12 grandchildren, only a few live nearby.

“It’s a substitute for not having them around,” Puckhaber said. “It makes the kids happy. It’s so much fun and we’ve been told we make a good Santa and Mrs Claus. It’s a thrill to have little kids come up and talk to us.”

Puckhaber said the sleigh is now an important part of their Christmas season as it helps to carry on the tradition of Santa. The float with the refurbished sleigh also included a plaque, dedicating it to Serafin for his dedication to being Santa for over 50 years.

“It’s beautiful,” Rinaldi said. “It was so kind of them to put that plaque on there for Scott. He had a huge Santa collection and it would make him, and it makes me happy to know the plaque is there.”