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The suit and hat arrive one morning on the owners' front porch. The Santa beard arrives separately on another morning.
By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 27, 2001
CRYSTAL RIVER -- Talk about an unexpected Christmas present.
Jo Ann and Ed Heckman, owners of the manatee mailbox stripped of its Santa suit last week, awoke Christmas morning to find an unusual delivery on their front porch.
Neatly folded in a shopping bag were Mr. Manatee's duds: the suit and hat.
Attached was a note, written in calligraphy, which read, "To the Heckmans, from the Grinch."
Also in the bag was a box of Corn Flakes, but the Heckmans don't know if the gesture contains a hidden meaning or the thief was just making a peace offering.
"It really is the strangest thing," said Mrs. Heckman, who re-outfitted the 4-foot concrete statue that morning. "We have no idea who would have done this."
The only thing missing was Santa's beard, which showed up Wednesday morning in a plastic bag next to the mailbox.
The Heckmans, who have owned Mr. Manatee for the past three years, dress the mailbox for every holiday, including an Uncle Sam outfit for the Fourth of July and a witch's costume for Halloween.
It has become a popular neighborhood attraction, with people stopping at 1180 Country Club Road to stare or take pictures.
So it was a surprise for Mrs. Heckman when she was leaving for work Dec. 19 and found Mr. Manatee stripped.
Since then, several good Samaritans have stepped in and offered to clothe the mailbox, Heckman said. A volunteer from the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park brought over a replacement suit and a neighborhood woman popped a new Santa hat on Mr. Manatee's head.
But because of the manatee's unique body structure, a normal suit won't fit. So Mrs. Heckman said she's relieved her custom-made outfit has been returned.
The couple don't know whether the whole thing was a prank or the thief got a sudden surge of Christmas spirit. But they are grateful and will continue to deck Mr. Manatee in his holiday garb.
"Yes, there is a Santa Claus," Mrs. Heckman said, "and he came and brought his suit back."