1955 letter returns to Alameda church after 71 years

A 71-year-old letter that was marked "return to sender" has unexpectedly returned to Christ Episcopal Church in Alameda. The letter, originally postmarked October 26, 1955, contained a baptismal certificate for a child named Pamela Jean Haslam, born to Robert and Lois Haslam. The envelope arrived at the church on August 20, 2026, leaving church rector Stephen McHale puzzled by the delay and the mystery of where the envelope had been stored for decades.

The church, established in 1869, takes record-keeping seriously and still has Pamela's baptism recorded in its books. However, Pamela passed away in 1996, leaving the question of who should receive the letter now. McHale has reached out on social media, and it appears that Pamela's son may have been found living in Michigan. The church plans to send him a photo copy of the document, as they do not trust the postal service to deliver it in a timely manner.

The envelope's address points to a location at the former Alameda air base, and the church suspects the parents may have been military personnel stationed there.