Recently the shocking news that Saturday residential post deliveries will be dropped piqued my curiosity of postal delivery. Actually the new is not shocking and is about time in my opinion. Note, packages and prescription drugs will still be delivered on Saturdays.
Lisleman’s quick research (anyone want to sponsor my future research?) found historical documents at the Postal services’ web site usps.com. I sure most everyone has used this useful site for tracking packages or checking the escalating price of postage. My everyone-should-already-know tip == buy “forever” stamps. (when will a forever gasoline price be introduce?)
In one historical document easily available online I found this:
An order dated April 17, 1950, limited the number of deliveries in residential sections to one each day. It also reduced the number of deliveries to business districts by one on Saturdays only; businesses continued to receive multiple deliveries during the week.
It was before my time but households before 1950 often had the postman ring twice a day.
They also have (imagine what I would have found if this research had been sponsored?) many old photos related to the postal service’s history.
Those packages in that 1923 photo - laundry! In 1923, one postmaster estimated that 2 percent of parcels delivered by his carriers consisted of laundry. College students, especially, found it economical to mail dirty clothes home and have them mailed back clean. The typical “laundry bag” was a canvas-covered cardboard box 4½ by 12 by 20 inches, weighing six to seven pounds. In 1923, the weight limit for a single parcel was 50 or 70 pounds, depending on how far it was going.
My conclusion - doing laundry at college has never been common and most often avoided.
Quick extra points question (no google cheating).
Who was America’s first Postmaster General?
Of course my post is not related in any fashion or likeness to the novel/movie “The Postman Always Rings Twice”. If Saturday delivery had the level of sexuality that this movie did, then demand for receiving a hot delivery would keep the postal system running well for many years.
(oh still clueless about the question - hint it was not Jack)
18 comments:
You know, it seems that I read something TODAY about 'forever' gasoline. It seems that somewhere........Nebraska? I honestly do not remember had some sort of gas buying thing where you could prepay for gas and some people were (still are?) buying gas for $1 a gallon!
One would think that since I read it ....less than 12 hours ago, I would remember more.
Maybe it was too dreamlike to remember. thanks
Off the top of my head I'm guessing Benjamin Franklin because he just seemed to have his hand in everything, didn't he? Thanks for this post - I learned a lot! I, too, think it's a smart move to stop delivery on Saturdays to save money.
Most of the time, we forget to check Saturday's mail. Our mailboxes are located in the front lobby, but especially on the weekends, we usually go out the back door where our parking space is located.
I'm going to guess...George Washington?
I'm all for forever gas prices
It would be a popular concept but I doubt we would ever see it.
It was Benjamin Franklin (if you didn't read the other comments)
Mailing laundry!?!?! I did I miss that back int he day. I would have LOVED that! I was young at the time but I clearly remember mom washing diapers and me folding them-- It was like a career there were so many diapers.
And "forever gas prices". That's the best idea I've heard in years!
I hate to see Saturday deliveries end. Not that I receive many actual letters, but I do get packages and the occasional card.
I wonder how well it worked. Smell and wrinkles might be problems. Thanks
Based on their news release packages will still be delivered. I do like the service at our PO. Thanks
Huh, I did not know about Saturday deliveries going away. When does that start?
I heard this on the news last week. I understand the reasoning behind it, but it's still sad.
(It's not Jack Nicholson???)
May or April ?? Check out the USPS site
Who knows he could be a guess for the postmaster question. Thanks
this should work with "pick a name"
This is an interesting post, Lisleman; thanks, and please let me know when that Forever Gas card becomes available! :)
Yeah do you think I should submit the idea to Shell, BP or Mobil. It would be popular but I don't know if it would make money for them.
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