This holiday date was selected because on this date, Sept. 7, 1914, the New York Post Office opened. What makes the event unique is the inscription on this building in 1914 states;“Neither snow nor rain not heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”. This New York Post Office name was changed in 1982 to James A. Farley Office Building, named for the 53rd Postmaster General. This building was featured in the 1947 movie ‘Miracle on 34th St.‘
There is a National Postal Museum (part of the Smithsonian) located at 2 Massachusetts Ave., in Washington, D. C. One of the features of the Museum is Memory Book. This provides individuals to submit the stories of family members or themselves who have worked for the postal service at any time. The site has a search box, so you can look if there is already a story written about an ancestor. Many families had a long family tradition of several generations and various family members working for the post office.
Best of all, you can submit your ancestor’s or family story of working as a postal carrier or postmaster. All the information and instructions are provided on the site.
There were post offices in every community, tiny hamlet and town – didn’t matter its size. So even if you did not have a family member working for the local post office, they did visit it many times. See if you can locate a photo of the hometown post office.
Photos: Postal carriers in 1900 might walk 20 miles on their route carrying a heavy tote of mail; Postal carrier in 1920s; NYC Post Office; and delivery of mail in 1920s.
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