St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-10-09


leading men were fairly well educated,
who took newspapers and were inform
ed upon the questions Of the day.
But there was no regular means Of
communication with the rest Of the
world; every one who came and went
between them and clown country was
expected to take as many letters as he
could carry, and bundles OF newspapers
were among the most desired freight Of
sleigh returning from market in the
winter But these means OF information
were irregular and dependent mainly
upon chance, or special messenger.
Growing population and increasing COM
merce called Tor more reliable intercourse,
and in 1774, the principal men of the
region applied to the general court at
Portsmouth for the appointment of
post rider to Coos. Among those who
signed this petition were James White
law OF Ryegate, and Alexander Harvey
OF Barnet, but the war came on and
these things had to be laid aside
In 1871 (some authorities say 1776)
the council of safety appointed post
rider to 80 from Portsmouth to Haver-
hill once in two weeks, by way OF Dover
and Plymouth, and return by way OF
Hanover and Keene. This was upon
military service, but the carrier, John
Balch was allowed to convey private
letters. This was the early and small
beginning of the mail service in this part
of the country.
In 1888 the first mail route was estab-
lished in Vermont, from Bennington to
Albany once in two weeks, and two
years later the service was extended to
Rutland, Brattleboro, Windsor and
Newbury. The carriers went once week
and received two pence mile, hard
money between Brattleboro and New
bury. The newspapers OF that day con-
graduated Vermont upon the excellent
postal facilities its people were about to
enjoy.
When Vermont entered the Union in
1891, the general government assumed
the mail service, but for some reason the
northerly portion ofthe route seems to
have been discontinued, and Hanover
was for a few years the last post Office
on the river.
But in 1895 sufficient pressure was
brought upon the general government to
establish a mail route from Concord to
Havcrhill and another from Hanover to
Ncwbury.
Captain Joseph Bliss was made post
master at Haverhill and Col Thomas
Johnson at Newbury. Both were inn
keepers, and their taverns are still stand
ing, very little changed, fine specimens OF
colonial architecture, historic landmarks
of the Connecticut valley.
The post rider came up from Windsor
on Tuesdays, received the Boston mail at
Haverhill, and went on to Newbury
returning on Wednesdays. For about
five years the last-named place was the
post office for all Caledonia county, and
as far north as settlements extended.
OF course this brought people and trade
and caused opposition from the mer+
chants at Newbury to the extension o
the mail service to the towns above
them.
But there were not many letters ii
those days-the way bill rJuly 3, 1902
shows only three letters from all Gale
donna county-postage was very high
especially upon newspapers, and the few
then printed in this region were dis
tributed mainly by private carriers
More letters were sent outside the mail.
than by them, people watched theil
chance" and sent letters to their friends
T by persons going their way. 1t was FIRE
qucntly convenient for several persons il
the northern settlements to hire ma1
to 60 to Newbury on mail day, to carr,
all the letters which were to 90, anC
bring back all the mail for whole tow
to the waiting people at some store o
tavern.
September /, 1899, mail route wen
, into operation from Newbury through
; Ryegate and Peacham to Danville, anC
, Samuel Fuller was the carrier for SOM
years, once week, and was to receiv,
all the postage collected on letters pass
} ing between these local offices, and ;
) fixed sum for each letter which wen
: beyond Newbury. He was to wait a
least fifteen minutes at each post offic
for the sorting Of the mail, and to fortei
one dollar for each hours unnecessar,
) delay. The contract is dated July 3
1893, and signed by Joseph Habersham
postmaster general.
Gen. James Whtelaw was made post
master at Ryegate and David Dunbar a
: Danville. Samuel Goss seems to hav
5 been the first postmaster at Peacham
No salary appears to have been ATTACHED
to the office, but the franking privleg
e was bestowed upon the postmaster, n,
: small advantage to business man whel
n p,,E 4