The Washington times., 1901-09-30
FIFTY YEARS IN THE SERVICE.
Vermont Postmistress Resigns mt
the Age of Seyenty-six

BELLOWS FALLS, VT. Sept. 29.-After
serving the public for fifty years in the
Weathersfield postoffice, forty-nine years
of which she was postmistress Miss
Louisa C. Danforth has resigned She Is
| thought to have been postmistress long
er than anyone else in the country, her
commission having been issued on May
20, 1852. during President Fillmore's ADJ
ministration.
Weathersfeld a little country hamlet.
is reached by driving from Claremont
Junction and crossing the Connecticut
River by an antiquated ferry-5oat. The
broad village green has on each side of
it's quiet street six houses. a stone church.
schoolhouse. and postoffice. Three of the
residences are only open during the sum-
mer season. OF the three postoffices in
the township this is the oldest. having
been established previous to 1900. only two
postmasters having been in office before
Miss Danforth.
The postoffice is located in the Danforth
homestead, and the letter case used is
more than 100 years old and has been in
use since postal facilities were first es-
tablished in the town. 1t is built of hard
wood, worn smooth with use and age. The
whole equipment is of an ancient date. no
modern appliances having been intro
duced.
In an interview yesterday, Miss Dan
forth, a tall. bright-eyed woman, who. in
spite of her seventy-six years is well-pre-
served and active, told of much of inter-
est regarding the early days. of her official
life. She prides herself upon the fact that
she did not solicit the office, but 1t was OBJ
tanned for her through the efforts of Colo
nel Jarvis, lifelong friend and neighbor
of the family. and almost without her
knowledge. Postoftice methods fifty years.
ago were widely different from those OF
today. the amount OF work and response
bility being nothing in comparison with
the present time. No record books We're
kept the entries being made or way bills
which were wrapped around the letter or
letters to any point and each package
then enclosed in another wrapper and sent
to its destination. Postage was optional,
being paid at either end.
There were - registered letters, no
stamps to buy. and no special delivery.
The postmaster had the franking privilege
by which mail could be sent free of
charge. Later came the first stamps. the
charge being 5 cents for each letter. AL
though in the early days the population
of the town was much larger, the people
did not write many letters, and Mondays
mail, consisting of dozen letters, was
the largest of the week. At that time
the salary was $50 year. Afterward it
put in the graded list anG. gradually
increased TO SI59 at the present time I'd
Miss Danforth is the last representa-
tive of her family, which has been closely
identified with the life OF the town since
the earliest settlement. Her grandfather
cleared the plain which the village is
located and built his homestead. The fam
lilies of those days were large. Her grand
father had twelve children and his was
one of four families that sent fifty chill
dren to school
Miss Danforth's resignation came as a
surprise at Washington. where, although
they are aware of her long service her :
clear handwriting, which resembles that
of a young girl, and her prompt attention
to business led her immediate superior to
think her equal to filling the office for
many years more. She herself had hoped
to serve several years longer. but a Sc
we're attack of the grip last spring has
somewhat weakened her nerves and made
her unwilling to continue the RESPONSE
bility. None Of the patrons of the office
desires a change.