The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-18


 Ketcham, owner of the Relay House, which was located on the west side Of Nineteenth street, between First and Morris avenues. The combination of a hotel and postoffice surrounded by a park with a sparkling water foun- tain made a most attractive center to the villagers, especially the belles and the beaux. Postmaster Ketchan was the grandfather of former Mayor George B. Ward, who spent a part of his boyhood at the Relay House. In these tender days of the postoffice' it was in the charge of Edley J. Oden, one of the most popular young men of the town.
 The First Move
 In 1874, Thomas w. Warren, of re- publican faith, was appointed post master, and the site of the postoffice removed to the east side of Twen- tieth street, between Second and Third avenues. However, MT. War ren was rarely seen around the post 1 office. as he was lightning rod salesman and spent the greater part | of his time in fitting up the homes of the Jones Valley farmers with or naments for their chimneys. Thomas l nOTtlitlu, d oi CoPS | c. T. Hapdn.an. as assistant post master. discharged the duties of post master in the absence of MT. Warren. I During the term of MT. Warren, the office was removed to the west side of Twentieth street between First and Second avenues.
 The third postmaster was Thomas U. Green, whose administration was very popular, as the office was in charge of his three beautiful daugh- ters most of the time. Two of these married, one to Harry Mercer, pop ular local jeweler, and one to Harry Hargreaves, who built the Sloss fur naces When MT. Green assumed lcharge of the postoffice, he removed into his dwelling and store, frame building on Second avenue on the site of the old Jefferson County Bank building.
 The fourth postmaster was Samuel Thompson, a democrat, and brother of former Mayor B. Asbury Thomp- son. During his term the site of the postoffice was removed to the north side of First avenue between Twen- tieth and Twenty first streets, now a part of the site of the Brown Marx building. Mr. Thompson dieo during his term of office and his | lected by the bondsmen to fill out the term.
 First Resignation | Dr. H. J. Winn, a democrat and 2 prominent physician. who married Mrs. Boyles, widow of the late Jacf Boyles, founder of the town ol Boyles, was appointed as the fiftl postmaster. He called John Tower to take the assistants place. MT l Towers resigned because the post master would not uphold his dis | charge of carrier who insisted oi reporting late for duty every morn l ing Dr. Vim resigned during tn term to which he was appointed ant w. B. Throckmorton was selected MT. Throckmorton met an untin-el II death during the Hawes riot. H II was appealing to the crowds to dis VI perse and go to- their homes wnel he was shot from the fire of tn guard defending the prison. The un II expired term of MT. Throckmorto
 was filled by former Mayor w. F
 Morris, father of Robert A. Morris U one of the bondsmen. During thi term, the site of the postoffice wa removed from First avenue to tn | southwest corner of Nineteenth stree and Third avenue. where the Wool
 worth building now stands.
 Robert L. Houston, republican, wa | appointed the ninth postmaster. tl,L. Bulger, who had served as assist ant postmaster under Messrs. Throck | morton and Morris. became his a: l sistant.
 First City Delivery
 The city delivery system was e tablished September, 1886. and create
 a sensation in the town when u
 carriers appeared~on the streets
 their new uniforms. The peep
 could hardly believe that their ma
 was going to be delivered free. | fact, when Jack Curran, former
 baliff of the police court, met B' | Theiss, a pioneer citizen, on U | street and handed him the first le
 ter to be delivered by carrier
 Birmingham, MT. Theiss thought Jat
 was playing a practical joke al
 rather than give the carrier u
 pleasure of seeing him open and re;
 the letter, he--tore the letter in
 pieces and never did find out t
 contents.
 The Boom Days
 During the boom days. the pos III office was located on First aven, land during these strenuous days g
 most broke down under the stra
 Robert A. Morris. who was clerk
 the general delivery window, stat
 that the lines to the two general q
 livery windows were often iined
 in twos as far back as I've
 tieth and Twenty-first streets.' Su
 day was the rush day when the WI
 dows were opened from 9 to Il a.
 one of the most eventful days
 the history of the Birmingham p' 'N-t