The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-01-06
Anniversary

Continued from Page Onel
were placed in the mailboXes with
no official record.
Change Horses
In winter when snow drifted and
high winds added to the discom.
forts Of driving arrangements were
made to keep a horse with some
farmer at the halfway station.
Here the carrier stopped and ex-
changed horses, using a fresh one
to complete the trip. Telephones
were few and radios unheard OF.
The mail carrier passed along
scraps OF information and his com.
/ was eagerly watched by house
wives along the route. Rstioning
was unknown and at butcheriug
time farmers showed their appre-
citation OF the mailcarriers service
by giving him a chunk OF fresh
meat. At Easter II was eggs, and
occasionally a loaf of home made
bread or some fresh cookies were
added to the list.
Longer Routes
At that time route / had 81 boxes
and today II has AZ II has grown
from Is miles to sos. and until re.
Gently was 20 miles. II has one
trailer comp, but is still the most
strictly rural route OF all. This
Is evidenced by the volume OF
farm papers and magazines while
subdivisions run largely to letters.
Foster Hammond, Fred Cain and
Leon Hathaway received regular
appointments in 1913, and are
eligible 10 or have retired before
Mr. Wardle. because Of a peculiar
clause in the pension law which
requires that a postal employe
must not only serve 30 years but
be sixty years Of age in order To
retire with full pension. Accord.
ing to that condition, Mr. Wsrdle
will have to serve a few more
years although he has 81 years Of
service now.
-Four Routes
Al that time route ! had 81 boxes
routes, one carried by Waldo War:
/ die; two. Carl Stanton; three. vii.
liam Polling. and four by Glen vii.
son. They average II and II
bundles OF mall plus healthy car.
go OF parcel post daily.
When Mr. Wardle joined the
staff the Post ONCE was located
on Huron ST. where the A & c
furniture store now Is. Samuel
Fletcher who was city carrier
one had priority on the hitching
po nearest the back door. The
rural carriers tied their horses
along Huron St with the excep.
ton OF one steel post In front OF the
blacksmith shop where the Chi
nese laundry now is, and that be-
lorged TO whom ever got there first,
usually a race between Mr.. Wardle
and Alec Boutell.
William Lister was succeeded
by Richard owen as postmas.
ter and he was succeeded by the
late John Mccain and the Post OF.
fee moved into the new building
on Michigan Ave. g years ago. Mr..
Mccain ia well remembered. not
only by the employees but by hosts
o. friends In the city as we'll
/ George Cook OF the clothing firm Of
Sullivan & Cook. followed Mr.. Nc.
Cam and during his term Of Office
Tered a stroke and died a few
hours later. George Gaudy, anoth-
er business man, was appointed 20
succeed George Cook and he serv.
ed until the appointment OF anoth-
er business man, the present post
m ster, Matthew Max. who had
been in the shoe business here.
Employees recall that Mr.. Cook Of
ten gave them tips regarding
buys in clothing. Mr.. Gaudy
was generous with his chocolates.
but its rationing these days and
nobody expects Mr.. Max to shoe
Il m now. although one farmer
told him .'ecently that q pair OF
four buckle Arctics purchased 10
HIS store, were discarded only few
months ago. having given good ser.
vice for about Is years. Ypsilsnti
has been fortunate in it's choice OF
postmasters. not only capable men.
but also possessing a fine sense OF
humor to temper and ease In situa.
lions which arise. Problems con.
fronting the postmaster today are
more complex and varied than ever
before due 10 the influx OF popula-
ton and the employment situation
prevailing in the community since