February 4th is Thank a Mail Man Day. Our mail service is amazing! (If you have any doubts, just ask someone about Canada Post)! ;-)

This trail actually started with a book I found in something I'll be recommending in March when the Iditarod starts, and recently used in the February 2 post: John Beargrease: Legend of Minnesota's North Shore. That sparked an interest in mail delivery by unusual means!

For more than 100 years Lake Geneva, Wisconsin has been a summer destination for those escaping the heat of Chicago (those that were rich enough, anyway). While there were roads and perhaps something that could be called a driveway to the houses, it was easier to deliver the mail by boat. The boat would pull up near the dock, a boy (in early days it was always a young male) would jump off the boat, stuff the mail in the box (and gather any outgoing) and then jump back on the still-in-motion boat. From the time she was 6 years old Elaine wanted to be a Mail Jumper. A nice history, a sweet memoir, Mail Jumper! The Story of the First Mail Girl, by Elaine Kanelos was a fun "gender busting" read.

As more people moved into Alaska it became important to establish some sort of regular mail delivery. On Time Delivery: the Dog Team Mail Carriers, by William S. Schneider is a carefully researched history of that early mail service. (Check out the notes, they are just as interesting as the book!). As with Mavericks of the Sky (January 16 post)), the government so far, far away insisted, well, demanded really, that the mail would be delivered on time regardless ... (that is so easy to say when you are not the one doing the actual work). That being said, in spite of the weather, the terrain and the long distances between stops, the dog teams did an amazing job of keeping on schedule.

I've read books about families with multiple generations of doctors, lawyers (and coming at some point in this blog, veterinarians) but The Laughing Postman & The Laughing Postman Delivers: True Stories by a Mail Carrier Volumes 1 and 2, by Dee M. Myrick, was the first family of mail carriers I've read about. The author is the third generation to deliver the mail in her family. She drives a rural route (as did her father and grandfather) and has many wonderful stories to share.

This has been a fun trail and I have more mail books on my list for a future post. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog