50s mail
The 1950s! A time of poodle skirts, drive-in movies, and... mail!
Here are some fun facts about mail in the 1950s:
- Letter writing was a popular pastime: With the rise of suburbanization and the growth of the middle class, people had more time and money to write letters to friends and family.
- Postage stamps were affordable: A first-class stamp cost just 3 cents in 1951, making it easy for people to send letters to loved ones.
- Mail delivery was a daily routine: In many neighborhoods, mail carriers would deliver mail to every household daily, often between 9 am and 5 pm.
- Mailboxes were a common sight: Mailboxes were typically made of metal or wood and were mounted on posts or attached to fences. They were often decorated with flowers, flags, or other ornaments.
- The Pony Express was a thing of the past: The Pony Express, which delivered mail between the East and West coasts in the 1860s, was no longer in operation by the 1950s.
- Air mail was becoming popular: With the development of commercial air travel, air mail became a faster and more efficient way to send mail across the country.
- The US Postal Service was expanding: The USPS was growing rapidly in the 1950s, with the number of post offices increasing from 40,000 in 1945 to over 50,000 by the end of the decade.
- Mail sorting was a labor-intensive process: Before the advent of automated sorting machines, mail was sorted by hand, often by postal workers who would sort letters and packages by hand.
- The ZIP code was introduced: In 1963, the USPS introduced the ZIP code system, which made it easier to sort and deliver mail more efficiently.
- Mail was a vital part of daily life: In the 1950s, mail was an essential part of daily life, with people relying on it to stay in touch with loved ones, conduct business, and receive important documents.
These are just a few fun facts about mail in the 1950s. Do you have any other questions about this topic?