Rural Free Delivery - Here Comes the Mailman!

The mail carrier always delivers, just as the old saying goes - "through wind and rain,and sleet and snow"...no matter where you are located.  But in Defiance County, in 1899, we were just putting together our Rural Free Delivery (RFD) system for the outlying areas of the east side of the county. Not everyone thought the system would work.  Before this time, country folks had to travel in to the nearest post office to pick up the stack of mail.  

Defiance Democrat - May 18, 1899

Mail Carrier in 1905

"RURAL MAIL DELIVERY
Government Agent Inspecting Proposed Route in Defiance County.

Billy Gaitree, who is at the head of the rural free delivery division of the U.S. Postal Department, arrived inthe city Saturday to look after the movement towards establishing some routes through the county of Defiance county.


In company with Postmaster Thompson, he drove out through Noble, Tiffin, Adams and Richland townships to inspect the routes for which the service has been petitioned. 

"ON THREE ROUTES

Rural Mail Delivery in Defiance County Will be Tried. 

Eastern Townships Will Get the Benefit Along Some of the Principal Thoroughfares.

Defiance County will have three rural mail delivery routes commencing the first of July.  This was settled by Superintendent Gaitree of that division of the postal service, who was here Saturday and in company with Postmaster Thompson of this city, drove over the territory north of Defiance.

There are to be three routes, to be designated by letters A, B, and C.  Route A will be from this city north through Brunersburg, past the Infirmary and Children's Home to Evansport, thence east to the Holgate pike and back to Defiance.

Route B will be east to Independence, then doubling back to the Adrian road,then north to Adams Ridge, thence west to Cup, thence to Domersville and back to this city.  This route will do away with the Adams Ridge, Cup and Domersville post offices and the sta-?-  routes which have heretofore been run in connection with them.

Route C will be east and southeast through South Richland and Highland townships, a roundabout course the exact line of which will be named later.  Postmaster Thompson went out over this territory today to settle upon the route.

The carriers on the rural routes will be paid $400 per year each, they to furnish their own conveyances.  Postmaster Thompson says he has these practically decided upon but he is not yet prepared to announce them.

The rural carriers will be under about the same regulations as the city carriers and in addition will sell money orders on the routes."

Taken in connection with the addition to be made to carrier force in this city the first of July when two new regular carriers are to be put on it will increase the duties and responsibilities of the Defiance postmaster quite materially.  The city will have to be redistricted and quite a change inaugurated on account of the increased service.

The success of the rural mail routes will depend on the interest manifested by the people along the routes and the enthusiasm with which they take advantage of the service.  Postmaster Thompson will soon issue complete detailed instructions concerning the requirements of the patrons of the service as to erecting mail boxes, etc."

Charles Kent, a Rural Free Delivery carrier for Route 7, prepares to take mail to northwest Ohio's rural families in this undated photo. The Rural Free Delivery system revolutionized postal service for farm families, allowing delivery of "every man's mail to every man's door." TOLEDO BLADE file photo