Delphos P.O. Museum

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	The United States Post Office invested extensively in developing the railway system. They adapted it to create an efficient transportation system for mail throughout the country. This system was called "Railway Post Office", nicknamed RPO. An exhibit featuring the role of the railway system displays artifacts, books, and pictures from that era.

	In order for a town's outgoing mail to be picked up from a passing train, mail would be loaded into a white canvas sack and hung from a crane located close to the tracks. As a train goes by, a man would take a hook-like bar called a catcher, and "catch" the canvas sack of mail, bringing it onto the train. At the same time, this man would simply kick out the bag of mail that was to be delivered to the town. Some towns were so small that rather than having a crane to hold the mail sack, a woman would bravely stand next to the tracks as the train passed, holding up the mail sack for the catcher to snatch.

In order for a town's outgoing mail to be picked up from a passing train, mail would be loaded into a white canvas sack and hung from a crane located close to the tracks. As a train goes by, a man would take a hook-like bar called a catcher, and "catch" the canvas sack of mail, bringing it onto the train. At the same time, this man would simply kick out the bag of mail that was to be delivered to the town. Some towns were so small that rather than having a crane to hold the mail sack, a woman would bravely stand next to the tracks as the train passed, holding up the mail sack for the catcher to snatch.

	Distribution of mail occurred in train cars as they traveled from town to town. The train cars were typically 45' x 60' and consequently all available space was utilized. When additional space was needed for sorting mail, a temporary case, center, was unfolded and used.

	The Transportation Room is fortunate to have several actual vehicles. The number of vehicles used by the postal system is so extensive that a unique collection of miniture modes of transportation is on display to provide visitors with an idea of what was used. Models range from coaches to tractor trailers.

	People often believe that the Pony Express was a common way of mail delivery in the 1800's. However, this delivery system was not connected to the United States Postal Service and it existed for only one year. The advertisement hints at the treachery of being a rider by listing the risk of death and that orphans are preferred.

	Dr. Leo Waldick donated this envelope which features stamps from the country of Uruguay. The rich colors and designs of these stamps are one of the attractions of stamp collecting.

	Dr. Waldick also donated this envelope with postage from Thailand.

	This horse drawn mail coach, was used in Delphos to transfer the mail from the train to the post office. The gentleman pictured is John Brown.

	What was so unique about the Railway Post Office is that it was not only transporting mail, but that the mail was actually being sorted by employees as it traveled the railway. As evident in this picture of the inside of a mail rail car, the close quarters required it be an all male team that would live on the train car for a couple of days at a time and with little conveniences. Each man would have a "grip" which was a box where they would keep their scheme books. Each man was responsible for knowing several states and the towns in those states. Scheme books aid them in determining where and when the mail had to be transferred.

What was so unique about the Railway Post Office is that it was not only transporting mail, but that the mail was actually being sorted by employees as it traveled the railway. As evident in this picture of the inside of a mail rail car, the close quarters required it be an all male team that would live on the train car for a couple of days at a time and with little conveniences. Each man would have a "grip" which was a box where they would keep their scheme books. Each man was responsible for knowing several states and the towns in those states. Scheme books aid them in determining where and when the mail had to be transferred.

	Mail train cars typically held six to seven men that relied heavily on each other's knowlegde. During these modern times, the sorting machines return any undeliverable mail. In the days of the mail train cars there are a number of true stories of successful deliveries in spite of the puzzling addresses. One letter was addressed to "Grandma, Cridersville Ohio". On the mail train car the men were able to discuss who had relatives living where and who had grandchildren. In the end, the letter was delivered. Another story exemplfying the determination of the men was that of a letter addressed to "Judge Hotdog". The men deciphered the riddle and delivered it to the intended Judge Frankfurtter in New York.

Mail train cars typically held six to seven men that relied heavily on each other's knowlegde. During these modern times, the sorting machines return any undeliverable mail. In the days of the mail train cars there are a number of true stories of successful deliveries in spite of the puzzling addresses. One letter was addressed to "Grandma, Cridersville Ohio". On the mail train car the men were able to discuss who had relatives living where and who had grandchildren. In the end, the letter was delivered. Another story exemplfying the determination of the men was that of a letter addressed to "Judge Hotdog". The men deciphered the riddle and delivered it to the intended Judge Frankfurtter in New York.

	A series of commentaries were grouped together under the title "A Case In Point". This collection provides a unique perspective of how several of the authors felt about their mail with a humorous twist. This display is one of many donated by the National Post Office Museum.

	The Theater Room has seating available and the ability to play recordings for viewing. Programs on postal history and the Holocaust are available. The design of the Theater Room as well as the bench construction were performed by Gregory J. Levitt for his Eagle Scout project. This room is dedicated to the Memory of Carl Kay Kilpatrick. Reference material is also shelved in this room.