“ROBOTS GIVE YULETIDE MAILING ADVICE—Verses painted on a couple of robots in the lobby of York Post Office urge postal patrons to put three-cent stamps on Christmas cards (for forwarding and return service) and pack boxes carefully, label them correctly and mail early. Reading verses are Maurice E. Peters, clerk, at left and Richard D. Kisiner, sub-clerk. A group of postal employees volunteered their time to write verses, letter the robots, or put up streamers, a Christmas tree and other decorations in the lobby. A York firm constructed the robots free of charge and two others donated materials.”
Here’s more on the 1956 Christmas season from the Gazette and Daily. At that time the paper published many photos taken by their staff with long captions, so there was no need for an additional article. These two, found on microfilm at York County Heritage Trust, concern the post office, a busy place then, as now, during the season. I’ve transcribed the captions for easier reading.
The robot piece is from the November 26, 1956 Gazette and Daily. I had forgotten that you used to be able to send Christmas cards and other greeting cards unsealed and get a cheaper rate. It may have cost two cents instead of three for each unsealed piece.
The November 29, 1956 Gazette and Daily reported an addition to the letter carriers’ seasonal burden–this doesn’t sound like the best timing from the unnamed manufacturer:
“ALL THIS AND FIRST CLASS MAIL, TOO—In addition to a heavy load of Christmas mail, York post office carriers will be toting some 30,000 free samples of cleansing powder this week. The cans are being distributed as third class mail to York area occupants by one of the nation’s largest soap manufacturing firms. Other York County post offices also will have to handle the samples, Postmaster E. A. Barnitz said yesterday. Trying to figure out the problem of delivery are Frank B. Schneider, left, and Gene Ness, York carriers.”
Here are links to my other posts on York County Christmas 1956:
