From the Archives: Post offices in Richmond
In April 1968, a couple delivered their tax return to the post office at 10th and Main streets in downtown Richmond. The post office blocked off a lane and stationed an employee to assist people rushing to beat the midnight filing deadline.
In March 1967, Richmond postal workers sorted the mail at a local post office. In that era, special attention was paid to air mail heading to troops in Vietnam – within three or four days, letters could arrive from the States to servicemen in Southeast Asia.
09-23-1967 (cutline): Post Office Open House--Visitors were given a peek at the behind-the-scene activities in the main post office here yesterday during the observance of postal services day. Here they are watching an electronic stamp-canceling machine being operated by William A. Gray Jr. (far right). From left are Mrs. Ethel Booth of Richmond, Postmaster John G. Mizell, Charles W. Brumm, tour guide and Clifton Purcell of Jacksonville, Fla.
05-25-1967 (cutline): Mrs. Anne Johnson Lobs package into basket at parcel post building. She, Mrs. Grace Mast (left) are part of new look in post office section.
New Postal Sorter--Just in time for the Christmas rush, the Richmond postoffice has put into operation a newly developed sorting system which automatically places letter envelopes of all sizes in line for speedy cancellation by an electric-eye unit installed in June. Post-master John G. Mizell said the new system--known as a "facer"--is but one of four in the nation. Here, postal workers dump the mail onto conveyor which takes letters to the facing unity, at upper right.
10-26-1963 (cutline): Postal officials watch new truck maneuver through tight spot. The men are A.W. Burke and Postmaster J.G. Mizell.
01-30-1946 (cutline): Central Station Post Office third larger after remodeling. Portion to left of entrance added since last fall.
11-11-1963 (cutline): This is the crowded outgoing letter sorting section at the Main Postoffice.
06-09-1963 (cutline): Retentive mind, keen eyes, speedy hands and equanimity. For a test pilot, these are essential qualities. So they are for a mail sorter. Richmond's post office boasts 398 such sturdy individuals. A proficient sorter must memorize around 3,600 items.
Last summer, United States Postmaster Louis DeJoy laid out what he called a “splendid vision” for the future of the Postal Service. But in central Virginia, the opposite happened.
