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Star Route Carrier
According to the encyclopedia, a Star Route was a contract given by the United States Post Office to a private person for mail delivery services. The Postmaster-General awarded such a contract to the lowest bidder who gave sufficient guarantee for faithful performance, without any condition except to provide for due “celerity, certainty and security” of transportation. These bids were designated on the route registers with the three words replaced by stars (* * *) and thus became known as Star Routes.
Most Star Route Carriers delivered mail to individual customers, but the one that I remember from the late 1940’s carried mail to and from Post Offices along the Muskingum River. I don’t remember his name, but I know that he lived in Marietta and that his wife was also a Star Route Carrier. Early every morning (except Sundays and holidays) he would load his car with mail and drive up the river, stopping at the various towns including Lowell, Beverly, McConnelsville, and Duncan Falls to deliver and pick up bags of mail until he reached Zanesville. There he would spend the day, frequently in the John McIntire Public Library (he must have become extremely well read!). In the afternoon, he reversed the route.
Despite the fact that he drove a full sized automobile, he was not allowed to carry paying passengers. However, what could be wrong with giving a ride to a friend and accepting from that friend a small monetary gift? Since neither my family in Zanesville nor my Grandmother in Lowell owned a car, we quickly became very good friends with the Star Route Carrier. It made it easy for me to visit my Grandmother and for her to come to see us.
Since he had a fixed price contract, it made perfect sense for the Star Route Carrier to save money wherever possible. He drove a constant 30-35 miles per hour on his route to the dismay of other drivers who constantly had to pass him. I remember that to enforce his speed he would pull out a small knob on his dashboard and take his foot off the accelerator. This was, of course, a throttle, an early version of cruise control!
Does anyone else have a story about these Star Routes (later called Highway Contract Routes)? I wonder, are they still in existence in southeastern Ohio?
Most Star Route Carriers delivered mail to individual customers, but the one that I remember from the late 1940’s carried mail to and from Post Offices along the Muskingum River. I don’t remember his name, but I know that he lived in Marietta and that his wife was also a Star Route Carrier. Early every morning (except Sundays and holidays) he would load his car with mail and drive up the river, stopping at the various towns including Lowell, Beverly, McConnelsville, and Duncan Falls to deliver and pick up bags of mail until he reached Zanesville. There he would spend the day, frequently in the John McIntire Public Library (he must have become extremely well read!). In the afternoon, he reversed the route.
Despite the fact that he drove a full sized automobile, he was not allowed to carry paying passengers. However, what could be wrong with giving a ride to a friend and accepting from that friend a small monetary gift? Since neither my family in Zanesville nor my Grandmother in Lowell owned a car, we quickly became very good friends with the Star Route Carrier. It made it easy for me to visit my Grandmother and for her to come to see us.
Since he had a fixed price contract, it made perfect sense for the Star Route Carrier to save money wherever possible. He drove a constant 30-35 miles per hour on his route to the dismay of other drivers who constantly had to pass him. I remember that to enforce his speed he would pull out a small knob on his dashboard and take his foot off the accelerator. This was, of course, a throttle, an early version of cruise control!
Does anyone else have a story about these Star Routes (later called Highway Contract Routes)? I wonder, are they still in existence in southeastern Ohio?
LeilaN |
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| anwag | Star Route | 4 | Nov 7 2008, 11:53 AM EST by anwag | ||
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Thread started: Oct 23 2008, 5:36 PM EDT
Watch
Hi the story that you wrote was very interesting.
I am wondering about that knob on the dash , i remember only one car that had that type of knob and it was on the plymouth auto and it was for free wheeling not used for a throttle. Correct me if I am wrong. Alan Wagoner |
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| LeilaN | Star Route | 0 | Aug 31 2008, 6:41 PM EDT by LeilaN | ||
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Thread started: Aug 31 2008, 6:41 PM EDT
Watch
Hi Franz -
Great story! I have always heard of "star route" carriers - but never knew the definition. And how interesting that he 'bent' the rules for you! What a difference that small favor must have made in your life - enabling you to have a closer relationship with your grandmother .. I'm sure you have many fond memories of those rides and of spending special time in Lowell. I enjoy your writing very much ... perhaps a 'chip off the old block?" Leila |
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