Image of John Beargrease and brother delivering mail for Grand Marais, Minnesota by dogsled. Packed trail is somewhere between Two Harbors and Grand Marais, Minnesota. Before road improvements in the 1920s, a combination of dogsleds, steam ships, sail boats, and sleighs were used to deliver mail to settlements north of Two Harbors. Working in pairs, contracted carriers would make the perilous journey twice weekly.
Mail delivery, especially in the winter, was tough on the north shore of Lake Superior. During the wintertime, a combination of sleigh and dogsled were used to distribute mail and people north of Two Harbors. Not until 1925 when the roads were improved North of Two Harbors could mail carriers easily travel their routes.
Charles Starkey was appointed a Duluth mailman in October 1895 and served as sergeant at arms from 1900-1907. Starkey is standing on a residential street carrying his mailbag bag and parcels. He is not wearing a uniform.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Mailman Frank Elmquist was appointed February 1903 and retired April 1941. He is standing on a bricked street holding his mailbag, parcels, and mail rolled and bound with leather straps. Jackson Elementary School is visible in the background.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Frank McDonald was appointed a Duluth mailman in December 1899 and transferred to clerk in February 1923. He is standing on a bricked street near the post office building, holding his mailbag, parcels, and mail rolled and bound with leather straps.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Mailman George LaGrange was appointed in June 1904 and retired in 1930. He is standing in downtown Duluth near the post office holding bundles, parcels, mail, and his mailbag.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Mailman George LaGrange was appointed in June 1904 and retired in 1930. He is standing in downtown Duluth near the post office holding his mailbags, parcels, and mail. Jackson Elementary School is visible in the background.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
George Paul was appointed a Duluth mailman in August 1907. He is shown smiling while standing on a bricked street near the post office, with his mailbag, and mail rolled and bound with leather straps.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Henry Merry was appointed a Duluth mailman in March 1902 and retired in 1933. He is standing on a bricked street holding his mailbag, parcels, and mail rolled and bound with leather straps.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Mailman Jerome Kriz was appointed August 1890, transferred to clerk in 1924 and was superintendent of the West End Postal Station. He is standing on a bricked street holding his mailbag, parcels, and mail, downtown buildings are visible in the background.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Joseph Wilde was appointed a Duluth mailman in 1903 and retired in April 1945. He is standing on a bricked street near the post office building, holding his mailbag, parcels, and mail rolled and bound with leather straps.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Lewis Kusnierek was appointed mailman in June 1900 and retired in December 1939, and was treasurer of Local 114 of the National Association of Letter Carriers from 1925-1939. He is standing on a bricked street holding his mailbag, parcels, and mail rolled and bound with leather straps.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Mailman Paul Sneide was appointed July 1905 and retired July 1948. He is standing with his mailbag and parcels in downtown Duluth near the post office with the Jackson Elementary School behind him.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
On the left is A.B. Heimbach, the mailman on the right is either A.D. Mahoney or Austin O'Donnell. The men are standing in downtown Duluth near the post office holding their mailbags, parcels, and mail. Downtown buildings are visible in the background.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
From left to right: Leo Marlow was appointed mailman in June 1907, H.G. Hipler was not a regularly employed mail carrier, and William M. Ritchie was appointed in July 1909. They are standing in downtown Duluth near the post office holding their mailbags, parcels, and mail.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
William Cooley was appointed a Duluth mailman in July 1903 and retired in 1939. He is standing on a bricked street near the post office building, holding his mailbag, parcels, and mail rolled and bound with leather straps.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Mailman William Tusken was appointed in 1902 and retired July 1941. He was carrier number 3 for the Board of Trade building and is shown standing in downtown Duluth near the post office holding his mailbag, newspapers, and mail. Downtown buildings are visible in the background.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Duluth letter carriers in uniform standing on the steps of the main entrance to the Federal Building at Fifth Avenue West and First Street downtown that was often called the Post Office because it held the postal service department.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Post office employees sorting mail in the St. Peter Post Office. They are, from left to right, Clair Gilbertson, Leroy (Jim) Miller, Ernest Kramer, Ray Sampson, and Jerry Pitman.