Neither Snow Nor Rain Nor Gloom Of Night... Quiz

Answer: Yes

The USPS was created by an Act of Congress as an independent agency of the executive branch. It began operations in 1971 by replacing the Post Office Department. The USPS receives little or no funding from the federal government. Its income is derived solely from stamps and services.

Answer: Harrriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in 1822. At the age of 13 she fractured her skull and suffered from narcolepsy for the rest of her life. In 1844 Tubman married John Tubman, a freedman and in 1849 she escaped slavery and made her way to Philadelphia. She joined the Underground Railroad in 1850.

With the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850 many escaped slaves chose to go to Canada. Between 1850 and 1860 Tubman "conducted" 19 trips to Canada and other the places in the north. For many African Americans she was known as "Moses".

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

Only Franklin and Washington appeared on stamps until 1856 when Congress authorized a 5-cent stamp honoring Thomas Jefferson. In 1863 a 2-cent stamp appeared featuring Andrew Jackson. George Washington has appeared on more U.S. stamps than any other person.

Answer: Yes

The Post Office may suspend mail delivery if a postal employee feels unsafe due to the presence of a dog. It may also suspend service to a whole neighborhood if a dog is allowed to roam freely. Residents may be required to rent a post office box in some situations.

Answer: He had none

"Mr. Zip" first appeared on July 1, 1963 when the five digit zip code was introduced. Within 4 years 80% of Americans recognized "Mr. Zip" and what he stood for. "Mr. Zip" had no first name.

Answer: Newman

Newman was Jerry Seinfeld's nemesis in his eponymous sitcom "Seinfeld". Newman was a mail carrier and he would spontaneously blurt out that sentence.

Answer: Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company

The Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company was better known as the "Pony Express".

The 1840s in the U.S. saw thousands of people moving west along the Oregon Trail. In 1847 the Mormon Church moved most of its members to Utah, and in 1849 gold was discovered in California. All this movement created a need for mail delivery between Missouri and California. The "Pony Express" was created in 1860. It only lasted 18 months. In 1861 Congress authorized the subsidizing of a telegraph line between the Missouri River and the Pacific coast. That brought an end to the "Pony Express".

Riders for the 'Pony Express" had to swear on a Bible that they would not curse, fight or abuse their animals. The "Pony Express" was not a part of the Postal Department. The route had over 190 stations where horses were changed. Most stations were no more than 20 miles apart. Each rider rode about 75 to 100 miles per shift with 5 to 8 horse changes. The total route was over 1900 miles which riders covered in 10 days.

Answer: Death

In 1792 an Act of Congress specified that anyone convicted of mail theft shall "suffer death". In 1872 the penalty was reduced to a lifetime of hard labor.

Answer: True

Prior to 1863 all that was necessary on an envelope was the name of the addressee and the city. People would have to go to the post office to pick-up their mail. In 1863 Congress passed an Act which provided for free mail delivery in cities. This was the first time that street addresses had to appear on envelopes.

Answer: Boston, MA

A tavern owned by Richard Fairbanks in Boston, MA became the first official post office in the American colonies in1639. In colonial times, a town's tavern served as a central hub for correspondence. Letters were stored in leather pouches, awaiting collection by ship captains bound for England and other European destinations.

While this system wasn't perfect, it revolutionized colonial America's postal service.