“On Saturday morning, November 5, the water left the streets and men were able to enter the building. The full force of employees, regardless of position, with only the thought of service, went to work with a will. Shovels, brooms and fire hose were used to advantage, and notwithstanding the fact that the water in the basement could not be pumped out, service was resumed Monday morning, November 7. This office was the first business institution to resume operations in the city. 

   “The first mail came by carriers on foot from Waterbury and by mounted carriers from Northfield on Saturday, November 5. Much of this mail came and was dispatched without postage, as nearly all of the smaller offices lost all stamps and supplies. The first mail dispatched left for Waterbury and Northfield on Saturday, the 5th, and by air for Concord, N. H., November 7. 
 

   "A Lieutenant of the U. S. Army flyers took mail from Montpelier to Concord and another Lieutenant flying a commercial plane, with a supply of yeast for Montpelier, took mail for Concord on his return trip but was forced down at South Royalton, Vt. His mail was later sent on to White River Junction. On this same date, New York National Guard flyers, with three planes tendered by Gov. Smith of New York to the Governor of Vermont, commenced carrying mail between Montpelier, White River Junction and Burlington. They rendered a very valuable service which was continued until November 13. On this date the Department signed a contract to carry mail by airplane from Concord, N. H. to Montpelier. Under very trying circumstances and all kinds of weather, the pilot succeeded in making two trips a day from Concord to Montpelier, Burlington and return. His dauntless courage under adverse flying conditions was just an example of what postal employees are constantly doing in their aim for service. 

   "From November 8 to November 12, a chief clerk of the Railway Mail Service made his headquarters at the Montpelier office, keeping in close contact with his office at White River Junction. In his usual forceful and untiring manner he succeeded in keeping mails flowing in and out by truck service over roads considered almost impassable. On November 28 the Montpelier & Wells River Railroad operated the first train carrying mail in and out of the city.
 
 

   "On November 28, truck service between White River Junction via Bradford was discontinued, and a few days later a truck line between Montpelier and White River direct was established, leaving Montpelier at 7:30 P. M. and returning next morning at 8:00 A. M., thus providing a means "for late dispatch and an early receipt of mail. 

   "The Montpelier office force continued their labors although sadly crippled and tired out, due to exposure in a damp and foul smelling office. They worked from 6 A. M. to midnight, with absolutely no time to rearrange affairs and with no access to filing cases or desks, as all refused to open. Day after day mail rolled in. It was not only parcel post but freight and express as well. But still the employees worked on until the morning of December 26 found 50 per cent of the regular office under a doctor's care, but all mail delivered. 

   "Just one of the problems which confronted the officials directly after the flood was the reclamation of approximately $36,000 worth of stamps and stamped envelopes. Safes and vaults were no protection from the filthy waters. As impregnable as they looked before the flood, when the safes were opened it was found that the Gods of destruction had penetrated them and ruined the contents. Everything was scattered and buried under the same filthy water and mud. After this had been done, several hundred dollars worth of stock came in from the public to be counted and redeemed. Most of it was filthy and wet and envelopes would stick together. The task was finally completed and about $38,000 worth of stock went to the Third Assistant Division of Stamps for redemption. When verification of count by the official counters at the Division of Stamps was returned it showed only 43 cents’ variation from the postmaster's count. 
 
 

   "When the worst of the holiday rush was over, reconstruction began. Floors had to be relaid and specifications and bids for all kinds of supplies, safes, repairing of furniture and plastering were called in. There was no end of work necessary to repair the building in addition to the regular postal duties, and yet it is sometimes said that the postmaster's job is a regular political plum. If you ever hear that statement made, hold the poor deluded fool until some postmaster from a first class office can interview or shoot him. 

   "Uncle Sam's postal workers never laid down on the job, and this year it has been a big one all through Vermont. It is still a big one, but like all Vermonters we are going to master it, and still advise the public to mail early and often."
 
 
 
 

Source:  Mail Story Of The Flood, November 1927, Samuel J. Pease, Editor, Chief Clerk, Railway Mail Service, Boston Mass, October 1, 1928, Printed by The Concord Press, Concord NH; prepared by Tom Dunn, January 2002

[Provided by Tom Dunn]