1941 Arrival of the First U.S. Post Office Bus
Files
Title
1941 Arrival of the First U.S. Post Office Bus
Subject
Postal service - Virginia - Woodstock
Courthouses - Virginia - Woodstock
Woodstock (Va)
Description
Photograph of the inaugural arrival of the U.S. Postal Service's first-ever Highway Post Office (HPO) bus arriving in Woodstock from Washington D.C. on its way to Harrisonburg.
The square in front of the courthouse is full of people with a band visible in the center. All were there to officially welcome the mail bus.
The HPO's inaugural run took place on February 10, 1941.
The HPO service was created to replace the Railway Post Office (RPO) system, which was declining due to a decrease in passenger rail service in the 1930s.
The rise of the highway system ultimately led to the HPO's demise. The service ended in 1974, replaced by large, centralized sorting facilities and the adoption of the ZIP code system.
The words "United States Mail Highway Post Office" are written on the side of the bus.
The square in front of the courthouse is full of people with a band visible in the center. All were there to officially welcome the mail bus.
The HPO's inaugural run took place on February 10, 1941.
The HPO service was created to replace the Railway Post Office (RPO) system, which was declining due to a decrease in passenger rail service in the 1930s.
The rise of the highway system ultimately led to the HPO's demise. The service ended in 1974, replaced by large, centralized sorting facilities and the adoption of the ZIP code system.
The words "United States Mail Highway Post Office" are written on the side of the bus.
Creator
Morrison Studio
Source
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Publisher
Shenandoah County Library
Date
1941
Contributor
Identified in 2025 by Zach Hottel.
Rights
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Identifier
040120
Original Format
Film Negative
Physical Dimensions
8x10 Film
Collection
Citationzork
Morrison Studio, “1941 Arrival of the First U.S. Post Office Bus,” Shenandoah County Library Archives, accessed December 5, 2025, https://archives.countylib.org/items/show/74436.
Comments