Saturday morning I wanted fresh Lawrence County green beans, so I visited the Farmer’s Market.

It was so pretty under the umbrellas and awnings for shade. If you haven’t visited it on Saturday morning, you are really missing something. As I said before, good Lawrence County fresh vegetables are what we want and that is what we got.

That reminds us that we plan to make apple butter and we do need jars. If you have any to donate, we will appreciate it. Our apple butter is always very tasty and good and in demand.

This week, our very good friend and co-worker, Jean Kinley, broke her hip and is in the hospital. At this time she seems to be doing well. Drop here a card and she would be happy. Jean is 97 years old, still teaches piano lessons and is a wonderful musician.

Historical Fact: “Fellows Take the Mail” (Part 1)

The first mail pickup for Ironton was on Nov. 12, 1940. Twice a day since that time, morning and afternoon, Bill Haskins has taken the mail pouch down from the post office and set up the equipment for the pickup.

When Haskins arrives at the little clearing, just back of Amos Breeding’s place, some two miles below town, he takes out the necessary equipment from a box near the edge of the field.

Two poles, 20 feet in length, fastened together and planted in readymade holes 20 feet apart. A rope, fashioned in a loop, is attached to the poles, the mail pouch, protected by its fiber covering, rests on the ground.

The plane makes its approach.

The pickup boom is lowered and the mail pouch to be dropped trails behind on its own transfer loop.

Just before making the pickup, the pilot releases the delivery container which falls to the ground.

At the same moment, the arm with the pickup hook sticks the transfer rope suspended between the poles and rope slides down the arm into the hook, disengaging the hook and pickup rope from the arm and setting an automatic in motion.

Pickup mail is a new thing. There is always a lot to learn in any new thing. Planes are now being equipped with an extra hook and rope just in cae.

(This article appeared in The Ironton Tribune on Sunday, July 12, 1941. The story was provided by Betty Haskins Hunt, daughter of the late Bill Haskins, who was in charge of local pickup for the air mail service.)

Part II will follow next week about air mail in Ironton.