More on North Fork mail delivery

Last week’s column about the several North Fork post offices was inspired by an article in the Dec. 31, 1965, Hungry Horse News by Mel Ruder. Postmaster Ted Ross reported gross receipts of $524 for 1965 up from $466.55 in 1964.

Apparently some portion of the postmaster’s pay was determined by the number of stamps sold because summer residents were always being pestered to buy stamps on the North Fork and to buy a winter’s supply when they left for the year.

I have known many of the postmasters and mistresses. Only Polebridge had boxes and a cubbyhole post office. The rest were in homes. I remember Madge Terrian clearing off a space on her kitchen table on mail day.

All of these folks were North Fork residents, and their jobs was merely to sell stamps and distribute mail — and they were neighbors.

The mail carrier was a different matter. That person actually transported mail, first from Belton to the North Fork and from the late 1960s to the present from Columbia Falls to the Canadian Border.

In the early days, the mail was carried by horse and wagon and then by cars. However, into the 1970s the North Fork Road was only plowed when there was logging activity. As a result, the mail was often delivered when the mailman could get through. Ralph Day used a small Caterpillar tractor and a sled with a tent on it and a small stove in case someone needed to get to town or back home to the North Fork.

Early day North Forkers put up their winter groceries in October in case the snow came early, but the mail carrier often used to bring some small items. Usually, but not always, the mail man charged a small fee for this service depending on time spent picking up items and available space in their vehicle.

The mail carrier was the one who was open to criticism — “The weather wasn’t that bad,” “My mail arrived wet and couldn’t be read.” That kind of thing. Overall, though, the carrier was a vital communication link in homestead days and remains so today.

In recent times, Ralph Day and Becky Green were probably the most popular for their long-term service with a smile. Ralph was a North Fork resident, and Becky was proclaimed an honorary North Forker after 10 years of service — and she served more years after that. Current mail carrier, Karen, is well on the way to becoming a member of that long-serving group.

There have been a few duds, too. One unpopular carrier drove a small car in the summer and a 4-by-4 pickup in the winter. He insisted that mailboxes be raised or lowered according to the season so he could deliver mail without getting out of his vehicle. He is no longer with us — thank goodness.