Super-efficient USPS delivers a letter in Michigan 100 years after it was mailed
· Sep 24, 2020 · NottheBee.com

These days, the U.S. Postal Service has found itself at the forefront of the battle for one of the most divisive election years in our nation's history. Fortunately, the trusty USPS has definitely dispelled our fears by saying it won't be able to deliver the expected deluge of mail-in ballots on time. There also haven't been any issues with failing to deliver ballots in state primaries.

In a timely display of their renowned efficiency and speed, the USPS finally delivered a 100-year-old letter to Brittany Keech of Belding, Michigan.

Keech said she "didn't think much of it" at first, but then looked closer at the stamp, which had been postmarked on October 29, 1920. On the front was a handwritten note, and on the back there was a Halloween greeting.

Keech quickly shared the letter with a local group, looking for answers on who was supposed to receive the letter a hundred years ago.

Here's the full text of the letter:

Dear Cousins,

Hope this will find you all well. We are quite well but mother has awful lame knees. It is awful cold here. I just finished my history lesson and am going to bed pretty soon. My father is shaving and my mother is telling me your address. I will have to close for a night. Hope grandma and grandpa are well. Don't forget to write us - Roy get his pants fixed yet.

Flossie Burgess

With the help of a local library worker, Keech learned that a Mr. Roy McQueen had once lived at her home. McQueen had moved to Michigan from Canada in 1887 and married a woman named Nora Murdock. The letter was addressed to their children from their cousin Florence ("Flossie"), the daughter of Nora's sister.

There are no immediate descendants in the area, but Keech reports that with additional help, they found a living grandniece of Roy and Nora and have connected with her.

When questioned about how a piece of mail could possibly go missing for a century, Michigan USPS worker Mindy Ponover indicated that there are several explanations for the mysterious delay. One could be that the postcard was stuck under machinery or furniture and was only rediscovered when an old facility was being renovated. USPS public relations representative Sara Martin also explained that many people buy old letters at flea markets and antique shops and then post them.

Whatever the reason, rest assured the USPS has this whole election deal in the bag. And if they literally don't have it in the bag, take heart in how cool it'll be when our great-great grandkids find hundreds of thousands of ballots buried in ditches, hidden under machinery, and "mysteriously" lost in dozens of creative ways!

If you're feeling down, however, just remember that your local officials have your best interests at heart. It's not like government workers would lose or reject or be slow in counting ballots during the most heated election of our lifetime. This is fine. Everything is fine. This is good.


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