RFD Jubilee honors first rural carriers

Photograph

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Jefferson County Museum

Name/Title

RFD Jubilee honors first rural carriers

Entry/Object ID

IMG1359 ve

Description

To celebrate 50 years of rural service, The National Rural Letter Carriers arranged a memorial service for October 1, 1946, to honor Melvin T. Strider, the only one of the first rural carriers still living, and to erect a monument at the grave of Harry C. Gibson, who is credited with being the very first rural carrier at Charles Town because he began his duties a few weeks prior to the actual inauguration of RFD. The inscription on the grave marker in Edge Hill Cemetery reads: Harry C. Gibson June 8, 1876 April 19, 1938 Carried First Rural Mail in the United States Oct. 1, 1896 Erected and dedicated Oct. 1, 1946 by The National Rural Letter Carriers' Association Upper: Monument dedication ceremony in 1946 - pictured left to right: Congressman Jennings Randolph, Manly D. "Bud" Gibson [Harry Gibson's brother], Estelle Gibson [Harry Gibson's sister], B. A. Winquest [President of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association], Melvin T. Strider [only survivor of the first rural mail carriers], Thornton Tayloe Perry [Postmaster, Charles Town], and Jesse M. Donaldson [First Assistant Postmaster General]. From the Edwin A. Fitzpatrick, Jr, Collection. (IMG1359) Lower: Harry C. Gibson's monument in Edge Hill Cemetery in 2021. Photographed by Susan Whitmore. (IMG3750)