1963 Zip Code controversy
August 11, 2008 – 8:00 am
August 7, 1963
Ripped from the headlines of the Telegram-Tribune, Zip Code is a hoax!
All these years you have been addressing letters, filling in forms and typing in boxes numbers that don’t do anything. At least that is the thrust of this semi-humorous article by staff writer Gil Bailey.
Zip codes became the way to address June 1, 1963.
Bailey wrote about Les Macrae who had a friend mail two letters from Long Island to San Luis Obispo, one with zip one without.
They both arrived here at the same time about 64 hours after they were mailed.
The Post Office was making the transition from rail to truck transportation and tailoring their system for business mail.
Now everyone uses it, from the post office, credit card companies, marketing firms even competing delivery services like U.P.S.
But you heard it here first; it is all part of the vast Post office conspiracy, no doubt in league with the ink companies to pump up ink prices.
These Internet conspiracy theories are getting to me. I’ll go pick up a 79 cents a pound beef rib roast and have some dinner.
