January 27, 2010

The VanSant home at Mt. Victory in eastern Pulaski Co was a large two story frame house when we moved there in March 1935. There were two very large high ceiling rooms downstairs  The big 'front room' was a store.  The other one became the kitchen. Three large rooms were upstairs and there were open porches at the front and back of the house. The property contained some 27+ acres. The family consisted of Mother and Daddy, six boys two girls and a baby ? girl on the way.

This being in the middle of the depression and along with the purchase of the store came many charge accounts and a very meager inventory; across the road was a competing grocery and post office. Ours was not successful.

The store room was converted into a living guest-bedroom.  After the war began the Post Office position became available and Daddy became the official Mt. Victory Post Master. I was old enough at 15 to help with some of the tasks in the PO.  My first job (unpaid).  The mail came by pick up truck in locked canvas bags. With supervision I could help empty the bags and place the out going mail back in the bags to go to Somerset and further destinations.  I could sell stamps, (3 cents for first class) place mail in patron's boxes and other small tasks.

Daddy took great pains to impress on us that the PO work was regulated by the federal government and that we  would be held accountable by strict rules and the work would be inspected by a government official. So the records had to be absolutely accurate.

The living-guest room became the post office with a lobby and a generous  enclosed corner(with pad locked door) for the 'office'.

Daddy was eager to accommodate the community patrons and did not hesitate to interrupt his evening meal to deliver mail after closing hours.

Frances and Joyce followed me and became expert young PO assistants.