topic Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"? in Community Chat

Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

pattypeep — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 23:09:46 GMT

If memory serves me it was in the '60's. Anyway, I remember the hype about how it will help the mail move faster, etc. Today we received a piece of mail kindly forwarded to us by the erroneous recipient. It had the wrong name, the wrong state, and the wrong zip code. Same PO Box number and same town "name". This isn't the first time we have received mail from someone with the same town name, but nothing else matches. So ~~ herein lies my question. Is mail really sorted by zip code?

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

insomniac — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 23:16:15 GMT

I worked for the Post Office for many years.

Yes, mail is sorted by zip codes. (The fact that human beings are involved makes it an imperfect operation.)

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

scotnovel — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 23:21:00 GMT

There are millions and millions of pieces of mail being moved each day. No process can be expected to eliminate a small number of mistakes.

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

WSfan — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 23:21:41 GMT

Yes, I do sort of remember when zip codes came to be. The '60's do sound about right. And yes, mail is sorted by zip code. Years ago, we toured a USPS distribution center in our area when they had an open house. Postal employees sit at these long machines with the mail shooting by. Each envelop slows down enough so the employee keys in the zip code. You can write the incorrect city/town and state, but the correct zip code, and the mail will get there. Write the incorrect zip code, and you gum up the whole works.

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

Pearlee — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 23:24:58 GMT

@pattypeep Yes, it was in the '60s - I remember when we used to use a City, Zone and then State for the address. For instance; Chicago, 21, Illinois or whatever. I think the zone ended up being part of the zip code later.

I also remember when telephone numbers were not all digits. Our telephone number started with the word Yellowstone and we would dial YE in stead of what is now the first two numbers of the telephone number. OY I'm old!

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

JustJazzmom — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 23:33:27 GMT

TV programs always used Klondike 5 xxxx.

Now they use 555-xxxx

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

Pearlee — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 23:38:14 GMT

JustJazzmom wrote:
TV programs always used Klondike 5 xxxx.
Now they use 555-xxxx

Only in Alaska.... LOL!

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

animallover65 — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 23:43:12 GMT

Pearley, this caught my eye. Our telephone number started with Yellowstone. Are you in NYS?

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

Annabellethecat66 — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 23:55:15 GMT

Yes, I'm old so I was around when phones had a 2 party system.

When you think of the amount of mail the post office delivers every day they do an amazing job.

I sent my daughters friend a JoeZ leather jacket. She instead received a green blouse that was huge and addressed to someone in California! She lives in Arlington, Va.

No big deal, I called QVC and they said, 'tell her to just keep it and we'll send out to her the leather jacket'.

Sometimes things happen.

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

Mominohio — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:04:10 GMT

I don't remember a time before zip codes, born in 61.

I do remember being a small child and having a party line phone. We lived kind of rural for awhile, and there were five houses on our line.

And later when we were in town, I remember my folks making a big deal when we finally were down to two houses on the line, then a private one. I don't remember using the phone back then, as when we were children, we weren't allowed to use or answer the phone until we were maybe 12 or so.

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

MacDUFF — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:11:43 GMT

Don't we have a zip code forum??

Kidding!!...I'm kidding!!!

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

momtochloe — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:21:35 GMT

In the Chicagoland area there was a jingle that to this day still sticks in my head:

HUdson three two seven hundred in a deep baratone voice. I think it was for a carpet company.

eta: it was for a furniture cleaning company . . . funny I remember the jingle so clearly but not the company.

I also have a yardstick from my parents that has MUrray one four thousand for a Chevy dealership imprinted on it . . . good times!

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:20:01 GMT

@MacDUFF You made me laugh! I like your sense of humor!

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

hckynutjohn — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:34:35 GMT

@pattypeep wrote:
If memory serves me it was in the '60's. Anyway, I remember the hype about how it will help the mail move faster, etc. Today we received a piece of mail kindly forwarded to us by the erroneous recipient. It had the wrong name, the wrong state, and the wrong zip code. Same PO Box number and same town "name". This isn't the first time we have received mail from someone with the same town name, but nothing else matches. So ~~ herein lies my question. Is mail really sorted by zip code?

Old foggies like me remember long before zip codes. Originally it was only: " City, State". It then was decided adding a "City Zone Number" would expedite the mail.

Hence it went: "City, number(1/2/3 and so on", with the number digit designating the zone/aka--part of the city-North!South etc.

If they had " Air Mail" back then, we never used it. My guess it probably cost penny or 2 more to mail them.

hckynut(john)

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

Peaches McPhee — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:37:23 GMT

I was just a kid, but I do remember this. My parents would discuss it, and there was advertising on the TV (I think?). I also remember when phone numbers began with letters, not digits.

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

Pearlee — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:38:16 GMT

@animallover65 wrote:
Pearley, this caught my eye. Our telephone number started with Yellowstone. Are you in NYS?

Hi, @animallover65 . First off, I don't live now where I lived then ahd haven't in many years. But, I've never lived in NYS at all so that Yellowstone thing in common is very odd! I thought that was just for my area!

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

jlkz — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:45:43 GMT

One of you posters reminded me of the telephone alphabetic prefix ---KLO now ###. I was on an assignment in the telephone company's dial assignment office. The area where we had just bought a home was considered rural then: we only had rotary dials instead of touch tone keypads.

So, rather than get a high number series for the 4-digit part of the Tel. Number, I picked 1's and 2's. Very fast to call home or Neighbors to call us. One of the few perks of that job...also, it was the digital form of the day before my birthday so DH could not forget !

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

CatsyCline — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:57:03 GMT

Mr. ZIP !!

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

Zhills — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:58:09 GMT

I worked as a long distance telephone operator for a few years when they were using NAMES for prefixes instead of area codes. I took this call one night.

"Operator, I want to call 555 -1212 in this city. And, Operator, you'll have to go through the TOWNHALL there to get that number!" (TO 555-1212)

Re: Were You Around When Zip Codes "Became"?

Carmie — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 00:58:37 GMT

Return to sender

address unknown

no such number

no such zone

Elvis

I remember when zip codes were called zones.

Yes, they make the mail delivery faster.