The Bank of Vernal: The “Parcel Post Bank” (2014) [pdf]

https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/bank-of-vernal.pdf

by samschooler • 3 years ago

30 5 3 years ago

about.usps.com

ubrigger2• 3 years ago

I've lived in Vernal a few times. The original bank was standing until they recently remodeled it. Not sure if it uses the same bricks or not.

Always got a kick out of the story. Never expected to see Vernal on HN

san-fran• 3 years ago

Zions Bank (current owners of the building) recently remodeled it very thoroughly, but took the effort to preserve the original brick facade. I'm a current resident of the area, and do love telling the story to visiting friends and family.

cratermoon• 3 years ago

Was Vernal unusual in the overall volume of shipments, or is it just this load of bricks that makes it stand out?

The article says, "Many building materials, including cement, plaster, nails, and other hardware, poured into town. Meanwhile, all the merchants in town received merchandise for their stores via Parcel Post. In September 1916, a train carload of twelve tons of canned tomatoes — 9,720 cans packed in 486 cases — arrived at the Vernal Post Office for area stores."

Did this happen in lots of smaller places in the country, or was Vernal special? If so, why? What was happening in Vernal that would need such a crush of goods?

ubrigger2• 3 years ago

I had only heard about the bank being shipped in, not anything else. If I were to bet it was the total traveling distance was what made it special.

ohbleek• 3 years ago

Never in a million years did I think that I’d see a post about my hometown on HN. I opened my first bank account in that bank when I was 12. I had a paper route for the Vernal Express and I deposited my earnings. I had a checkbook with scooby doo checks. I still have that account today but I don’t use it anymore. I didn’t know this story at all and now I’m feeling oddly attached to that account.

The Bank of Vernal: The “Parcel Post Bank” (2014) [pdf]

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