Postmaster Pulls Letter Out of His Hat (original) (raw)

Post Office in a Hat: "The first postmaster of Omaha was Alfred D. Jones, who, since there was no post office building, carried the letters in his hat as he went about his work. When people asked him for mail, he removed his hat, sorted through the letters, and returned the others to his hat-post office. He was appointed postmaster in 1854. He was also a bricklayer, surveyor, and member of the bar and city council. He died in 1902 at the age of 88."

Source: Nebraska State Historical Society General Collection, p. 6, 77294-7010