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The tunnel-shaped mailbox is a familiar sight on America's rural roads. The basic design of this mailbox,
first built in the early 1900s, remains much the same today. Equipped with a door that opens in the front,
large enough for letters and small packages, the box has a signal flag attached to the side, which is
raised to indicate to patrons and carriers when mail is in the box.
But sometimes a box is not just a box. Within the framework of postal requirements, rural Americans use
their mailboxes to express their individuality.
Image (at left):
These folk art mailboxes are on display in the Museum's Reaching Rural America exhibit.
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In 1992 and again in 1993, the National Postal Museum asked rural carriers to be on the lookout for intriguing and
especially creative rural mailboxes. Here are some of the mailboxes they found.
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This Arabian mailbox was created by Mrs. Cathy J. Berenberg of Kaneohe, Hawaii.
Image (at left):
"Three years ago, I bought a book on how to carve a carousel horse. . . . I was intrigued with the idea
that a hollow horse could be functional as well as beautiful. While that thought was fresh in my mind,
I noticed an Arabian at a nearby stable. . . . Four months later Let's Dance was born."
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This bear mailbox was created by Darrell E. Jahnke of Abrams, Wisconsin.
Image (at left):
This bear is located at a business that does chain saw carvings and sculptures.
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This lobster trap mailbox was created by Kenneth Reed of Warren, Maine.
Image (at left):
"The wood trap holds a large size mailbox and the red claw takes the place of the signal flag.
On the end of trap two wood fish made of mahogany. Red, white and blue buoy holds a wooden dory
with traps and fisherman rowing. . . . White anchors on blue post hold the trap. Fourteen small
painted wood fish move with prevailing winds."
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This mailbox man was created by Thomas Fawbush of Battleground, Indiana. The photograph was submitted by his wife, Nena.
Image (at left):
"My husband . . . seems to always have a project in the works. . . this winter his 'Mr. Peace to the
World and Thumbs Up' mailbox was born. Out of scrap pieces of tubing and a discarded mailbox arose
our blue-eyed, balding, front yard friend. He has certainly slowed traffic if not stopped it on several
occasions since he took his place early this spring."
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This cactus mailbox was created by T.J. and Barbara J. Mertens of Brodhead, Wisconsin.
Image (at left):
Saguaro Cactus mailbox, made out of used horseshoes. "The arm holding the mailbox has a set of mule shoes
depicting the 'M' for Merters or the shape of mule ears."
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The Deering tractor mailbox was submitted by Gary Moran of Lima, New York.
Image (at left):
"Replica of a McCormick Deering W 30 tractor from the 1930 era. I am restoring a real one at my home."
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