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Massachusetts, Mail, Monopoly, and More
Celebrating November 5th
đź“«1639 ~ The first post office in the colony of Massachusetts is established đź“«
Over 100 years before the first Postmaster General, Benjamin Franklin, there was Richard Fairbanks. A tavern owner, he offered, in exchange for a pence or a barter, to direct letters to the destination of the sender’s request. Many times this was overseas, to correspond with those they left behind in their country of origin.
Why a tavern? A main gathering place, as the sitcom “Cheers” explained, “where everybody knows your name”. Ironically, the “Cheers” bar was located in Boston, Massachusetts. The same geography as Fairbanks’s tavern.
Cliff Clavin, a main character of “Cheers”, was a postal employee known for his endless trivia knowledge. He was likely in the know about his fellow Boston postal worker, Richard Fairbanks. Oh, and also, look who just walked in….NORM! If you know, you know.
Another historical event for Massachusetts occurred 307 years later.
🗳️1946 ~ John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts is elected to the US House of Representatives. 🗳️
So, Massachusetts, what is on your agenda 307 years after 1946? That would take us to the year 2253. Only time…
