Cincinnati Times Star
July 11, 1930
Page 21:1
By Jerry Hurter
CINCINNATI CLAIMS OLDEST STAMP CLERK IN AMERICA
Charles Hauck Serves Forty Years in Post-Office
The Cincinnati Post-office claims the oldest stamp clerk in the United States.
He is Charles Hauck, 70, 221 Melish avenue, who is serving his 40th in that capacity.
During this period, Hauck has been in direct charge of $122,086,795.20 in stamps. Sixty-six per cent, or $80,599,284.83 of this amount consist of the sale of two-cent stamps.
If placed side by side, the total stamps sold by Hauck would cover every inch of the forty-eight stories of the new Starrett Building at Fifth and Vine streets.
Up until this year, Hauck had sold a total of $119,086,795.20 in stamps. He estimates that $3,000,000 additional has been added to this figure during the first half of the current year.
Hauck has seen the stamp sales grow steadily with the passing of the years. When he was appointed a clerk on July 1, 1891, by Postmaster John Zumstein, the yearly stamp sales totaled about $870,000. During the past five years the sales have averaged better than $7,000,000 yearly; the records show.
AT LOBBY WINDOW
He served at the stamp window in the main lobby of the post-office for nearly thirty years.
"In the old days," Hauck said, "the outlook from the stamp window was a picturesque one. Women came to the window in hoopskirts, and the men wore what we now consider equally odd-looking clothing of that day. For 'speedy' special delivery services we had messengers who used the old fashioned high-wheeled bicycles. They could make a speed of nearly ten miles an hour-as long as they didn't come to a hill. In that event, they had to dismount and push the cycle up the hill.
The duties of the stamp clerk in the old days were more numerous and complex than they are today. When I started, it was the clerk's duty to receive mail and packages. We also had to weigh all mail matter. We had to be students of the postal laws and regulations, as we had to be ready to answer all forms of questions, not only about the U. S. laws, but about those in far-distant countries.
HUMAN NATURE STUDY
The stamp windows in those days remained open from 6:30 a. m. to 11 p. m., including Sundays. I don't know of a better place from which to study human nature than from a stamp window in the post-office lobby. I have seen many Cincinnatians grow up from 'tadpoles' to fathers and mothers; and many to successful professional and business men.
Working at a stamp window affords a splendid opportunity to test the honesty of men and women, Hauck said.
"Not more than than two per cent of the persons to whom I inadvertantly gave to much change ever returned the money." Hauck said. "But if I made the same mistake against them, they always came back for their change."
Hauck says that his experiences and observations in his position indicate that the young people of today are less considerate than they were when he was a young man.
"They seem to have lost sight of courtesies in the hustle and bustle of modern times," he said.
MORE DENOMINATIONS
There are many more stamp denominations now than there were forty years ago, Hauck said.
"When I became a clerk, the highest denomination was $1," he said. "Today the denominations run consecurity up to 15 cents, then there are 17-cent, 20-cent, 25-cent, 30-cent, 50-cent, $1, $2, and $5 denominations. Usage of the higher denmominations is growing rapidly.
The two-cent stamp still retains the lead in popularity, he said, with the 1-cent and 1 1/2-cent denominations running second.
"For three months during the war," Hauck related, "we sold on an average of $50,000 worth of stamps daily. On one day we sold $71,000 worth. During the three-month period I lost 13 pounds, we were so rushed. I used to drag the receipts from the sales through the post-office lobby in a carpet bag. It was too heavy to carry. I didn't even have a guard."
During the war, Hauck sold $20,000,000 worth of War Savings Stamps besides the postage stamps.
The year 1926 proved the largest postage stamp sales year at the Cincinnati Post-office, Hauck said. In that year, the total was $7,597,367.16. In his present capacity as assistant cashier of the stamp department, Hauck, who is in direct charge of all stamp sales, draws from 20,000,000 to 30,000,000 two-cent stamps at a time from the U. S. Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.
SAW POST OFFICE BUILT
As a boy, Hauck watched workmen excavate for the present Post-office Building.
"Before the post-office was built," he said, "there was a hay market on the site. It required thirteen years to erect the building. Work was started in 1872 and it was completed in 1885. That's quite a difference from the speed shown in the building of the new Starrett Building, isn't it?"
Hauck is now eligible for retirement, but he hopes to retain a two-year extension.
"I'm far from through," he said. "With the exception of three months that I lost during a serious illness two years ago, I've never lost a day during the forty years of my service in the post-office. I've never felt better in my life than I do at present."
Both Postmaster Arthur L. Behymer and Assistant Postmaster Oscar C. Fischer say that Hauck has made a fine record during his long service.
July 11, 1930
Page 21:1
By Jerry Hurter
CINCINNATI CLAIMS OLDEST STAMP CLERK IN AMERICA
Charles Hauck Serves Forty Years in Post-Office
The Cincinnati Post-office claims the oldest stamp clerk in the United States.
He is Charles Hauck, 70, 221 Melish avenue, who is serving his 40th in that capacity.
During this period, Hauck has been in direct charge of $122,086,795.20 in stamps. Sixty-six per cent, or $80,599,284.83 of this amount consist of the sale of two-cent stamps.
If placed side by side, the total stamps sold by Hauck would cover every inch of the forty-eight stories of the new Starrett Building at Fifth and Vine streets.
Up until this year, Hauck had sold a total of $119,086,795.20 in stamps. He estimates that $3,000,000 additional has been added to this figure during the first half of the current year.
Hauck has seen the stamp sales grow steadily with the passing of the years. When he was appointed a clerk on July 1, 1891, by Postmaster John Zumstein, the yearly stamp sales totaled about $870,000. During the past five years the sales have averaged better than $7,000,000 yearly; the records show.
AT LOBBY WINDOW
He served at the stamp window in the main lobby of the post-office for nearly thirty years.
"In the old days," Hauck said, "the outlook from the stamp window was a picturesque one. Women came to the window in hoopskirts, and the men wore what we now consider equally odd-looking clothing of that day. For 'speedy' special delivery services we had messengers who used the old fashioned high-wheeled bicycles. They could make a speed of nearly ten miles an hour-as long as they didn't come to a hill. In that event, they had to dismount and push the cycle up the hill.
The duties of the stamp clerk in the old days were more numerous and complex than they are today. When I started, it was the clerk's duty to receive mail and packages. We also had to weigh all mail matter. We had to be students of the postal laws and regulations, as we had to be ready to answer all forms of questions, not only about the U. S. laws, but about those in far-distant countries.
HUMAN NATURE STUDY
The stamp windows in those days remained open from 6:30 a. m. to 11 p. m., including Sundays. I don't know of a better place from which to study human nature than from a stamp window in the post-office lobby. I have seen many Cincinnatians grow up from 'tadpoles' to fathers and mothers; and many to successful professional and business men.
Working at a stamp window affords a splendid opportunity to test the honesty of men and women, Hauck said.
"Not more than than two per cent of the persons to whom I inadvertantly gave to much change ever returned the money." Hauck said. "But if I made the same mistake against them, they always came back for their change."
Hauck says that his experiences and observations in his position indicate that the young people of today are less considerate than they were when he was a young man.
"They seem to have lost sight of courtesies in the hustle and bustle of modern times," he said.
MORE DENOMINATIONS
There are many more stamp denominations now than there were forty years ago, Hauck said.
"When I became a clerk, the highest denomination was $1," he said. "Today the denominations run consecurity up to 15 cents, then there are 17-cent, 20-cent, 25-cent, 30-cent, 50-cent, $1, $2, and $5 denominations. Usage of the higher denmominations is growing rapidly.
The two-cent stamp still retains the lead in popularity, he said, with the 1-cent and 1 1/2-cent denominations running second.
"For three months during the war," Hauck related, "we sold on an average of $50,000 worth of stamps daily. On one day we sold $71,000 worth. During the three-month period I lost 13 pounds, we were so rushed. I used to drag the receipts from the sales through the post-office lobby in a carpet bag. It was too heavy to carry. I didn't even have a guard."
During the war, Hauck sold $20,000,000 worth of War Savings Stamps besides the postage stamps.
The year 1926 proved the largest postage stamp sales year at the Cincinnati Post-office, Hauck said. In that year, the total was $7,597,367.16. In his present capacity as assistant cashier of the stamp department, Hauck, who is in direct charge of all stamp sales, draws from 20,000,000 to 30,000,000 two-cent stamps at a time from the U. S. Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.
SAW POST OFFICE BUILT
As a boy, Hauck watched workmen excavate for the present Post-office Building.
"Before the post-office was built," he said, "there was a hay market on the site. It required thirteen years to erect the building. Work was started in 1872 and it was completed in 1885. That's quite a difference from the speed shown in the building of the new Starrett Building, isn't it?"
Hauck is now eligible for retirement, but he hopes to retain a two-year extension.
"I'm far from through," he said. "With the exception of three months that I lost during a serious illness two years ago, I've never lost a day during the forty years of my service in the post-office. I've never felt better in my life than I do at present."
Both Postmaster Arthur L. Behymer and Assistant Postmaster Oscar C. Fischer say that Hauck has made a fine record during his long service.
Cincinnati Times Star
July 11, 1930
Page 21:1
By Jerry Hurter
CINCINNATI CLAIMS OLDEST STAMP CLERK IN AMERICA
Charles Hauck Serves Forty Years in Post-Office
The Cincinnati Post-office claims the oldest stamp clerk in the United States.
He is Charles Hauck, 70, 221 Melish avenue, who is serving his 40th in that capacity.
During this period, Hauck has been in direct charge of $122,086,795.20 in stamps. Sixty-six per cent, or $80,599,284.83 of this amount consist of the sale of two-cent stamps.
If placed side by side, the total stamps sold by Hauck would cover every inch of the forty-eight stories of the new Starrett Building at Fifth and Vine streets.
Up until this year, Hauck had sold a total of $119,086,795.20 in stamps. He estimates that $3,000,000 additional has been added to this figure during the first half of the current year.
Hauck has seen the stamp sales grow steadily with the passing of the years. When he was appointed a clerk on July 1, 1891, by Postmaster John Zumstein, the yearly stamp sales totaled about $870,000. During the past five years the sales have averaged better than $7,000,000 yearly; the records show.
AT LOBBY WINDOW
He served at the stamp window in the main lobby of the post-office for nearly thirty years.
"In the old days," Hauck said, "the outlook from the stamp window was a picturesque one. Women came to the window in hoopskirts, and the men wore what we now consider equally odd-looking clothing of that day. For 'speedy' special delivery services we had messengers who used the old fashioned high-wheeled bicycles. They could make a speed of nearly ten miles an hour-as long as they didn't come to a hill. In that event, they had to dismount and push the cycle up the hill.
The duties of the stamp clerk in the old days were more numerous and complex than they are today. When I started, it was the clerk's duty to receive mail and packages. We also had to weigh all mail matter. We had to be students of the postal laws and regulations, as we had to be ready to answer all forms of questions, not only about the U. S. laws, but about those in far-distant countries.
HUMAN NATURE STUDY
The stamp windows in those days remained open from 6:30 a. m. to 11 p. m., including Sundays. I don't know of a better place from which to study human nature than from a stamp window in the post-office lobby. I have seen many Cincinnatians grow up from 'tadpoles' to fathers and mothers; and many to successful professional and business men.
Working at a stamp window affords a splendid opportunity to test the honesty of men and women, Hauck said.
"Not more than than two per cent of the persons to whom I inadvertantly gave to much change ever returned the money." Hauck said. "But if I made the same mistake against them, they always came back for their change."
Hauck says that his experiences and observations in his position indicate that the young people of today are less considerate than they were when he was a young man.
"They seem to have lost sight of courtesies in the hustle and bustle of modern times," he said.
MORE DENOMINATIONS
There are many more stamp denominations now than there were forty years ago, Hauck said.
"When I became a clerk, the highest denomination was $1," he said. "Today the denominations run consecurity up to 15 cents, then there are 17-cent, 20-cent, 25-cent, 30-cent, 50-cent, $1, $2, and $5 denominations. Usage of the higher denmominations is growing rapidly.
The two-cent stamp still retains the lead in popularity, he said, with the 1-cent and 1 1/2-cent denominations running second.
"For three months during the war," Hauck related, "we sold on an average of $50,000 worth of stamps daily. On one day we sold $71,000 worth. During the three-month period I lost 13 pounds, we were so rushed. I used to drag the receipts from the sales through the post-office lobby in a carpet bag. It was too heavy to carry. I didn't even have a guard."
During the war, Hauck sold $20,000,000 worth of War Savings Stamps besides the postage stamps.
The year 1926 proved the largest postage stamp sales year at the Cincinnati Post-office, Hauck said. In that year, the total was $7,597,367.16. In his present capacity as assistant cashier of the stamp department, Hauck, who is in direct charge of all stamp sales, draws from 20,000,000 to 30,000,000 two-cent stamps at a time from the U. S. Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.
SAW POST OFFICE BUILT
As a boy, Hauck watched workmen excavate for the present Post-office Building.
"Before the post-office was built," he said, "there was a hay market on the site. It required thirteen years to erect the building. Work was started in 1872 and it was completed in 1885. That's quite a difference from the speed shown in the building of the new Starrett Building, isn't it?"
Hauck is now eligible for retirement, but he hopes to retain a two-year extension.
"I'm far from through," he said. "With the exception of three months that I lost during a serious illness two years ago, I've never lost a day during the forty years of my service in the post-office. I've never felt better in my life than I do at present."
Both Postmaster Arthur L. Behymer and Assistant Postmaster Oscar C. Fischer say that Hauck has made a fine record during his long service.
July 11, 1930
Page 21:1
By Jerry Hurter
CINCINNATI CLAIMS OLDEST STAMP CLERK IN AMERICA
Charles Hauck Serves Forty Years in Post-Office
The Cincinnati Post-office claims the oldest stamp clerk in the United States.
He is Charles Hauck, 70, 221 Melish avenue, who is serving his 40th in that capacity.
During this period, Hauck has been in direct charge of $122,086,795.20 in stamps. Sixty-six per cent, or $80,599,284.83 of this amount consist of the sale of two-cent stamps.
If placed side by side, the total stamps sold by Hauck would cover every inch of the forty-eight stories of the new Starrett Building at Fifth and Vine streets.
Up until this year, Hauck had sold a total of $119,086,795.20 in stamps. He estimates that $3,000,000 additional has been added to this figure during the first half of the current year.
Hauck has seen the stamp sales grow steadily with the passing of the years. When he was appointed a clerk on July 1, 1891, by Postmaster John Zumstein, the yearly stamp sales totaled about $870,000. During the past five years the sales have averaged better than $7,000,000 yearly; the records show.
AT LOBBY WINDOW
He served at the stamp window in the main lobby of the post-office for nearly thirty years.
"In the old days," Hauck said, "the outlook from the stamp window was a picturesque one. Women came to the window in hoopskirts, and the men wore what we now consider equally odd-looking clothing of that day. For 'speedy' special delivery services we had messengers who used the old fashioned high-wheeled bicycles. They could make a speed of nearly ten miles an hour-as long as they didn't come to a hill. In that event, they had to dismount and push the cycle up the hill.
The duties of the stamp clerk in the old days were more numerous and complex than they are today. When I started, it was the clerk's duty to receive mail and packages. We also had to weigh all mail matter. We had to be students of the postal laws and regulations, as we had to be ready to answer all forms of questions, not only about the U. S. laws, but about those in far-distant countries.
HUMAN NATURE STUDY
The stamp windows in those days remained open from 6:30 a. m. to 11 p. m., including Sundays. I don't know of a better place from which to study human nature than from a stamp window in the post-office lobby. I have seen many Cincinnatians grow up from 'tadpoles' to fathers and mothers; and many to successful professional and business men.
Working at a stamp window affords a splendid opportunity to test the honesty of men and women, Hauck said.
"Not more than than two per cent of the persons to whom I inadvertantly gave to much change ever returned the money." Hauck said. "But if I made the same mistake against them, they always came back for their change."
Hauck says that his experiences and observations in his position indicate that the young people of today are less considerate than they were when he was a young man.
"They seem to have lost sight of courtesies in the hustle and bustle of modern times," he said.
MORE DENOMINATIONS
There are many more stamp denominations now than there were forty years ago, Hauck said.
"When I became a clerk, the highest denomination was $1," he said. "Today the denominations run consecurity up to 15 cents, then there are 17-cent, 20-cent, 25-cent, 30-cent, 50-cent, $1, $2, and $5 denominations. Usage of the higher denmominations is growing rapidly.
The two-cent stamp still retains the lead in popularity, he said, with the 1-cent and 1 1/2-cent denominations running second.
"For three months during the war," Hauck related, "we sold on an average of $50,000 worth of stamps daily. On one day we sold $71,000 worth. During the three-month period I lost 13 pounds, we were so rushed. I used to drag the receipts from the sales through the post-office lobby in a carpet bag. It was too heavy to carry. I didn't even have a guard."
During the war, Hauck sold $20,000,000 worth of War Savings Stamps besides the postage stamps.
The year 1926 proved the largest postage stamp sales year at the Cincinnati Post-office, Hauck said. In that year, the total was $7,597,367.16. In his present capacity as assistant cashier of the stamp department, Hauck, who is in direct charge of all stamp sales, draws from 20,000,000 to 30,000,000 two-cent stamps at a time from the U. S. Treasury Department, Washington, D. C.
SAW POST OFFICE BUILT
As a boy, Hauck watched workmen excavate for the present Post-office Building.
"Before the post-office was built," he said, "there was a hay market on the site. It required thirteen years to erect the building. Work was started in 1872 and it was completed in 1885. That's quite a difference from the speed shown in the building of the new Starrett Building, isn't it?"
Hauck is now eligible for retirement, but he hopes to retain a two-year extension.
"I'm far from through," he said. "With the exception of three months that I lost during a serious illness two years ago, I've never lost a day during the forty years of my service in the post-office. I've never felt better in my life than I do at present."
Both Postmaster Arthur L. Behymer and Assistant Postmaster Oscar C. Fischer say that Hauck has made a fine record during his long service.
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