19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Wednesday, April 16, 1914: Went up to town this afternoon to mail some parcel post packages. Oh dear me, and it cost eleven cents. Called on a friend and quite a sociable chat. Went to a lecture this evening in Watsontown.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Seriously Grandma. . . You’re annoyed that it costs 11¢ to mail a package? . . .
Hmmm. . Now that I’m re-reading your diary entry, I almost think that you mailed several packages for 11¢. . . sound like a bargain to me.
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A hundred years ago parcel post was the cool new thing. According to Wikipedia parcel post begin in the US in 1913.
You may also enjoy several previous posts that I did on parcel post:
I wonder what the lecture was about! I can’t tell you how much seeing this blog has made me wish I could find something like that from a relative! You have such a treasure!
I am very fortunate to have the diary, and enjoy sharing it with others.
Now parcel post is becoming a true thing of the past; via the Post Office anyway.
A few years ago, I never would have guessed how quickly the post office and parcel post would become almost irrelevant to how we receive packages, etc.
Me neither.
Great postcard to match the entry. Fascinating, as always.
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
Yes, indeed….I agree with Mended Wheels comment: Grandma’s diary is certainly a treasure. And we’re so happy that you’re sharing it with us!
If only Grandma could see what it costs these days to mail a package…..
She’d probably be shocked how expensive it is to mail packages. (Sometimes I’m shocked by how much it costs to pay the postage to return an unwanted item that I ordered online.)
Some history of first class stamp rates…
Click to access stamphistory.pdf
Thanks for sharing the link. It’s interesting how the cost of mailing a letter went up to $.03 during World War I and then dropped back to $.02 after the war ended.
Didn’t you also do that post on mailing children? Yeah 11 cents – wow have times changed! Look at this postal service time line I found on line! It seems a 2 cent stamp would get your letter where it needed to go. http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/cpm/chrono/chs1900e.shtml
Hmm, I don’t think that I ever did a post on mailing children, though I can remember seeing mention of it somewhere.
Thanks for the link. It’s amazing how inexpensive it once was to mail letters.
Really gives perspective on the change in cost of living in 100 years!
There sure has been a lot of inflation across the years.
I love the words from the past, where else can you hear ” Oh dear me, and it cost eleven cents. Called on a friend and quite a sociable chat.” Wonderful post again, thank you!
I’m glad you (and your friend) enjoyed it. I have a lot of fun doing this blog, and it’s always wonderful to hear when someone especially enjoys a post.
Our Canada Post is ending home delivery of mail this year. This will be an unfortunate development for a lot of people. One hundred years ago, people saw a trip to the post office as a social networking venture, an opportunity to bump into neighbours and friends. My, how things change.
Whew, I didn’t know that Canada was ending home delivery of mail. I suppose that the US will do something similar soon.
What was the value of 11 cents in todays money?
According to an online inflation calculator a dollar in 1914 is now worth $23.26, so $.11 back then would be the equivalent of $2.56 today.
http://www.davemanuel.com/inflation-calculator.php
I would love it if I sent packages for 11 cents! I love that she said, ‘Oh dear me’. 🙂
So would I. . . I’d even be happy if I could mail a birthday card for 11 cents. 🙂
It is still fun to receive a package 🙂
I agree. 🙂
What was there before parcel post?
According to Wikipedia:
Private couriers have existed since goods first needed to be transported from place to place. Before the development of state-run parcel posts, many railway companies had a thriving parcel service and private companies continue to run their own delivery networks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parcel_post
Hi Sheryl … I have a collection of post cards from 1910 … The postage on those was 1 cent … I don’t wonder she was dismayed!!!! Jane
Wow, it’s amazing how little it cost to mail a post card back then.
I just mailed a parcel post package to my nieces. It contains two sets of Legos for Easter and it cost me $5.41 to mail. I think it is still a bargain!
That does seem like a very reasonable amount. (Hopefully your nieces don’t see this comment and are surprised on Easter.) 🙂
11 cents would be about $2.50 today. Too bad only her sister got a hat! 🙂
Sometimes I’m amazed at how much inflation there has been over the past 100 years.
Wonder how much snail mail will cost 100 years from now!
Interesting thought. . . I suppose that amounts of money that seem relatively large to us now (for example, $100) will sound very small to people a hundred years from now.
I guess it seemed pricey then but Canadian post is out of control. I wanted to send a parcel to New Zealand and the First Class Air was bananas. So I sent it ground post and it took 3 whole months, LOL. Good thing it wasn’t perishable