Postal History: A Window into The Past
How did people stay in touch in the 19th century?
How did the mail system work in Upper Canada?
How long did it take to send a letter from Wolfe Island to Toronto or Montreal?
In this illustrated presentation, Wolfe Island residents Hugh MacDonald and Brian MacDonald will explore the early postal history of Canada, with particular attention to the role of the mail in connecting local communities to the wider world. The talk will look at how letters travelled, what postal
markings can tell us, and why the mail system mattered in everyday life. It will also touch on the importance of postal communications during the First World War, the introduction of rural mail delivery more than a century ago, and early postcard views of Wolfe Island.
