“Our five-digit ZIP Code is 62959”, Postmaster J. Paul Smothers announced today.
“Everyone in Marion will use this ZIP Code on all their correspondence to speed mail deliveries and reduce the chance of mis-sent mail,” Postmaster Smothers said.
ZIP Code, the Post Office Department’s revolutionary new system of improved mail dispatch and delivery, goes into effect nationally on July 1 (1963).
Postmaster Smothers stressed the importance of all citizens of Marion learning this city’s ZIP Code and using it in their return address on all correspondence. In answering mail, he said, ZIP Codes taken from return addresses on incoming mail should be used.
“The ZIP Code is literally the last word in mail addressing,” Smothers said. “It should follow the city and state in addresses.”
He cited this example of the proper use of ZIP Code:
J. Paul Smothers, Postmaster U. S. Past Office Marion, Illinois 62959
Creal Spring’s ZIP Code is 62922, and Stonefort’s is 62987.
The new ZIP Code plan, Smothers said, for the first time will permit the Post Office Department to shortcut repeated address reading.
“The address on mail must often be read as many as eight or ten times by postal employees, to get it to the proper destination,” Smothers said. “Each handling slows the process of mail dispatch and adds to the opportunity for human error.”
“With ZIP Code, a clerk needs only to glance at the code to know immediately to what national area, state and post office the letter is destined, and to speed it on its way, cutting up to 24 hours off the time between deposit and delivery.”
Smothers said that when ZIP Code is in full swing, the United States will have “the most modern system of mail distribution and delivery in existence.” He further stated that all patrons would be personally notified, and that the number 62959 would be seen on all local mail-carrying equipment, as soon as the promotional materials are received by the local post office.
(Extracted from Marion Daily Republican article dated June 20, 1963)