Next Letter Writing Club - at Toronto's First Post Office

Toronto's First Post Office hosts the "Post-A-Letter Social Activity Club" the third Sunday of each month.

Join in on Sunday, April 15, in the Post Office's cozy Reading Room, anytime between 1-4pm and write some letters in good company.

Snacks, coffee, tea, and all the supplies you need to write and mail something special will be available.

And all are welcome, so please share this post and bring your friends!

- Town of York Historical Society, 260 Adelaide St. E., Toronto  (416.865.1833)

Mail Bag! A letter from Toronto's First Post Office... sealed with wax, no less

Following my month of letters, I traveled to British Columbia to visit family for 5 weeks. Upon my return, a few days ago, I happened upon a handful of letters in our mailbox. Including this gem, sealed with wax:

"Toronto, 13 February 2012

Dear Ms. Crook,

I listened with interest to your interview on "Spark"and last night...

I thought I should invite you to Toronto's First Post Office this coming Sunday afternoon when the "Post-a-letter Social-activity-club" (Pal-Sac) will be meeting here for their first regularly scheduled third-Sunday of the month sessions. You can find more about this on-line or -- take a chance and turn up!

This is the form that most of the letters in our museum collection take. The font is from the handwriting of Emily Austin, a woman who lived in Texas in the 1830s. It even comes with a couple of ink blots. [blot] It does fail to fade where the quill would have run out...

I am

dear Madam

Your obedient servant

Janet Walters, Postmistress

Postmistress! What a stupendous title.



I can not wait to visit The Town of York Historical Society to peruse their collection of letters (some of which I will share here with you) and to participate in next month's letter writing gathering (this month I am hosting my own... tomorrow: at the Good Neighbour Espresso Bar, 4-6pm.)