“Special Delivery Marks Elmer Disgarden’s Retirement After Long Postal Dept. Service” from the January 11, 1962 Door County Advocate
Special Delivery Marks Elmer Disgarden’s Retirement After Long Postal Dept. Service
Special Correspondence
ELLISON BAY — Sunday was a first class, special delivery air mail day for Elmer Disgarden, venerable and beloved rural carrier who retired Jan. 5 after 50 years of government service, most of it as rural carrier for the Ellison Bay post office. More than 125 of his friends-neighbors-patrons gathered at the Trinity Lutheran church Sunday to honor Mr. Disgarden and his wife, Elma.
Elmer began his long career in 1911 when he joined the United States Coast Guard. He ended it last Friday, his final day of active service. He said, “On Saturday I rented a post office box and came in the front door to pick up my mail.”
A rural carrier expects to encounter transportation difficulties and Elmer got his first taste of problems of this nature long before he knew that he would eventually become a postal service employee. It happened back in May of 1911 when Elmer was on his way to take up his duties at the Coast Guard station at Racine. A resident of the extreme northern part of the county, having been born at the once-thriving village of Newport, Elmer faced a long trip to get to Racine, the most difficult portion of which was the 40-mile leg between Ellison Bay and Sturgeon Bay.
Travelers in those days had a choice of taking a boat, horses or a jitney. Elmer chose to travel by jitney, which in this case was an International truck used for hauling freight from boats to the stores and operated by Walter C. Olson, who owned the stage line at that time.
They left Ellison Bay by jitney but got only as far as Sister Bay before the contraption broke down. The stage proprietor, however, still had horses stabled at Sister Bay and the balance of the trip to Sturgeon Bay was made in a covered wagon. The trip to Sturgeon Bay took almost nine hours, but Elmer arrived in time to take the 1:45 p.m. train south.
ELMER DISGARDEN, a veteran of 50 years of government service, has retired as rural letter carrier out of the Ellison Bay post office. He and his wife were honored at a gathering Sunday. —Hagedorn
After serving a year and seven months in the Coast Guard, Elmer returned to Ellison Bay and became postal clerk and store clerk at the Ruckert general store. He served in this capacity until March 1, 1915 when he was appointed Ellison Bay postmaster.
He moved the post office to the Disgarden hotel which was at that time owned by his parents. A short time later he moved the office into the Ed Evenson store where he also worked as a clerk.
In 1920 Elmer “joined the ranks of the automobilists,” as the newspapers used to say, purchasing a Baby Grand Chevrolet. He established himself as a “fast driver,” and gained a certain amount of fame by becoming the first motorist to go up the Ellison Bay hill in high gear. The car lasted Elmer three months. Rural carriers today complain if they have to trade cars every 14-18 months.
Postmasters back in those early days worked long hours for small pay. Elmer began his postal duties at an annual salary of $500. The dispatch time for mail was 4 a.m. and the arrival time was 8 p.m., indicating the amount of time that had to be put on the job.
The 26 years and seven months that Elmer served as Ellison Bay rural carrier began in 1935 when Enoch Jacobson retired as rural carrier. Elmer took over the job at that time and served until his official retirement last Friday.
After Elmer became rural carrier, Clyde Olson served as acting postmaster for six months until the appointment of Winfield Rogers. Rogers was postmaster until 1942 when he entered the navy. At that time the present post master, Walter Severson, was appointed.
During the course of the years the post office was moved from the Evenson store, to the Rogers home and finally to the home of the present postmaster.
The various substitute carriers on Elmer’s route down through the years have been Ed Newman, Arvid Newman, Sidney Telfer Jr. and Lester Newman Sr. The latter, a substitute for the past 14 years, is now acting as carrier and will serve in that capacity until an appointment is made.
High on the priority list for the Disgardens now that they have the time will be a trip to California to visit a daughter, Mrs. Dudley (Eugenia) Martin, Santa Fe Springs. They have one other daughter, Mrs. Norman (Eleanor) Stegmann, Sturgeon Bay.
Elmer has been active in church and community affairs and in the Door-Kewaunee Rural Letter Carriers Assn. He has served as president and secretary-treasurer of the latter organization. He is a member of the Trinity Lutheran church council, a member of the Henry S. Baird Masonic Lodge in Sturgeon Bay and is a 32nd Degree Mason in the Order of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the Valley in Green Bay.
Mrs. Disgarden has also been active in church and community activities. She has served as an officer in the rural carriers association, in the Trinity Lutheran ladies aid and in the Ellison Bay Woman’s club.
Even the big snow storm Saturday night didn’t stay Ellison Bay folks from their appointment at the Trinity Lutheran church to pay tribute to the Disgardens. Over 125 persons gathered for affair, the plans for which were laid by Postmaster Severson.
There was a fitting postal flavor to the entire affair, even including the invitation to the Disgardens. As they were sitting down to their Sunday dinner, Lester Newman Sr., the temporary carrier, delivered the invitation to them in the form of a special delivery letter. Thinking that the letter should have probably been delivered on Saturday, Elmer thought to himself, “Here I am only retired from the postal department one day and it’s already going to pot.” But inspection revealed that the letter had been duly postmarked and delivered on Sunday.
Gifts and cards for the honored guests were placed in a special mailbox that had been set up in the church basement for the occasion.
Decorations at the head table continued the postal theme, Uncle Sam’s traditional red, white and blue top hat was placed on four white pillars, underneath which was a map of the route Elmer had traveled on his mail deliveries. His faithful automobile was reproduced, pointed toward California with a sign indicating the way. “Packages” made of sugar loafs and frosted cake squares, complete with strings, stamps and addresses, were piled high along the route.
Walter Severson was master of ceremonies. The program included:
The presentation of flowers to the Disburdens by Mrs. A J. Weth, president of the Ellison Bay Woman’s club.
A poetical tribute. “A Tribute to Elmer and Elma,” written by Mrs. Charles Sedig and read by Mrs. Tesnow.
A reading about rural carriers and postmasters by Mrs. Percy Peterson.
Historical background given by Winfield Rogers.
Reading of a postal department commendation by Merrill Maahs, president of the Door-Kewaunee Rural Letter Carriers Assn.
The singing of “Oh, Bless this House” by Mrs. Al Horskey.
Presentation of gifts and well wishes by Lester Newman Sr.
Remarks by Clyde Olson, Walter C. Olson, Sidney Telfer Sr., Harvey H. Olson and John Kopitzke.
Serving of lunch by the ladies of the Ellison Bay area.
Perhaps the most unique part of the program was the whistling and singing of “Whistle a Happy Tune” and “Elmer’s Tune,” patrons having often heard Elmer whistling as he made his round. Mrs. Ed McOlash whistled and Mrs. Lloyd Daubner sang special words, accompanied by Mrs. Emery Weborg on the piano.
It was a touching tribute to a man who for many years had been a good and faithful servant and who will be sorely missed by postal patrons who looked forward to his daily calls.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
[Bless This House ~ Perry Como ~ (HD): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es_Q0pC6I4E
“I Whistle a Happy Tune” Covers: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/45ZswQkXnLZPF5j72sFw3K
Elmer’s Tune (1994 Remastered): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsAEFCeC8Ac ]
Postal Service related articles
https://doorcounty.substack.com/t/postal-service