Years ago a coworker was out for a couple weeks. What we learned was he saw a snowman on the sidewalk and decided to run it over with his van. The snowman was built over a large oak tree stump. He was almost killed, the van destroyed. Be careful out there.

We haven't seen a good fender bender in some time on Shorpy. This is a real treat. I love the part of the post lying in the gutter. This must have been quite the impact having thrown iron that far from the post's original home.

This is a great reminder as the wintry weather starts to set in on parts of the Northern Hemisphere to use caution while driving. And as previously stated, avoid using your typewriters while driving. (Good one, Frisco1522.)

From the Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), January 10, 1921

[Kudos for the excellent detective work! - Dave]

Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania was member of the 1906-7 Penrose-
Overstreet commission on 2nd class mail and Chairman of the 1911 Senate Committee on Postoffices and Postroads:

"It is idle to take up such questions as apportioning the cost for carrying second-class mail matter or the proper compensation of railroads for transporting the mails until we shall have established business methods in postoffice affairs by a reorganization of the whole postal system." — Senator Penrose.

"In this connection, however, it may be said that some members of the commission may have come near to such unusual opportunities as just mentioned for acquiring expert knowledge of the classification, transportation and handling of second-class mail. " — W.H. Cantz, Postal Riders and Raiders, 1912

My goodness, for a moment there I thought we were in Oakland! I must have taken quite a knock to the noggin.

Although I have no date to reference, I'm certain it will be at least a decade before automobile drivers are advised to steer into the skid.

Something similar happened to me on an icy, gently sloped street (mine) in Knoxville, Tennessee, many winters ago. The item struck was also a fire hydrant -- NOT marked US MAIL -- but the only damage sustained was in the form of a tiny dent in the bumper of my white Mercury Sable. I don't know where Senator Penrose was bound, but I was trying to go to work.

Crushed the little bugger!

It seems the description lists the car's victims in reverse order. It seems to have taken out a lamp post then a call box and was finally stopped when a mailbox sacrificed itself in an effort to bring the car to a stop.

make me instinctively look for Laurel and Hardy somewhere in the vicinity.

No doubt typing and driving.

That mailbox was fire hydrant. Look at the debris, they always win. Mailboxes tend to lose & never inflict that quantity of vehicle damage.

[So it's a fire hydrant shaped like a mailbox that says "U.S. MAIL". - Dave]