The Paola Milling company was the sole customer in Hillsdale. Note the location of the mail crane. Old Cross-Over "E" marks the end/beginning of Double Track
I'd never noticed this one before, but the mail crane does seemed to be placed rather curiously. Closer to the Hillsdale Post Office? Even if so, I would have thought that hanging the mail bag would have been the responsibility of the Frisco agent? Best Regards,
The mail crane would have been hung by the postmaster (or another postal employee) or probably the "mail messenger" (Guy who drove mail between depot and post office). The RR agent "might" have handled the job on a contract basis, but it would have been unlikely, since he would have to have left the depot to handle those tasks. Tom G.
