PT mailboat...

GWC... · 01-13-2005, 12:42 AM

Seen a lot of old pictures or pictures of old times proudly displayed and was curious as to why a picture of the PT boat that was used as the mailboat has not been posted?

Surely someone must have a picture or two of it?!?

Rattlesnake Gal · 01-13-2005, 11:34 AM

Is the Uncle Sam II is the mailboat to which you refer?

In 1962 "Uncle Sam II" made her appearance on the lake, after a laborious overland travel from the Portsmouth Navy Yard. This vessel was a converted PT Boat (PT-719) for World War II, but never saw action. She is 75 feet long, has a 20 foot beam, draws 6 feet of water, weighs 80 tons, travels at 15 miles per hour, and capable of carrying 150 passengers. On March 23,1963, the vessel, under the dual ownership of Vernon Cotton and Allan Perley, slipped through the waters on her maiden voyage to serve the many islands in Winnipesaukee. Postmaster Ed Lavallee prepared the mail, luggage, etc., right on board ship, thus giving it the distinction of being the only floating post office in America. Since 1942, Mr. Lavallee has held the postal franchise of the lake and was once captain of the original "Uncle Sam."
For six years (1963-69) she delivered the mail on Lake Winnipesaukee. After her brief service on the lake, she was slated to return to the Atlantic Ocean. The craft was sold at auction to Frank Damrell of Andover, Massachusetts, and Southport, Maine, for $5,500. Pictured standing by the wheelhouse is owner Allan Perley.
Sources of information:
Follow the Mount, by Bruce D. Heald
The Boats and Ports of Lake Winnipesaukee, by Bruce D. Heald
The Lakes Region of NH, by Bruce D. Heald, Ph.D.
Other Uncle Sam photos: http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...x=0&y=0&limit=

GWC... · 01-13-2005, 11:43 AM

That's the one.

Rattlesnake Gal · 01-13-2005, 12:02 PM

Gun boat (or possibly an Army or Navy PBR Swift Boat) off Barndoor Island Archive Thread
(PBR = Patrol Boat River)

mcdude · 01-15-2005, 05:20 PM

U. S. Mailboat

"United States Mail Boat - America's only inland floating post office on its' scheduled cruise around the lake, stopping at many islands to deliver and pick up mail, freight and passengers. Mail is cancelled with the special Lake Winni cancellation, routed and bagged for shipment by a mail truck waiting at Lakeport, home port of UNCLE SAM II."

01-13-2005, 12:42 AM	#1
GWC... Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,325 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	PT mailboat... Seen a lot of old pictures or pictures of old times proudly displayed and was curious as to why a picture of the PT boat that was used as the mailboat has not been posted? Surely someone must have a picture or two of it?!?

01-13-2005, 11:34 AM	#2
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,253 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,455 Thanked 1,357 Times in 476 Posts	Mail Boat Is the Uncle Sam II is the mailboat to which you refer? In 1962 "Uncle Sam II" made her appearance on the lake, after a laborious overland travel from the Portsmouth Navy Yard. This vessel was a converted PT Boat (PT-719) for World War II, but never saw action. She is 75 feet long, has a 20 foot beam, draws 6 feet of water, weighs 80 tons, travels at 15 miles per hour, and capable of carrying 150 passengers. On March 23,1963, the vessel, under the dual ownership of Vernon Cotton and Allan Perley, slipped through the waters on her maiden voyage to serve the many islands in Winnipesaukee. Postmaster Ed Lavallee prepared the mail, luggage, etc., right on board ship, thus giving it the distinction of being the only floating post office in America. Since 1942, Mr. Lavallee has held the postal franchise of the lake and was once captain of the original "Uncle Sam." For six years (1963-69) she delivered the mail on Lake Winnipesaukee. After her brief service on the lake, she was slated to return to the Atlantic Ocean. The craft was sold at auction to Frank Damrell of Andover, Massachusetts, and Southport, Maine, for $5,500. Pictured standing by the wheelhouse is owner Allan Perley. Sources of information: Follow the Mount, by Bruce D. Heald The Boats and Ports of Lake Winnipesaukee, by Bruce D. Heald The Lakes Region of NH, by Bruce D. Heald, Ph.D. Other Uncle Sam photos: http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...x=0&y=0&limit= Last edited by Rattlesnake Gal; 01-04-2006 at 10:50 AM.

01-13-2005, 11:43 AM	#3
GWC... Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,325 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks, RG... That's the one.

01-13-2005, 12:02 PM	#4
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,253 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,455 Thanked 1,357 Times in 476 Posts	Gun boat (or possibly an Army or Navy PBR Swift Boat) off Barndoor Island Archive Thread (PBR = Patrol Boat River) Last edited by Rattlesnake Gal; 01-04-2006 at 10:46 AM.

01-15-2005, 05:20 PM	#5
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,343 Thanks: 370 Thanked 1,033 Times in 480 Posts	Uncle Sam II U. S. Mailboat "United States Mail Boat - America's only inland floating post office on its' scheduled cruise around the lake, stopping at many islands to deliver and pick up mail, freight and passengers. Mail is cancelled with the special Lake Winni cancellation, routed and bagged for shipment by a mail truck waiting at Lakeport, home port of UNCLE SAM II."