TORRINGTON >> A nearly 100-year-old mailbox was removed from the sidewalk in front of the Yankee Pedlar Inn, upsetting the inn’s owner, who says it’s unclear who the box actually belongs to. The blue and red, pedestal mailbox that stood in front of the Yankee Pedlar was identical to one held in the Smithsonian National Postal Museum’s collection, excluding paint colors. The model, called a Van Dorn lamppost box, was used between 1911 and 1919.

“I’m pretty much very upset about it because we haven’t ascertained who actually owned the mailbox,” said Sanjay Patel, owner of the inn since 1997. “I’ve spoken to Mark [McEachern] from the historical society to try to write a letter of support to see that we actually keep it.”

City contractors removed the metal mailbox when the sidewalk in front of the Main Street inn was torn up to be improved, Tuesday. Post office workers then picked up the mail box, one employee said it was brought to Waterbury. The Waterbury postmaster said he had “no idea,” the mailbox existed, and that he didn’t know if it was in Waterbury.

A spokesperson for the Connecticut Valley District USPS, Christine Dugas, said the box, “probably would not be coming back to Torrington. That seems to be where the postmaster is going at this point.” She said she’s investigating who owns the box, and that, “We’re pretty sure we own [the mailbox.]”

via 100-year-old mailbox removed from Torrington Main Street – Register Citizen