Never in a million years did I think that I’d see a post about my hometown on HN. I opened my first bank account in that bank when I was 12. I had a paper route for the Vernal Express and I deposited my earnings. I had a checkbook with scooby doo checks. I still have that account today but I don’t use it anymore. I didn’t know this story at all and now I’m feeling oddly attached to that account.
I've lived in Vernal a few times. The original bank was standing until they recently remodeled it. Not sure if it uses the same bricks or not.
Always got a kick out of the story. Never expected to see Vernal on HN
Was Vernal unusual in the overall volume of shipments, or is it just this load of bricks that makes it stand out?
The article says, "Many building materials, including cement, plaster, nails, and other hardware, poured into town. Meanwhile, all the merchants in town received merchandise for their stores via Parcel Post. In September 1916, a train carload of twelve tons of canned tomatoes — 9,720 cans packed in 486 cases — arrived at the Vernal Post Office for area stores."
Did this happen in lots of smaller places in the country, or was Vernal special? If so, why? What was happening in Vernal that would need such a crush of goods?