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Filtering by Tag: postal service

J.W. Westcott II - The Only Floating ZIP Code in the United States

Andrew Norton

Have you ever wondered how the ships on the Great Lakes receive mail? Well, wonder no more. The J.W. Westcott II has its own ZIP Code (48222) and has been responsible for (among other things) mail delivery to ships on the Detroit River since 1895.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcGQugU7xiw&t=11s

Here's a short video of a few different deliveries being made. You can see how much skill and coordination is needed to make these transfers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrJh2hU5NMA

The J.W. Westcott II doesn't just deliver the mail. Here they are making a captain delivery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIXyF5BiMlY

Want to learn more about the J.W. Westcott company? Read this New York Times article.

There is also a great little children's book about the J.W. Westcott II, Mail by the Pail (Great Lakes Books Series).