This Day in History August 28, 1907

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Did you know that United Parcel Service or UPS began in Seattle on this date in 1907?  I didn't!   How could I grow up in Washington state and not know this?  Oh well, here is some information.

UPS was originally called American Messenger Service, and it was begun by two teenagers (Jim Casey and Claude Ryan), a bicycle and $100 borrowed from a friend.   The company was originally run in a hotel basement at second avenue and main street in Seattle.

Not many people had phones back then, and so many telegrams were sent.  And that is what this company delivered.  As time went on, they were willing to deliver just about anything that could be carried on foot or by bicycle.

A few years later, they agreed to merge with their rival company--Merchant Parcel Delivery.  Now they were able to deliver via a Model T Ford.  The U.S. postal service was giving them stiff competition about this time.  As the company evolved, they had a great strategy.  The same delivery person would deliver parcels going to the same general area.  The sped things up quite a bit.

In 1919, they acquired Motor Parcel Delivery in Oakland, California.  This was when the name was changed to United Parcel Service.  In 1929, airplane delivery was added.  And the story continues.

I don't know about you, but if I have a choice and cost is similar, I would rather go with UPS.  I do not prefer the post office.  I love the UPS store--we had a really nice one down in Texas.

For more information, check out both of these sites:

• http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/06/ups-was-founded-by-two-teenagers-with-one-bicycle-and-100-borrowed-from-a-friend/
• http://ecommerce.hostip.info/pages/1025/United-Parcel-Service-Inc-UPS-EARLY-HISTORY.html