Delivering the Mail

Most post offices don't float.

But if you're a summer resident or attend summer camp on an island on New Hampshire's largest lake, Lake Winnipesaukee, it's the only way to get or send mail.

The tradition of delivering mail by boat to Winnipesaukee’s summer residents and remote islands dates to 1892 when mail was delivered to Camp Idlewood, a summer camp. Mail is still delivered to boys and girls camps by boat. 

M/V Sophie C., the oldest floating U.S. mailboat

Today, it's done by the Sophie C., the oldest floating post office in the U.S. and the only U.S. mailboat on an inland waterway. It also takes up to 120 paying passengers on a 2-hour cruise while mail is being delivered. Last week we went along on one.

Early brochure for mail boat service

The Sophie C. was built in 1945 by the Boston Ship and Engine Works as a supply ship for the U.S. Navy in WW II. It was later converted for use as a mail boat and named for the mother (Sophie Caroline) of the former company owner. 

In 1916, by an Act of Congress, the mailboat was granted the right to cancel mail on Lake Winnipesaukee making it a full post office. It sells stamps and has its own cancellation stamp. Sophie C. became an official U.S. Mailboat in 1969 when the words U.S. Mailboat were added to her prow. 

A post mistress is onboard the Sophie C.

The mailboat seasonally delivers some 25,000 pieces of mail and packages (down from 35,000 years ago) to island homes and summer camps. It also sells postal supplies and stamps and postcards which passengers can fill out and postmark on board for a unique cancellation. 

Top deck seating on the mailboat

Sophie C. delivers mail to the lake's summer residents, Monday through Saturday with two separate, 2 hour cruises each day. As it heads to the islands, the captain points out areas of interest along the way. There are stops at four islands during the morning run and stops at five others in the afternoon. 

When docking isn't possible, inbound and outbound mail is exchanged via a hand-off to someone on the dock as the mail boat continues a slow 15 mph movement.

Island residents waiting for mailboat to dock

At many stops, the mailboat's visit is the social event of the day as island residents wait at the dock for deliveries or just to say hello. The mail deliverer knows most summer residents by name.

We also enjoyed ice cream onboard the Sophie C.

Children look forward to the boat’s daily arrival as a chance to buy one of the ice cream treats or other snacks for sale onboard. The frozen treats have become a summer tradition for adults as well.

At some stops, swimmers climb dock posts then jump into the lake as the mailboat leaves and blows its horn. There was a lone jumper on the day of our cruise.

Traveling on the mail boat was definitely a unique experience. And, while NH may boast the oldest mailboat, it isn't the only state to have one. Mail boats still serve isolated island and lakeside communities in other U.S. states: Alabama, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Virginia and Wisconsin. The difference is that these boats only deliver mailbags and freight. They don't have an onboard postal clerk and can't sell stamps or post stamp mail onboard, unlike the Sophie C.

And now you know — the rest of the story.