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In the 1880s the eastern coast of South Florida was a wild place.
There were no roads, just dense subtropical jungle, treacherous waterways, and few people.
Even still, some adventurous pioneers were drawn to this area. And, as more people arrived to embrace this wild place and call it home, it created the need for mail service to run to the southern parts of the Florida peninsula.
Our family is currently roadschooling in south Florida and we came across the story of the Barefoot Mailman while on a hike in a protected scrub area in the little South Florida town of Hypoluxo.
And, I couldn’t resist sharing it. Learning about the people who shape the places we visit is one of the best parts of our travels. Finding these kinds of “hidden jewels” of history is what makes roadschooling so amazing.
My kids found this story from South Florida history fascinating. And, I think yours will too.
US Postal Star Routes
In the mid-1850s the US government came up with a solution to cut the costs of transporting mail while also extending its routes and reach.
Until then, the mail had mostly been delivered by stagecoach, and it was pricey. So, the decision was made to bid out the postal routes to contractors. The mode of transportation wasn’t specified and the bidding allowed for more people to apply for the jobs. As a result of the competition for the routes, the costs for mail service were cut. And, these contractor routes became known as the star routes.
The Barefoot Mailman Route
The South Florida route that would become known for its barefoot mailmen was one of the US Postal Services star routes.
In 1886 the postal service decided the need for a mail route connecting Palm Beach to Miami was needed and offered a mail route bid to do that.
Prior to the 1880’s the US Postal service route went only as far south as the Palm Beach area of Florida. Residents south of that point received mail through an unbelievably convoluted route. Including, going north to Jacksonville, east to Tampa, south to the Florida Keys, and finally by boat again to the Miami area.
For $600 a year the men of star route #6541 were assigned the daunting task of carrying mail from Palm Beach, Florida to Miami, a 136-mile round trip 6-day journey.
And, they made their trip on foot. Barefoot.
Because there were no roads, the majority of the trip was made on the hard-packed sand at the ocean’s edge, where the walking would be easier. And, the rest was made in small boats at water crossings.
These men became the barefoot mailmen, although that term wouldn’t be used until years later.
During its time of operation, the Barefoot Mail Route provided the first regular direct communication between the Palm Beach area of Florida and Miami.
The Barefoot Mailman Schedule
The images below are ones I took of the Barefoot mail route I found on our hike. Moisture has gotten in behind the plexiglass so, they aren’t crystal clear. But, I feel they are worth adding as a visual to show the route. Also, in some places, you’ll see I added text to make the labels in the images darker and hopefully easier to see and read.
Day 1
On Monday mornings the mailman would leave Palm Beach in a boat headed to Lake Worth. After leaving his boat, he would walk five miles to the Orange Grove House of Refuge, a safe haven for shipwrecked sailors in Delray Beach. Here he would spend the night.
Day 2
The next day he would walk 25 miles, crossing the Hillsboro Inlet by rowboat. Then travel to the New River House of Refuge in Fort Lauderdale, where he stayed for the night.
Day 3
The third day he would travel by boat down to the New River Inlet. And, then walk a 10-mile stretch of beach that ended in Baker’s Haulover at the head of Biscayne Bay.
For the last leg of his journey, he would use one more boat to arrive at the post office in Miami.
He would stay the night in Miami and leave the next morning on the return trip to Palm Beach. That return trip would take until Saturday afternoon.
He would rest on Sunday and the route would begin all over again the following Monday.
The Legend of James Hamilton
Because of his disappearance on the route, James Hamilton would arguably become the most famous of the Barefoot Mailmen.
In October of 1886, he would head out on his north to south route from Palm Beach to Miami; never to be seen again.
Legend says that he did reach the north side of the Hillsborough Inlet where he kept a small boat tied up for the crossing.
He would use this boat for his trip south and tie it up on the south shore once he reached it. Then, when he headed north he would cross back and leave the boat tied up for his return trip to Miami the following week.
That day in October, his small boat was supposed to be tied up on his side of the crossing.
But, it wasn’t.
It was on the opposite shore.
When he didn’t arrive in Miami, searchers were sent to find him. But, the only thing they found was his mailbag and clothing lying on the northern shore of the crossing.
The assumption is that he made the attempt to swim across and retrieve the boat.
There are a few theories about what may have happened to him. The most likely being that he had a fatal meeting with alligators or even sharks.
But, it is also said that the weather was bad. It has been said that these rural mail routes were targeted by thieves. There were also reports that he hadn’t been feeling well that morning. No one knows for sure. But, as my son wanted to know, why would a man who obviously knew of the dangers attempt to swim across?
The simple answer we came up with is that it really may have been the best option. What would it have meant if he turned back or simply waited?
Why would James Hamilton risk the crossing?
So, we know that the waters were most likely full of alligators. Or, that there were several other scenarios that could have been deadly. So, what was he thinking that day as he looked out at his boat bobbing on the wrong side of the inlet?
First, he was a man already willing to walk 136 miles a week for a paycheck.
Second, these carriers took an oath of office. Which again speaks to his commitment.
Also, the contracts did not provide payment for missed trips, regardless of weather conditions. Or, illness, Or, boats tied up on opposite shores. In our research, we also found that contractors on these routes could face fines if they failed to deliver their mail.
And so, all of that just might be enough to make a man attempt a swampy and potentially deadly swim.
We will probably never know what happened to James Hamilton. But, we can admire and appreciate the lengths he and the other Barefoot Mailmen went to deliver mail to the residents of South Florida by telling their story.
Our family really enjoyed learning about the brave Barefoot Mailmen and this piece of South Florida history. And, we hope you do too.
Heidi
