Nova Scotia / Cape Breton Postal History / Registered Letter - 1 to 5 September 1936 - HAY COVE (Richmond County), N.S. (split ring / broken circle cancel / postmark) via RPO's to Marshall, Michigan, USA

Hay Cove (Richmond County), - it is on the Bras d'Or Lake and about 14 miles north-east of St. Peters. The population in 1956 was 80.

 

- from "Lovell's Gazetteer of the Dominion of Canada (1908)" - HAY COVE, a post office in Richmond County, N.S., 17 miles from St. Peters on Cape Breton Island.

 

The Post Office at Hay Cove was established - 1 May 1886 and closed - 29 February 1956. On opening in 1886 it supported 20 families.

 

Distributing point - St. Peter's

Mail route - Irish Cove and St. Peter's

 

/ HAY • COVE / SP 1 / 36 / N.S. / - split ring cancel - this split ring hammer was proofed - 9 June 1886 - (#1127). It was replaced with a cds hammer that was proofed - 11 June 1942 - (#3632).

 

/ R / Hay Cove, N.S. / No. (633) / - registered box cancel (black ink) - this registered box marking was proofed - December 1929 - (#7342).

 

- transit RPO - / TRAIN No. / 1 / SP 2 / 36 / HX. & CAMP - R.P.O. / - rpo cancel (#MA-93 / R.F. 130)

 

- transit RPO - / unknown / 6 / SP 2 / 36 / R.P.O. / - rpo cancel / unknown

 

- transit RPO - / MONT. & TORONTO / 19 / SP 3 / 36 / R.P.O. / - rpo cancel (#Q-164 / R.F. 75)

 

- transit - / DETROIT • MICHI / SEP / 4 / 1936 / REGISTERED / - double ring registered transit cancel (violet ink)

 

- transit - / MARSHALL • MICHI / SEP / 5 / 1936 / REGISTERED / - double ring registered transit cancel (violet ink)

 

Hay Cove (Richmond County), Nova Scotia to Marshall, Michigan - September 1, 1936 - Paid the 13 cents registered letter rate ... 3 cents forward letter rate + 10 cents registration fee

 

Registered letter was sent by: Stephen MacKenzie / Hay Cove / Richmond County / Nova Scotia

 

Registered letter sent to: H.C. Brooks, Mgr., / Brooks Building / Marshall, / Mich.

 

Former Marshall, Michigan mayor and businessman Harold C. Brooks (he was mayor from 1926-1931) earned a national reputation as a leading historic preservationist. Much of his vision of preserving and enhancing the historic environment of his hometown was accomplished, but the history he began writing in the late 1920's "to preserve for posterity an authentic picture of Marshall" was never completed.

 

Marshall, Michigan, once known as "patent medicine town," had over fifty medicine companies. The medicine industry flourished in America until the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 regulated the trade.

 

Brooks Rupture Appliance Company (1880-present) - After dabbling briefly in the feed and grain retail business, Charles Brooks, (Harold's father) at the age of fifty, began to sell rupture appliances full-time. In 1905, the company moved to its present location, the second floor. By 1907 the company had sufficient capital to purchase the structure, rechristening it the "Brooks Building." Probably the most significant change in the firm at this time was the addition of Harold Craig Brooks to the staff. Harold, was Charles' youngest son and was born in Marshall - June 8, 1885. Harold learned the tricks of the mail order medicine trade and techniques of successful advertising. In 1932, the company incorporated with Harold as president, a position he held until his retirement in 1952; he served as Chairman of the Board until 1975.

Done