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When the United States Postal Service introduced parcel post in 1913, it revolutionized life for Americans, particularly those in remote areas. For the first time, people in rural communities had direct access to goods, medicines, and supplies that were previously difficult to obtain. Farmers could ship their produce straight to consumers, businesses flourished, and mail-order catalogs became household staples. Within just a few days of the service’s launch, millions of packages were already in transit, and within six months, 300 million parcels had been sent across the country.
One town that saw an immediate impact was Vernal, a small community in Uintah County, Utah. By 1916, its post office was receiving an overwhelming two tons of parcels per day. The town’s isolated location—approximately 125 miles east of Salt Lake City—meant that traditional freight transportation was costly and time-consuming. The actual journey stretched nearly 400 miles due to the rugged terrain, involving a roundabout route through Colorado and back into Utah. Delivering mail and packages to Vernal was an expensive task, with reports estimating that the U.S. government was losing between $25,000 and $30,000 annually in transportation costs.
A Creative Solution to High Freight Costs
That same year, a local businessman named William Horace Coltharp, who was also a director of the Bank of Vernal, set out to construct a new two-story building to house the bank and other local businesses. His plan involved using locally-produced bricks for most of the structure, but he wanted the façade to feature high-quality pressed bricks from Salt Lake City. The problem? The cost of having these bricks transported by private freight was four times their actual price.
Determined to cut costs, Coltharp explored an unconventional solution: shipping the bricks through the U.S. Postal Service. He discovered that sending them via parcel post would be significantly cheaper than hiring private transport, so he proceeded with the plan.
Each brick was carefully wrapped and packed in crates of ten to meet the maximum weight limit of 50 pounds per parcel. According to records from the Salt Lake Pressed Brick Company, they shipped around 15,000 bricks, though some reports suggest the total was closer to 80,000. Regardless of the exact number, it was a monumental shipment.
The Postal Service Responds
As thousands of bricks made their way through the mail, the U.S. Postal Service quickly took notice. The unprecedented use of parcel post for such a large-scale construction project prompted officials to revise their regulations. Before the last shipments even reached Vernal, the Postal Service enacted a new rule limiting a sender to just 200 pounds of mail per day, effectively putting an end to massive commercial shipments via mail.
Despite the change in regulations, the use of parcel post in Vernal continued to grow. By 1921, the town’s post office was handling more than three tons of packages daily.
The Legacy of the “Parcel Post Bank”
Completed in November 1916, the Bank of Vernal became a symbol of innovation and resourcefulness. Locals affectionately dubbed it the “Parcel Post Bank,” a testament to the creativity behind its construction. Today, the building still stands as a functioning branch of Zions Bank, preserving its unique history as one of the most unusual construction projects ever completed through the mail.
The story of the Bank of Vernal remains a fascinating example of how early Americans found clever ways to navigate logistical challenges, proving that with the right ingenuity, even a building can be mailed piece by piece.
