Histories

Clarence Austin was Chula Vista’s rural mail carrier from 1910 until 1941, when he retired. In the early years, he used a horse-drawn buggy. His predecessor had ridden by horseback, but Clarence preferred a buggy. In the beginning, his route was 18 miles long and served 60 boxes. By the time he retired in 1941, his route had lengthened to 35 miles, and he carried mail to 1,000 families.

Clarence Austin finally abandoned real horsepower in 1914, when he purchased an automobile. In 1913, the post office had been moved to its own building at 318 Third Avenue. In 1924, when an expansion became necessary, it expanded to include a second building across the street, this building was 315 Third Avenue. This building still exists and now houses a restaurant.

Article taken from Images of America – Chula Vista by Frank M. Roseman and Peter J. Watry Jr.