Published: November 01. 2009 2:00AM

This month our postal service will gear up for the busiest time of year as families and businesses send out annual holiday greetings, following a long tradition of mail carriers before them. This photo, which dates back to about 1924, was taken at the rear of the post office, then at the northwest corner of Main and Broad Streets. One of Main Street’s most monumental structures at the time, the site had been previously occupied by the home of Col. David Hoke. Each postman seen here has a number on his cap representing the number of his mail route. Postmaster Charles Withington is on the far right of the fourth row. While email and Facebook offer quick communication, there is still nothing like a handwritten note in your mailbox to make the season seem just right.