Dear (your child's name here):

There is an odd post office box in the town of Torrington, Wyoming that sometimes receives letters from the past. No one knows how they get there, but the box will be empty one day and full the next. The really strange thing about these letters is they are addressed to people who are alive now!

Imagine our surprise when we received a letter addressed to you. I mean, you weren't even born in 1850, but somehow Lura Harding knew you would be born someday.

Now the U. S. Mail must be delivered and any time there's a current address we try to do it--even when the postage is 147 years old. Since the post office can't handle all the mail coming to this post office box, they give it to me.

My job is to make sure the letters are in good condition, correct the addresses (if they need correcting), put the letters into proper envelopes, and remail them. Sometimes I include a historical note so you might understand something better.

Unfortunately, the post office box seems to be a one-way time machine. I've tried writing to Lura and her brother, but never received a reply. Maybe you'll have better luck if you write to them.

I get bunches of letters from Lura and can tell you she will probably write you many more before she gets to Oregon. Keep an eye on your mail and enjoy your letters from the Oregon Trail.

Sincerely,

Ellen Anthony
Letters Through Time