For this week in history, news that impacted citizens on a national, county and city level made the headlines in The Luverne Journal. Here is what happened June 19, 1963. 

ZIP code number to increase PO efficiency

The newspaper announced a new system for mail dispatch and delivery: the ZIP code. Acting postmaster George Law announced Luverne’s new five-digit ZIP code would be 36049. 

“Everyone in Luverne will use this ZIP Code on all their correspondence to speed mail deliveries and reduce the chance of mis-sent mail,” Law said. “With ZIP Code, a clerk needs only to glance at the code to know immediately to what national area, state and post office the letter is destined, and to speed it on its way, cutting up to 24 hours off the time between deposit and delivery.” 

ZIP Codes went into effect nationwide on July 1, 1963 almost 62 years ago. Coverage included examples of how to use the new ZIP Code. 

Widening, resurfacing of Brantley highway set

In 1963, plans were announced to be underway to widen U.S. Highway 29 and U.S. Highway 331 south out of Luverne by Crenshaw Representative Alton Turner. 

Additionally, the highway between Luverne and Brantley was to be resurfaced with liquid seal and plant mix. 

Both jobs were to be completed in conjunction with one another, and the Highway Department aimed for the jobs to be completed that year. 

Love for animals starts 4-H member in hog production

Starting with one sow when he became a 4-H member at 10-years-old, Howard Compton has grown a love for hog production and selected it to be his major 4-H club project. 

“We’ve always had hogs around the house, and I liked tending them,” Compton said. “Dad and I now have our own separate hog projects.” 

At the time of the publication, Compton at 15-years-old had three sows and sold 50 top hogs a year. The year before, Compton made $455 – or $4,811 in today’s dollars – money that was contributed to his college savings account. 

Glenn Handley, the Auburn University Assistant County Agent, said that Compton had not reached his peak yet: Compton planned to have 10 sows of his own before he finished high school.