'ZIP CODE DAY': WOLF LAKE, ILL.'S ZIP WILL MATCH THE DATE

WOLF LAKE, Ill. -- Monday is "Zip Code Day" at Wolf Lake.

That's the day the Wolf Lake postal zip code, 62998, will match the date of 6-29-98.

"This is a special day for the community," said the postmaster, Charles R. "Ricky" Jones. "It can't happen again for 100 years."

It will never happen in some communities. Take Cape Girardeau for instance: Its zip code is 63701.

Wolf Lake is the third Southern Illinois community to celebrate a Zip Code Day in four years. The others are Villa Ridge, 62996, and Vienna, 62995.

The Wolf lake post office, which serves about 350 families via the post office and rural delivery route, will host Zip Code Day-Customer Appreciation Day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday.

"We'll feature refreshments, door prizes, games, coloring contest and tours," said Jones. "And we'll have a special Zip Code Day postmark cancellation."

The celebration will continue into the evening at the Wolf Lake Community Center across the street from the post office. Cake and ice cream will be served.

Live entertainment and a special balloon release is planned during the evening ceremonies.

Out-of-town stamp collectors may submit a mail order request for the stamp cancellation. Requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the cancellation date and should included a stamped envelope or postcard bearing the minimum first-class postage of 32 cents per envelope or 20 cents per postcard.

Special magnet art has been prepared for the celebration. The art, featuring a wolf, lake, and forest, was designed by Anita Palmisano, who graduated recently from Meridian High School near Mounds. Palmisano had prepared special strawberry art for the Villa Ridge Zip Code Day two years ago.

The Wolf Lake area was settled in 1840 and named after one of the early settlers, George Wolf, and a nearby lake owned by Wolf.

Like many small communities of the mid-1800s, Wolf Lake was a railroad town.

The Wolf Lake post office was established in 1894 by the Rev. W.C. Wilson, a Methodist minister who also operated a grocery market in the community. During the early 1900s, a rural mail route was established. Jack Holder was the first mail carrier. He first walked his route and later used a horse-drawn carriage.

Ensign-Bickford, a manufacturer of explosives products for the commercial blasting industry, is the community's largest industry. Also in the area are Schaefer Tractor parts. Shawnee High School is nearby.