The first motorized messenger mail carried between the Union Pacific depot , Gandy, and the Gandy postoffice was carried by Charles W. Druery. He was awarded the contract by the U.S. Postal Department in June , 1920. He succeeded John Brunullett and son Ivory who had carried the mail with a wagon and a good team of draft horses. During the approximately ten years that he hauled mail, express, freight, passengers, and coal. Charlie used a number of cars and trucks he found the "jitney" with a box on the back the most, effective for the type of trail that was the road the first few years. At that time the road had not been graded to say nothing of gravel surface. The heavy, hard-tire, Maxwell truck purchased by Druery in 1923 had the much needed capacity for the large loads of mail, freight express, and coal from the railroad and the loads of poultry, produce and mail to the depot , but the truck proved less effective against the elements. Deep sand and spring holes were a menace. I might say, too, that passengers were much more reluctant to "push" if and when they were stuck. So the usual sight was the little old Model T with , home-made box on the back, loaded high with paper cartons containing groceries or other merchandise, egg cases, cans of cream, an occasional barrel of vinegar or whatever was in the order to be hauled at that particular hour or season. The "Dray wagon" as it was called provided little in shelter from cold, snow, wind. or rain or hot sun as it had neither top or side curtains. Day in and day out, fair weather or foul, Charlie was faithful to his task and was never known to miss a train, To those who knew the schedules of the U.P. mail trains, his going and coming was like a time piece. During the summer months his trips were a means of transportation for the local Huck Finns and Tom Sawyers, An opportunity to loll along the Loup River all day, having caught the earliest trip north and much later in the day the trip South and home. (The printed signs "No Riders" were unknown at that time.) At one time, one of Charlie's most constant youthful companions was Laurence Munsfield, at that time answering only to "Bob" Another friendship prized by Charlie was that of Vernon Sandy or affectionately known as "Vinegar Bill". Some of the businesses served by the Druery Dray other than the U.S. mail contracts were: Kirby Garage, Lehmkuhler General Store, Mansfield and Lucus Mercantile, Frank Cassell Grocery, Kirby Blacksmith, C.W. Bersley Grocery, Owls Cafe, Creamba Store, Bank of Logan County, Hubbell Drug, Ernest Parkhurst Barber, M. Kelly Grocery, Ray Joy Garage, Rollo Hittle Barber, George Brown Restaurant, Gion General Store, Norman Soals Barber, Druery Cafe, Johnson Shoe repair, Commercial Hotel, Murphy Store, Hopkins Hardware, Rockwell Grocery, McCain Rooming House, Dr. H.W. Hubbell, physician, Gandy Telephone exchange, Logan County Pioneer, A.C. Cone and Sons, Leonard and Graham Merchants and many others.
