These days, we are accustomed to convenience upon convenience when it comes to getting our goods delivered. With the simple tap of a button, an item can cross the wide expanse of this nation and arrive safe and sound at your doorstep in two days or less. It happens entirely without having to speak to a soul, as if left by some anonymous drone (though I hear those are coming soon).

But the truth is, this is no effortless miracle or technological marvel; it is the sweat of a hardworking delivery carrier that makes your latest two-day impulse buy possible. It is not an easy job. It requires long days on the road at odd hours, heavy lifting, a never-ending stream of goods that need moving, and buyers and vendors constantly demanding speed and efficiency.

It is also not a new job. For as long as there have been goods that people wanted, there have been people tasked with taking those items from where they are made to where they are sold—whether that means from the factory to the department store, the warehouse to your doorstep, or the restaurant to your kitchen table.

As the famous motto goes, “Trenton Makes, The World Takes.” A new selection of historic photographs on display here showcases the very people who made it possible for the world to “take” as much as their hearts (and wallets) desired. These couriers were familiar fixtures to the locals; when you saw their vehicles rolling past, you knew there was something worth buying in the back.

Whether delivering chilled milk by airplane, barrels by the truckload, or tea by the wagonload, Trentonians over the generations have played their role in commerce superbly. I reckon they still do today. Should the day come when metal and circuits completely replace flesh and blood in the delivery business, we shall all tip our hats to the countless folks who have kept this city and its many beneficiaries in good supply—come hail or high water.

Want to see more? Stop by the Trentoniana Local History Department during your next library visit to explore our extensive historic photograph collection!