A LOOK BACK -- Jerry Person

With the holiday season here, we should think of those in one of the most

overlooked, but hardest-worked, professions: mail carriers.

This week we’ll look at mail carrier Louis “Lou” Mitchell.

Mitchell was born in the small Minnesota town of Luverne on Nov. 20,

1896.

The cold, harsh climate prompted the family to move to Oregon in 1897.

Mitchell’s father began the postal tradition by becoming the postmaster

for the town of Sotabill, as well as owning a general store.

In 1909 the entire family including Mitchell, his parents, an older

brother and two younger sisters, moved to San Diego.

While in San Diego, Mitchell’s dad became a real estate agent and

supported the family selling homes and town lots while Lou completed high

school.

When Mitchell finished high school he got a job with the San Diego

Electric Railway.

On his days off, he coached a 40-girl rowing team and spent many evenings

with them, rowing across San Diego waters.

When America entered World War I, Mitchell enlisted in the Army in July

1917, attending officer training school. He graduated in September 1918

as a lieutenant.

He was assigned as acting adjutant in San Diego’s Camp Kearney Exchange

Detachment.

Mitchell was discharged in April 1919. In September he moved to

Huntington Beach.

His first job in Surf City was as weighmaster for the Holly Sugar Co. He

would go on to become a deputy city clerk and a manager of the Sea Breeze

Grocery. One summer he even managed the Huntington Beach Plunge, our

salt-water plunge located just north of our pier.

In 1931, Mitchell began his 30-plus-year career at the Huntington Beach

Post Office.

Mitchell took up bowling in a big way and formed a bowling league in

1937. During World War II he managed the bowling alley on 5th Street.

Mitchell married, and he and his wife Juanita had a son and a daughter.

They lived for many years at 920 Main St.

So, at this festive time of year, when you see your local letter carrier

toting all those holiday cards, think back to the days when Lou Mitchell

delivered mail in Huntington Beach.

JERRY PERSON is a local historian and longtime Huntington Beach resident.

If you have ideas for future columns, write him at P.O. Box 7182,

Huntington Beach, CA 92615.