On The Origin of Our Species

Will Mauck created the Tin Can Mailman with 400 books he borrowed from a friend, and a stack of fruit crates, which he nailed to the wall as extemporaneous bookshelves! The project began in 1972, after Will's volunteer years with the Peace Corps in Tonga. Will was an eccentric oceanography graduate who refused to wear anything other than shorts and sandals, even in the winter. He named his bookstore after one of the Islands of Tonga, the remote island of Niua Fo'ou, or Tin Can Mail Island.

Tin Can Mail Island is named for its crazy postal system. Originally, there was no safe harbor where mail ships could dock, and so mail for the islanders was inserted into tin cans and thrown into the ocean. The strongest swimmers were elected to fetch the cans. The tradition continued until sharks ate the last mail swimmer! You can read more about Tin Can Mail Island, including its new postal system, on our Links and Liaisons page.

Next Page