While replacing our old, worn-out mailbox, I started digging around the base of the post and hit something solid just a few inches down—a rusted chain buried about eight inches deep. At first, I thought I’d uncovered buried treasure. But reality quickly set in. As I kept digging, I realized the chain was connected to a metal anchor encased in concrete, used to secure the mailbox post underground.
Turns out, this was a clever fix for a common rural problem: mailbox vandalism. In some areas, bored or reckless drivers made a game out of knocking over mailboxes. Instead of filing complaints or waiting for help, rural homeowners got proactive—using tough, old-school solutions. They reinforced posts with concrete, swapped wooden poles for steel pipes, and sometimes even welded on rebar spikes to deter destruction.