In 1884, as a young man of 25, Harry Stocks of Lowell, Massachusetts, patented his invention for a more secure "Paper or Letter Box." He applied for the patent on April 4, 1884, and received approval from the United States Patent Office on July 8, 1884. In the application, Harry stated that "The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved newspaper-box adapted to be secured to the door or its casing, and so constructed that a newspaper placed in the box cannot be removed until the door is opened, and the papers will be protected from the inclemencies of the weather." Patent Number 301,639
Two pages - scroll down for second page.
