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WASHINGTON — Dorothy and Andrew Yankanich moved into their home in Wheaton, Md., in 1966 and soon began what would become a daily ritual: walking across the street to the squat blue mailbox to drop off bills, birthday cards and whatever else needed to be sent on its way. Until, one day a week or so ago, it was gone. Andrew Yankanich, 82, watched as postal workers hauled the box away for good after 43 years.
About 200,000 mailboxes have vanished from streets and rural routes — more than the 175,000 that remain — in the past 20 years. Some communities have protested, but boxes are disappearing because Americans no longer use the mail as they once did.
