Through Rain or Snow or Dark of Night
We take for granted our modern postal delivery system and may even chafe against the rise in the price of stamps or the lack of prompt package delivery, not taking into account the long and winding road our mail system has taken to get where we are. Last week we covered the history of Plymouth’s postal service. Today we’re continuing the story with the growth of postal service in the rest of Marshall County.
Rural mail delivery started in Marshall County in 1900. Calvin Switzer held the contract at $400 per year, and the distance of the route was approximately 25 miles. Forty-five mailboxes had been put up and it was expected that there would be at least 50 more by the end of the first week. Before that, neighbors simply helped each other out. For instance, according to an article in the Plymouth Democrat, Union Township resident Robert Mcfarland walked from his home to Maxinkuckee (a distance of about three miles) on Fridays to pick up any mail and deliver it to his neighbors, visiting as he passed their homes. He chose Friday because the newspaper would be in that mail. He received no money for his efforts and considered it a pleasure. In 1910 the Post Office Appropriation Bill contained a provision requiring a suitable mailbox conveniently placed on the outside to receive it.
The (Sydney) Argos Post Office was established in 1844 with Mr. Smith as postmaster. Following the election of President Polk, Mr. Smith was removed, and Mr. Downes was appointed postmaster. He moved the post office three or four miles south of Sydney. When Schuyler Colfax was elected to Congress, the people petitioned him as a member of the committee on postal matters to secure the return of the post office to its original place. The Post Office Department declined to do so, and Mr. Colfax suggested that the residents petition for a new post office to be located on the old Sydney plat. Mr. Colfax soon notified the petitioners that their request had been granted, but the name of the post office had to be changed. Mr. Colfax chose ‘Argos.’
The Bourbon Post Office was established in 1839. Although there was no home delivery, rural delivery was instituted in July 1902. Home delivery did not begin until August 1958. In the 1920s and early 30s, the post office was located on the east side of Main Street. Willard Minard was the postmaster. Marion Sharpe hung the mail bags for pickup by the Pennsy trains that no longer stopped, but simply stationed a man to grab them as the train rushed by. Scuddy Larue held this job in later years until the railway postal service was discontinued. In 1951 a new Bourbon Post Office was built by Burt Construction Company with about 1,600 square feet of floor space; but due to growing industry in Bourbon, a larger post office was needed, and was dedicated in 1963.
The Bremen Post Office was established in 1847 with George Pomeroy as the first postmaster. In 1905 Postmaster Ranstead built a new post office and leased it to the government for ten years. At that time, the Bremen Post Office supported six rural mail routes. In May 1960, a new post office site was chosen at the corner of Center and North Streets.
The Culver Post Office has had several different names. Historical records indicate that Onondaga (later known as Sligo) was the first post office to serve Culver. Onondaga was the second post office established in the county and only existed for about four years. About the time Onondaga closed, Benjamin F. Kendall established the Yellow River Post Office located near Burr Oak. This post office was discontinued in 1856 and was succeeded by Union Town Post Office, later known as Marmont and then Culver in 1897.
The November 13, 1902, issue of the Argos Reflector reported that “burglars blew the post office safe at Culver and got away with $1,000 worth of stamps. There were three explosions of dynamite, and the safe door was blown through the side of the building. The robbers escaped.” The Culver City Herald reported that no clue to the robbery had been obtained as of November 14. “The desperadoes connected with the affair, did their work well and covered their trail completely.” In January 1908 a new post office was opened in Culver in the new bank building.
In August 1934, bids were submitted for yet another new post office to be located on the southeast corner of Jefferson and Ohio Streets. The James I. Barnes Company of Culver won the contract, and the building was erected at a total cost of $37,466. Postmaster Strang turned the first shovel of dirt on March 13, 1935. The cornerstone was laid on September 16, and Russell Easterday, manager of the Barnes Company, sent a notice of completion on November 5.
The Burr Oak Post Office was housed in Currens’ General Store and for 40 years with Goldie Currens as postmistress. After the store closed in 1984, the post office equipment was donated to the Marshall County Museum and can be seen here today. The October 2, 1935, issue of the Culver Citizen reported that the store and post office were robbed of $15 and merchandise including cigarettes and food. The thieves were most likely vagrants who were seen near Bass Lake carrying a sugar sack, but police found no further trace of them.
The Town of Donaldson was platted in 1871. Gideon Short was the first postmaster. In November 1963, a new post office was dedicated. The ceremony was at Divine Heart Seminary with an open house following at the post office.
The Lapaz Post Office, located in Wiegand’s Store, was damaged by fire on October 29, 1946. Postmaster Arthur Welch was able to save all the mail except for a few letters and papers placed in lock boxes. However, stamps were water soaked, and books and forms were completely destroyed. Firefighters from Lapaz, Bremen, Plymouth, Lakeville, Walkerton and North Liberty fought the blaze for over an hour.
The post office at Linkville was established in 1884. In 1889, it was moved to Harris Station on the Vandalia Railroad. Some of the residents were so upset, they ordered their mail to be sent to the Plymouth Post Office. On December 1, 1903, the post office was discontinued, and the town started getting its mail from the Rural Route #1 carrier. A post office was established at Fairmount in 1853. The area was also known as Higby Corners. In January 1902, a post office was established in Hibbard at the crossing of the Vandalia and Nickel Plate Railroads.
The Plymouth Democrat carried the history of Rutland in its March 19, 1903, issue. Once called Cross Lanes, the name was changed to Glendale and then to Cavender. A post office was obtained around 1881, but it came with the name Rutland. Rather than “fight city hall,” the name was accepted. The Rutland Post Office was discontinued December 14, 1917, as Plymouth Route #4 began covering the territory.
The Tippecanoe Post Office has had many locations. The first, in 1851 was in Old Tippecanoe Town on the Tippecanoe River one mile north of the present town. The August 17, 1865, issue of The Plymouth Democrat reported that the post office at Tippecanoe Town had been discontinued. In 1884 the post office was established at the railroad station, then called Ilion. Eventually the name was changed to Tippecanoe. In December 1939 the post office building which had been moved from near the railroad to the center of town was destroyed by fire. The post office was then moved into the property of Mrs. Callie Dawson. In 1963 Postmaster Dale Blackford built a new post office about a block north of 18B Road on the east side of State Road 331. The dedication of the post office was April 21, 1963.
The Tyner Post Office was established on September 11, 1856. In 1996 Tyner celebrated 140 years of service. Over the years, the Tyner Post Office has moved several times. It was located in Postmaster Alan Burkholder’s garage from December 3, 1977, until his retirement in March 2002. The inside was decorated with murals by Marge Burkholder.
If you were a resident of Tyner when Mr. Burkholder was postmaster, you could receive your mail by carrier from Plymouth, or you could pick it up at the post office. If you opted for carrier, your address was Plymouth, and if you picked up your mail, your address was Tyner. Most recently, the post office was on Miller Street just north of French Street. Tyner folks lobbied to keep their post office and thought they’d held off the closing, but the Indianapolis Division opted to close it.
After more than forty years, the post office in the town of Walnut in the south part of Walnut Township was ordered closed December 15, 1905. It was reported that Argos Rural Route #11 went directly through Walnut and would probably serve the area, but residents of the town felt that they had not been dealt with fairly. The December 14, 1905, issue of The Argos Reflector reported that the order to discontinue the Walnut Post Office had been rescinded, but The Plymouth Tribune of March 15, 1906, reported, “The post office at Walnut will be closed March 15 by order of the Post Office Department. Patrons of the office will get their mail from Argos by rural route.”
Come by the Historical Society and Museum to learn more about this topic or many others anytime we are open – Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.