Did you know the post offices from the past didn't have official buildings? At the time, mail was delivered to taverns and stores, not to homes.
So how did postal services go from horseback to fast-moving vehicles? Let's explore the early history of post offices, and how the Wissahickon Valley Region contributed to the evolution of postal services.
Ben Franklin and the first US Postal Office
The earliest American postal system was created in February 1692 when New Jersey Governor Andrew Hamilton established post offices in each of the original 13 colonies to receive, send, and deliver letters and packages. Unfortunately, there were no post office buildings being built. Postal riders would deliver mail to taverns instead of delivering directly to someone's address.
In 1753, Benjamin Franklin was appointed the Postmaster General of the 13 Colonies by the British Crown along, with Colonel William Hunter of Virginia. The postal service Franklin found was disorganized and slow. In his this position, Franklin made improvements in the postal system with new regulations and from observations while traveling along the post roads:
"Franklin 'traveled widely to inspect postal routes, find the most reliable postal clerks to serve as his associates in the different towns and cities, and create a system of communication that would work well for riders of the post,' Mulford explains."
- Patrick J. Kiger, "How Ben Franklin Established the US Post Office"
During the early 18th century, Franklin was the publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette before being appointed Postmaster General of Philadelphia. He even transformed the Pennsylvania Gazette office into a post office. During the American Revolution, the Second Continental Congress unanimously appointed Franklin as the Postmaster General and the United States Post Office (USPO) was created on July 26, 1775.
Fun Fact #1: "B. Free Franklin" was his postmark.
Early Post Offices in the Wissahickon Valley Region
When the United States Post Office was created, many postmasters were appointed by the federal government. In order to expand the postal system across the country, they added transportation in railroads and steamships. After a bill was passed July 7, 1838, mail service by railroad rapidly increased.
"The Post Office in the 19th century was a major source of federal patronage. Local postmasterships were rewards for local politicians—often the editors of party newspapers. About three quarters of all federal civilian employees worked for the Post Office. In 1816 it employed 3341 men, and in 1841, 14,290. The volume of mail expanded much faster than the population, as it carried annually 100 letters and 200 newspapers per 1000 white population in 1790, and 2900 letters and 2700 newspapers per thousand in 1840."
- The History of the United States Post Office since 1792
1. Centre Square - 1828
One of the greatest innovations created for mailing service in agrarian communities, including Whitpain and Lower Gywnedd, was Rural Free Delivery (RFD). Before the program was created, residents in rural communities had to "pick up mail themselves, at sometimes distant post offices, or pay private express companies for delivery." (Britannica) Georgia congressman Thomas E. Watson pushed for a Rural Free Delivery system and it started in 1896.
The Waggon Inn stood on the west corner of Skippack and Dekalb Pikes since the 18th century, and it was the most well-known inn in the Centre Square area. In 1761, Thomas Fitzwater (1729-1797), rented 40 acres of the land the Waggon Inn occupied and became its landlord.
In the early 1800s, Colonial Thomas Humphrey (1774-1822) purchased 20 acres of Thomas Fitzwater's land at the south corner of Skippack and Dekalb Pikes where he built and started a store. He would later own all the corners of the two busy roads, including the land the Waggon Inn occupied. At Humphrey's store, a post office was established in 1828 with James Bush as its first postmaster of Whitpain Township.
Fun Fact #2: Thomas Humphrey was stationed at Marcus Hook during the War of 1812.
In his will, Thomas mentioned his daughters Eliza (1799-1855) and Rebecca who would take over the Waggon Inn and the store. It was Eliza who would manage the inn after her husband Samuel died. She then turned the inn and the store over to her son Thomas H. Wentz (1820-1883) whom she thought would do well in the family business. He opened a lumber yard at the back of the store that would become a success in the community.
Thomas eventually sold both the inn and the store to different owners. The Waggon Inn was sold to Wells Tomlinson in 1853 while the store and the post office was sold to Ephraim H. Shearer (1831-1872) in 1855.
2. Spring House - 1829
The Spring House Tavern has stood at the intersectioin of Bethlehem and Sumneytown Pikes and Norristown Road since the 18th century, and had been the hot spot for travelers from outside the community to stay.
After Christian Dull's success as the innkeeper of the tavern for half a century, four turnpikes surrounding the tavern were incorporated from Chestnut Hill (1804) to Penllyn and Blue Bell (1872). As a result, a post office was established by John W. Murray in 1829 who became the first postmaster of Spring House. Another inn was built that was once owned by David Blyler (1801-1872) in the 1850s.
The current location of the Spring House Post Office is along Bethlehem Pike where it's next to a local Italian restaurant Il Giardino.
3. Gwynedd - abt. 1829/1830
The land near the intersection of Dekalb and Sumneytown Pikes belonged for many years to the Jenkins Family. They initially immigrated from Wales in 1729, to Lansdale, until family members parted ways to start their own lives, including Edward Jenkins (1758-1829).
In 1794, Edward purchased the property on North Wales Road (now Sumneytown Pike), and used the old tavern (owned by Jacob Wentz of Worcester) that stood on his property as his store until his death in 1829. His son Charles F. Jenkins (1793-1867) succeeded his father and continued the family business and became the postmaster (probably the first) of Gwynedd at the store. Prior to taking over his father's business, he was engaged in the mercantile business. He was described as a "public-spirited citizen, active in all public affairs...."
After Charles died, his son William H. Jenkins (1827-1896) took over the store and the post office.
4. Blue Bell - 1840
The east side of Skippack Pike in Blue Bell was owned by John Phipps since 1747. He built a stone house and a farm where the store and post office stood across from the Blue Bell Inn.
In 1837, the lot was sold to Jesse Fitzgerald (1777-1863) who built the store house that same year after purchasing the lot. His son in-law Benjamin Hill of Connecticut succeeded him and continued to operate the store after purchasing it in 1845. Two years later, Benjamin sold the store house to William Michener (1806-1872) while Levi Miller was a tenant at the store during Michener's tenure.
Fun Fact #3: It was said that Benjamin Hill hung the sign "Blue Bell" in front of the store in 1840, and people liked the sound of the new sign name, and soon both the village (formally Pigeontown) and the post office was renamed after the store.
In 1875, Michener's executor, Jacob H. Michener, sold the stone house and the store to Charles DePrefontaine (1844-1932). He continued the business for many years. He was the postmaster of Blue Bell until retiring in 1926. His son in-law, J. Harold Hoover, succeeded him. The post office was closed in 1961.
A brief descriptive account of the Blue Bell Post Office inside the Blue Bell Store:
"The post office was just a small cage-like booth which occupied one corner as one came into the room."
- Whitpain... Crossroads in Time (111)
The current post office of Blue Bell is located on Township Line Road.
5. Broad Axe - 1855
There wasn't much information about the Broad Axe Store and Post Office, but sources say the store and post office opened in 1855 with John Cadwalader as its postmaster of Broad Axe. The Broad Axe Store and Post Office stood on the Hobensack property for many years from John Hobensack (1800-1892) to his descendants.
During the second half of the 19th century, John's son Henry H. Hobensack (1842-1921) was the postmaster at the time before James G. Danehower became the postmaster and proprietor of the store and post office in the 1880s and 90s.
The post office closed in 1919, but the store continued to operate until it was eventually torn down.
6. Penllyn - 1858/61
It was unknown when the post office was opened, but the earliest (possibly the first) postmaster found at Penllyn during the 1860s was Thomas P. Rowlett (1825-1878). One of the most well-known postmasters at the Penllyn Post Office was Oliver S. Rosenberger (1875-1947).
Oliver began his career as a teacher in public schools in Salford and Towamencin Townships. He made an impact to his young students to become successful in their careers.
"But all alike, whether in positions of great influence and importance, or leading simpler, though not less constructive, lives at home, freely acknowledge the large part played in their success by Mr. Rosenberger's wise teaching and counsel, and, even more, by his example of upright and public-spirited citizenship."
- Hunsicker, History of Montgomery County (603-604)
His educational career came into an end when he decided to head onto a different career path. In 1906, he accepted a position as a clerk of Linford S. Besson's store in Ambler. While in this position, he learned about trade conditions and mercantile practice. In 1919, five years after leaving Besson's store, Oliver decided to establish an independent business and purchased the general store in Penllyn by the train station. Learning from Linford S. Besson's business management skills, he was able to create success in his business in Penllyn.
On March 17, 1920, Oliver was appointed the postmaster of Penllyn, and held onto this position ever since.
7. Gwynedd Valley - Late 19th Century
It was unknown when exactly the Gwynedd Valley Store and Post Office was opened. It is evident that the store existed after the 1870s according to the map below.
The earliest known postmaster of Gwynedd Valley was Charles L. Loney (1846-1920). In 1909, the Cressman brothers (Walter S. and Wayne E.) purchased the store and post office from Loney, and operated the place for many years. Walter S. Cressman became the postmaster in 1929.
The building still stands to, was a used bookstore for many years and now hosts a mortgage and financial services business. The new and current post office was constructed across now Plymouth Road.
8. Belfry - 1880
The Belfry Store and Post Office was the last post office to be opened in Whitpain Township. The earliest postmaster of Belfry was William H. Baker (1841-1910).
Early History of the Ambler Post Office
Before the incorporation of Ambler, the mill town was part of Upper Dublin Township. The original location of the first post office was on Bethlehem Pike near Euclid Avenue. The store was operated by Isaac Thomas, the original owner of the west side (36 acres) of Butler Avenue. In 1870, the post office was relocated to John Walton's store (later the Armon Building) on Butler Avenue and Main Street. The former Thomas store was demolished in 1896. Isaac Thomas was the first postmaster of Upper Dublin, and held onto that position for 35 years since 1826.
Fun Fact #4: Elizabeth K. Knight (1842-1879), principal and founder of the Sunnyside Academy, was the first woman to be appointed postmaster in Ambler.
On December 5, 1883, the Upper Dublin Post Office was renamed Ambler after the Wissahickon Station was renamed Ambler. That same year Evan J. Ambler (1841-1893), the son of Mary Ambler, was appointed postmaster of the Ambler Post Office.
Under John Wanamaker as Postmaster General, Thomas Bitting (1817-1907) was appointed the next postmaster. After the Keasbey & Mattison Company moved their plant to Ambler, they built the Ambler Opera House by the railroad tracks where they wished to locate the post office. But Thomas refused to have the post office in the opera house. Instead, he wanted the post office at his home where J.W. Craft's lumber yard was located. With the support from local residents and patrons of the post office, the proposal was sent to Postmaster General Charles Emory Smith to keep the post office on the east side of the railroad tracks.
After 4 years of fighting against Washington to keep the post office on the east side of the tracks, the Ambler residents won their battle. Three citizens, Joseph Haywood (1835-1910), Alexander Knight (1846-1911), and John Houghton (1862-1906), were appointed to select a lot to build a brand new post office in Ambler.
There were many details of the design for the future post office. It includes using marble flooring to imitate the mosaic, and walls tinted and finished in yellow pine wainscoting.
"The building will be one story in height, of Colonial style, following the Ionic design in architecture. It will be 24 feet by 55 feet, and constructed of brick, pebbled-dashed and trimmed off in buff and white, carrying out the Colonial idea. Steps will lead up to a portico with four pillars of galvanized iron, supporting the roof and presenting a fine appearance from the front. "
- Ambler Gazette, September 22, 1898
The architect behind the design of the post office was J. Sims Wilson (1856-1911). He completed the project in 24 working days!
40 years after the post office was built, a brand new post office was built. It was dedicated on October 29, 1938. Oscar H. Stillwagon (1875-1952) was the postmaster during the time of the construction of the new post office and was responsible for the arrangement of the dedication ceremony. He was also responsible for the idea and design of the new post office building.
The new post office was 67 feet 7 inches by 95 feet. The cost from the United States Post Office to build the new post office was $59,383.48 while the cost on the project from the government was $94,030.
The post office closed down its operations in 1988, and is currently used as a financial institution named CamaPlan.
The current location for the Ambler Post Office is still on Butler Avenue, but on the west side of the train tracks.
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