Post Office And Rural Delivery
In Chandler Township Charlevoix County
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United Stated Postal Service (USPS) began in 1775 during the Second Continental Congress,
with Benjamin Franklin being appointed the first Postmaster General.
The USPS is one of the few governmental agencies which is authorized by the United States Constitution.
Page 186 of the 1884 book linked above states:
POST OFFICES.
"The following postoffices are in Charlevoix County: Advance, Boyne, Boyne Falls, Burgess, Charlevoix, Clarion, Dot, East Jordan, Horton's Bay, Intermediate, Inwood, Ironton, Norwood, Rock Elm, Sedan, South Arm, Spring Vale, Thumb Lake, Undine."
Page 220 of the 1884 book linked above states:
POST OFFICES.
"The following postoffices are in Charlevoix County: Advance, Boyne, Boyne Falls, Burgess, Charlevoix, Clarion, Dot, East Jordan, Horton's Bay, Intermediate, Inwood, Ironton, Norwood, Rock Elm, Sedan, South Arm, Spring Vale, Thumb Lake, Undine."
Page 220 of the 1884 book linked above states:
"John E. Darrah, Melrose Township Charlevoix County, was born in Saratoga County, N.Y., Jan. 1 1847: came to Kalamazoo County, Mich., with his parents in 1850 and remained there till 1862; he then went to Pennsylvania and was engaged in lumbering for two years. He enlisted in 1864 in the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and served in the Army of the Potomac till the close of the war. Was in several battles near Petersburg, Va., and was at Farmville, Va., when General Lee's army surrendered to General Grant. He came to Clarion Station March 7, 1877, when the surrounding country was a dense wilderness, and had only one dollar and fifty cents in money, a barrel of flour and a cow to make a start with in a new country, having just been burned out in Kent County, Mich., and lost all he had... He helped to organize the township [Melrose] in 1877 and has been supervisor since that time, has also been justice of the peace six years, notary public four years and was the first postmaster at Clarion." At the time of the CCC Wolverine Camp located in Chandler Township, the mailing address was Clarion in Melrose Township.
By 1890 the village of Springvale in Chandler Township Charlevoix County MI did have a post office Early maps of Chandler Township like the 1921 Chamber of Commerce Map shows the location of the village of Springvale as located in Section 2, but on the 1901 Plat Map the location of the Springvale Post Office was located in Section 24 which is south of the Gallop Cemetery location, so it is confusing as to what, or where, was the actual "Springvale Post Office". The Pioneer Profiles in the back of the 1901 Plat Map book, lists James Pearson [see photo below] as the "Postmaster of Springvale Post Office" which may explain why the Springvale Post Office was located in Section 24... that post office property is designated being surrounded by the 40 acres of land belonging in 1901 to James Pearson. Stories have been handed down that the Springvale General Store had a Post Office area within its building, perhaps receiving the mail from the train that passed closely to the store [see photos below]. Chandler Township post office stories also include tales that the post office might be housed within a private home... and that space might move to a different home from time to time. Rural free delivery was introduced nationwide in 1896/97, with five routes. Only seven years later, 15,119 routes covering 322,618 miles traversed the countryside. It is not known, however, when Rural Delivery began in Charlevoix County. Later, when rural delivery began in Chandler Township, the delivery still did not arrive at every home. Often clusters of mailboxes were located in a central location, sometimes a mile or more from a home, and the resident had to retrieve his mail from that distant location... even though logical thinking would make the resident wonder why the mailman could not just drive even a half mile, or a mile farther to deliver the mail to the mailing address. Even in 1952, Marion Mackie Wood, longtime Chandler Township resident, wondered just that... why could the mail not be delivered to their home, rather than her husband Howard, often having to walk to neighbor Connie Gallop's home to pick up their mail, or Connie and her son Bud Gallop often having to drive the mail to Howard & Marion Wood.
The railroad track ran directly next to the Springvale Cobbs & Mitchell General Store
if that was how, and where, the mail was delivered for the village of Springvale.
if that was how, and where, the mail was delivered for the village of Springvale.
1878 - 1879
George Mohortor (Proposed Post Master for NEW Post Office)
George Mohortor (Proposed Post Master for NEW Post Office)
Transcription summary of document below for the Post Office Department, Office of First Assistant Postmaster General, Washington, D.D. on 23 December 1878 (stamped 10 April 1879):
The First Assistant Postmaster General James N. Tyner wished to consider the recommendation for a postmaster for a NEW post office at Springville [SpringVale], Charlevoix County, Michigan. “The contractor should be informed of this application; and if the site of the proposed office be off the mail route, you will forward his certificate as to the practicability of supplying it, and also as to the increase in distance. if the proposed office is not on any route now under contract, it can only be established as a 'Special Office,' to be supplied without expense to the Department other than net proceeds."
To Mr. George Mohorter in care of the Postmaster of Berryville, who will please forward to him. The proposed office to be called SpringVale. The name of the candidate for postmaster should not be applied as the name of a post office. It is preferable to have some LOCAL or PERMANENT name, which must not be the name of any other office in the State; and you should aim to select a name not applied to any other office in the United States. NW quarter of Section 36, Township 33 N, Range 4 W in Charlevoix County, Michigan. [Click HERE to view the 1880 Chandler Township Plat Map. Notice the residence for Mr. George Mohorter is in section 36, so perhaps the post office would be located in the residence of George Mohorter.}
A “Special Office” is wanted. The name of the nearest office to the proposed one, on the same route is Berryville [In 2023, Berryville is non-existent. It had been located in Otsego County near to Vanderbilt, Michigan.]. Berryville was 8 miles in a southerly direction from the proposed office. The name of the nearest office on the same route, on the other side is Petoskey, being 14 miles in a northerly direction from the proposed office. If it [Springvale] be a village, state the number of inhabitants; NO VILLAGE exists, so NO population.
Signed 31 March 1879 by George Mohortor, Proposed P.M.
John G. Berry, Postmaster at Berryville, Michigan, certified the answers by George Mohortor to be correct and true, to the best of his knowledge.
Click HERE (go to page 41) to access additional information about John G. Berry who had settled in Otsego County, near Vanderbilt, on land available to Veterans, to become Berryville. John invested in a large tract with a lake on it, to be named Berryville Lake. See map drawing next below, for a general location of Berryville, related to Springvale.
The First Assistant Postmaster General James N. Tyner wished to consider the recommendation for a postmaster for a NEW post office at Springville [SpringVale], Charlevoix County, Michigan. “The contractor should be informed of this application; and if the site of the proposed office be off the mail route, you will forward his certificate as to the practicability of supplying it, and also as to the increase in distance. if the proposed office is not on any route now under contract, it can only be established as a 'Special Office,' to be supplied without expense to the Department other than net proceeds."
To Mr. George Mohorter in care of the Postmaster of Berryville, who will please forward to him. The proposed office to be called SpringVale. The name of the candidate for postmaster should not be applied as the name of a post office. It is preferable to have some LOCAL or PERMANENT name, which must not be the name of any other office in the State; and you should aim to select a name not applied to any other office in the United States. NW quarter of Section 36, Township 33 N, Range 4 W in Charlevoix County, Michigan. [Click HERE to view the 1880 Chandler Township Plat Map. Notice the residence for Mr. George Mohorter is in section 36, so perhaps the post office would be located in the residence of George Mohorter.}
A “Special Office” is wanted. The name of the nearest office to the proposed one, on the same route is Berryville [In 2023, Berryville is non-existent. It had been located in Otsego County near to Vanderbilt, Michigan.]. Berryville was 8 miles in a southerly direction from the proposed office. The name of the nearest office on the same route, on the other side is Petoskey, being 14 miles in a northerly direction from the proposed office. If it [Springvale] be a village, state the number of inhabitants; NO VILLAGE exists, so NO population.
Signed 31 March 1879 by George Mohortor, Proposed P.M.
John G. Berry, Postmaster at Berryville, Michigan, certified the answers by George Mohortor to be correct and true, to the best of his knowledge.
Click HERE (go to page 41) to access additional information about John G. Berry who had settled in Otsego County, near Vanderbilt, on land available to Veterans, to become Berryville. John invested in a large tract with a lake on it, to be named Berryville Lake. See map drawing next below, for a general location of Berryville, related to Springvale.
The 1880 Chandler Township Census Record shows the George Mohortor Family as follows:
George Mohortor abt 1844 New York Self (Head)
Henrietta Mohortor abt 1851 New York Wife
Otis Mohortor abt 1870 Michigan Son
Clarrence Mohortor abt 1872 Michigan Son
Ollive Mohortor abt 1878 Michigan Daughter
Grace Mohortor abt 1879 Michigan Daughter [Birthdate 21 August 1879]
George Mohortor abt 1844 New York Self (Head)
Henrietta Mohortor abt 1851 New York Wife
Otis Mohortor abt 1870 Michigan Son
Clarrence Mohortor abt 1872 Michigan Son
Ollive Mohortor abt 1878 Michigan Daughter
Grace Mohortor abt 1879 Michigan Daughter [Birthdate 21 August 1879]
1878-1879 Map Drawing below shows a general location of Berryville,
in relation to Springvale's proposed Post Office.
in relation to Springvale's proposed Post Office.
1880's
The route of the railroad lines rather dictated where the post offices would be located in Northern Michigan. Chandler Township's mail often came in with the post office named as Clarion Michigan... as noted on the Camp Wolverine CCC's camp menu. In 2013 Chandler Township residents have Boyne Falls MI listed as the town of their mailing address. The original reason for Boyne Falls or Clarion being the noted post offices was written in Perry Powers' 1912 book A History of Northern Michigan and Its People on page 176: "... But the development of the interior country did not warrant the extension of the Grand Rapids & Indiana road to Mackinaw City until 1882, although Bay View had secured connections in 1876 and Harbor Springs in 1880. The corporation now known as the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway Company was chartered in July, 1896, under the laws of Michigan and Indiana, to take over the railroad and property of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company, which was sold under foreclosure August 1st of that year. The company owns practically the capital stock of the Traverse City Railroad Company and a one-third interest in the Mackinac Transportation Company. The following lines, in Northern Michigan, are now operated by the Grand Rapids & Indiana: Main line-Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Mackinaw City, Michigan, 366.63 miles. Missaukee branch-MAissaukee Junction to Michelson, Michigan, 81.94 miles. Missaukee City spur-Northward from Ardis Junction, 3.85 miles. Harbor Springs branch-Kegomic to Harbor Springs, Michigani.5.91 miles. Traverse City railroad, from Walton to Traverse City, Grand Traverse county, 25.86 miles. The stations and postoffices along the lines of the Grand Rapids & Indiana in the territory under consideration are as follows: Northern division-Mackinaw City, Cheboygan county; Carp Lake, Levering. Van, Pellston. Brutus, Alanson, Oden, Conway, Bay View and Petoskey. Emmet county; Clarion and Boyne Falls, Charlevoix county; Elmira, Otsego county; Alba and Mancelona, Antrim county; Westwood, Leetsville, Kalkaska and South Boardman, Kalkaska county; Fife Lake, Grand Traverse county; Manton, Cadillac and Hobart, Wexford county; Tustin, Le Roy, Ashton, Crono and Reed City, Osceola county. Harbor Springs branch-We-que-ton-sing and Harbor Springs, Emmet county. Missaukee branch-Michelson, Roscommon county; Jennings, Lake City, Falmouth, and Missaukee City, Missaukee county. Traverse City branch-Summit City, Kingsley, Mayfield and Traverse City. Grand Traverse county."
Stories exist that Dot (located in Chandler Township)
was a "Stagecoach Stop" while the stagecoach was enroute from Vanderbilt, carrying mail.
The following article from the 1987 Aug 20 Page 12 Herald Times:
Sesquicentennial lends credence to the stagecoach story.
was a "Stagecoach Stop" while the stagecoach was enroute from Vanderbilt, carrying mail.
The following article from the 1987 Aug 20 Page 12 Herald Times:
Sesquicentennial lends credence to the stagecoach story.
Article above: Jim Wagner's store was actually on the corner of Thumb Lake Road and Magee Road, rather than "Thumb Lake Road and Chandler Hill Road", as written in the article.
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The Thumm [sic] Lake post office mentioned in the article below is probably the same post office as mentioned in the article left telling about the stage coach going through the village of Dot to pick up mail to be delivered.
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1901
1891 ~ James Pearson (Post Master)
On the map sections below from the 1901 Plat Book for Chandler Township,
the Village of Springvale was located on the border of Sections 2 and 11.
The Springvale P.O. [the dot in the tiny square] was located in section 24
within the 40 acres of property owned by James [Jas.] Pearson.
On the map sections below from the 1901 Plat Book for Chandler Township,
the Village of Springvale was located on the border of Sections 2 and 11.
The Springvale P.O. [the dot in the tiny square] was located in section 24
within the 40 acres of property owned by James [Jas.] Pearson.
Photos Below: James Pearson was listed as the "Postmaster of Springvale Post Office" in 1901. He passed away just three years later on 29 May 1904 in his Chandler Township home, with the "cause of death" listed as Chronic Bronchitis. He had married to Esther Jane Demaray on 3 December 1851 Niagara County NY. Esther passed away 26 May 1919. Both James and Esther are buried in the Gallop Cemetery in Chandler Township, just down the road from where they had lived. The Charlevoix Sentinel stated at the time of James Pearson's passing: "James Pearson, father of Sheriff W.J. Pearson, died at his home in Chandler township Sunday, at an advanced age. Mr. Pearson located in Chandler township twenty one years ago, coming there from near Pontiac. All of his five children were present at the funeral, which was the largest in the history of that township. Deceased was a man of sterling character." ~ Charlevoix Sentinel
The National Archives Records of the Post Office Department, 1773–1971 holds this two page document below. The 6 April 1891 Post Office Department recorded a “statement” in an application for a change of site for the Springvale Post Office in Charlevoix County. The proposed post office will be one-half mile in a southeasterly direction away from the present post office. The office will be called SpringVale situated at the ? quarter of Section 24, Township 33 Range 4 W., in the County of Charlevoix, State of Michigan. It will be on or near route No. 37516, being the route from Petoskey to Vanderbilt, on which the mail is now carried six times per week. The post office will be directly on this route, not increasing the travel of the mail on one way each trip. Thumb Lake is the name of the nearest office to the proposed site, on the same Thumb Lake route, being 4 miles, in a northwest direction from the proposed site. Boyne Falls will be the nearest office to the proposed site, NOT on this route being a distance of 12 miles in a southwest direction. The name of the nearest railroad is Michigan Central. This statement was certified 10 April 1891 by James Pearson, proposed Post Master. The postmaster of Thumb Lake Anson L. Simons certified that he had examined the foregoing statement and that it was correct and true to the best of his knowledge.
J. V. Moran (Post Master)
1901
1901
Transcription summary of document below for the Post Office Department, Topographer’s Office in Washington, D.D. on 2 July 1901:
The Topographer wished to determine the location of the Springvale Post Office with as much accuracy as possible, so it may be correctly delineated on its maps. The Postmaster General was requesting the postmaster to carefully answer the questions below, and furnish the diagram on the other side (page next below) and to return such to the Topographer’s Office, Post Office Department.
Quite probably this information was being sought because while James Pearson had been postmaster, the post office was in his own home, and marked as such on the 1901 Plat Map as shown above. It appears that on this 2 July 1901 questionnaire below, the “Signature of Postmaster” was signed as “J.V. Moran (being a different postmaster than James Pearson) on 9 July 1901. Thus, the reason for the moving of the post office. J.V. Moran was known to have the post office within the general store at Springvale Village.
The new site of the Springvale Post Office was moved 4 ½ miles N. The P.O. was newly situated in the SW 1/4 of Section No. 2, in Township 33, Range 4 in Charlevoix County, Michigan. The name of the most prominent river near it was Sturgeon, being 4 miles from the said river, on the NW side of it, and was 2 ½ miles from said nearest creek on the NE side of it. This post office was a Special Office supplied from Vanderbilt and Petoskey, 16 miles distant. The name of the nearest Offie on the route was Thumb Lake and its distance was 7 miles, but the traveled road, in a SE direction this new location. The name of the nearest railroad was Boyne Falls & North Eastern. The new post office was 80 feet on the north side. Again, signed by J.V. Moran on 9 July 1901.
The Topographer wished to determine the location of the Springvale Post Office with as much accuracy as possible, so it may be correctly delineated on its maps. The Postmaster General was requesting the postmaster to carefully answer the questions below, and furnish the diagram on the other side (page next below) and to return such to the Topographer’s Office, Post Office Department.
Quite probably this information was being sought because while James Pearson had been postmaster, the post office was in his own home, and marked as such on the 1901 Plat Map as shown above. It appears that on this 2 July 1901 questionnaire below, the “Signature of Postmaster” was signed as “J.V. Moran (being a different postmaster than James Pearson) on 9 July 1901. Thus, the reason for the moving of the post office. J.V. Moran was known to have the post office within the general store at Springvale Village.
The new site of the Springvale Post Office was moved 4 ½ miles N. The P.O. was newly situated in the SW 1/4 of Section No. 2, in Township 33, Range 4 in Charlevoix County, Michigan. The name of the most prominent river near it was Sturgeon, being 4 miles from the said river, on the NW side of it, and was 2 ½ miles from said nearest creek on the NE side of it. This post office was a Special Office supplied from Vanderbilt and Petoskey, 16 miles distant. The name of the nearest Offie on the route was Thumb Lake and its distance was 7 miles, but the traveled road, in a SE direction this new location. The name of the nearest railroad was Boyne Falls & North Eastern. The new post office was 80 feet on the north side. Again, signed by J.V. Moran on 9 July 1901.
Drawing Below:
The Post Office Topographer requested that the exact site of the new Post office location was to be marked.
The Post Office Topographer requested that the exact site of the new Post office location was to be marked.
Prior To 1903 ~ Frank Eastwood (Rural Carrier)
Chandler Township resident Nellie Mackie Pearson wrote a letter 18 January 1903 to her sister Marion Mackie Wood who was living in Chicago IL at that time:
" Mr. Eastwood [Frank] was buried the 8th. He died of cancer of stomach. She will get $9.50 maccabee money. He drew $50.00 on a disability claim last fall. I hope she [Rhoda] will stay here, but I don’t expect she will. Frank Eastwood carried the mail from Cobbs & Mitchell store to Vanderbilt. The store is at the plum orchard you remember where that was. It is a fine big store and a new hotel quite a village post office of Springvale so there is no more mail from Petoskey. There is a railroad from Boyne Falls and it will be completed to Wolverine in the early spring. They run a caboose out every Sat to the Falls. I went out once last Summer. Photo Left: The photo left may have been taken about 1902 when Frank Eastwood was looking quite thin. He passed away in January 1903. |
1908 ~ A.J. Crago (Postmaster)
Transcription summary of document below for the Post Office Department, Office of First Assistant Postmaster General, Washington, D.D. on 14 December 1908:
The First Assistant Postmaster General Grandfield wished to determine the proposed location of the SpringVale Post Office with as much accuracy as possible, so Mr. Grandfield was requesting the postmaster to correctly fill out the form and furnish the diagram on the other side (page next below).
The SpringVale Post Office proposed site from the present site, and distance by shortest road was to be 300 feet NW. The nearest railroad was the Michigan Central which was 9 miles east. The nearest station was Wolverine, Michigan, which was 9 miles east. The nearest of two post offices on the same route was Vanderbilt, Michigan, which was 14 miles. The nearest post office not on the same route was Littlefield, Michigan, 5 miles. The nearest river or creek was the Little Sturgeon which was 5 miles. The Village to be supplied with mail was Springvale with a population of 75. The total population to be supplied with mail was 400.
The form was signed by A.J. Crago Postmaster.
The First Assistant Postmaster General Grandfield wished to determine the proposed location of the SpringVale Post Office with as much accuracy as possible, so Mr. Grandfield was requesting the postmaster to correctly fill out the form and furnish the diagram on the other side (page next below).
The SpringVale Post Office proposed site from the present site, and distance by shortest road was to be 300 feet NW. The nearest railroad was the Michigan Central which was 9 miles east. The nearest station was Wolverine, Michigan, which was 9 miles east. The nearest of two post offices on the same route was Vanderbilt, Michigan, which was 14 miles. The nearest post office not on the same route was Littlefield, Michigan, 5 miles. The nearest river or creek was the Little Sturgeon which was 5 miles. The Village to be supplied with mail was Springvale with a population of 75. The total population to be supplied with mail was 400.
The form was signed by A.J. Crago Postmaster.
1910 ~ Mr. Merrit
In the beginnings of postal delivery, parcels were not mailed. It was not until 1913 that this happened. The Smithsonian Library website describes the effects of parcel post delivery as follows: "The establishment of parcel post in 1913 had a tremendously stimulating effect on the national economy; it opened a world of opportunities for both farmers and merchants alike. Rural Americans were able to purchase foodstuffs, medicines, dry goods and other commodities not readily available to them previously. Even more conveniently, the goods were mailed directly to their homes. In addition, farmers were able to ship eggs and other produce directly to the consumer, saving both time and money." The Smithsonian Library website has many associated photos regarding parcel post delivery in the United States.
Only a short time after parcel post began, more clerks were necessary to sort the additional mail arriving on the late G.R. & I (Grand Rapids and Indiana) and evening trains in Petoskey MI, and to prepare the mail for delivery and the carriers the next morning as noted in the article below.
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Being able to ship various items in 1913 by parcel post was a big deal. Before regulations put a halt to it, even children under 50 pounds could be shipped by parcel post. A website about "Sending Children by Parcel Post" even has a photo (evidently a humorous image to help end such actual practice).
Chandler Township resident Marion Mackie Wood often wrote in her diaries of having sent meat, or food, to her daughter Isabel (Art) Oldham, where Isabel and Art lived in Chicago.
Chandler Township resident Marion Mackie Wood often wrote in her diaries of having sent meat, or food, to her daughter Isabel (Art) Oldham, where Isabel and Art lived in Chicago.
In 1913, the article below was written telling of the postal inspectors
describing the proper way to put up a mail box so the wheel of a buggy would just pass under it.
Oliver Magee was the postal delivery man for Chandler Township at that time
and was delivering mail from a buggy as in the photo farther below.
describing the proper way to put up a mail box so the wheel of a buggy would just pass under it.
Oliver Magee was the postal delivery man for Chandler Township at that time
and was delivering mail from a buggy as in the photo farther below.
It wasn't until 1915 that the Arctic Circle had Arctic rural mail carriers,
so Chandler Township was at least ahead of the Arctic Circle regarding rural mail carriers!
so Chandler Township was at least ahead of the Arctic Circle regarding rural mail carriers!
First Class Mail to be Taxed to Assist in Upkeep of WWI
1918 ~ W.R. Allen (Post Master)
Transcription summary of document below for the Post Office Department, Topographer’s Office in Washington, D.D. on 14 August 1918:
The Division of Topography wished to determine the location of the Springvale Post Office with as much accuracy as possible, so it may be correctly delineated on post-route maps, the Postmaster General was requesting the postmaster to carefully answer the questions below, and furnish the diagram on the other side (page next below) and to return such to the Topographer’s Office, Post Office Department.
The SpringVale Post Office was situated in the SW quarter of section No. 2 in Township 33, Range 4 of Charlevoix County, Michigan (same location as previously reported). The nearest river was Bear River seven miles to the east of the SpringVale Post Office. The name of the nearest post office on the route was Clarion at a distance of 9 ½ miles in a west direction from the SpringVale offie. The name of the nearest office not on the route, on the other side was Wolverine, Michigan, at a distance of nine miles in an east direction. The post-office building was on the east side of the G.R.&I (Grand Rapids & Indiana) Railroad and at a distance of 8 (previously noted as 80) feet from the track. The railroad station name was Clarion. The post office was one mile south from the nearest point of the county boundary.
Signed by Postmaster W.R. Allen on 19 August 1918
The Division of Topography wished to determine the location of the Springvale Post Office with as much accuracy as possible, so it may be correctly delineated on post-route maps, the Postmaster General was requesting the postmaster to carefully answer the questions below, and furnish the diagram on the other side (page next below) and to return such to the Topographer’s Office, Post Office Department.
The SpringVale Post Office was situated in the SW quarter of section No. 2 in Township 33, Range 4 of Charlevoix County, Michigan (same location as previously reported). The nearest river was Bear River seven miles to the east of the SpringVale Post Office. The name of the nearest post office on the route was Clarion at a distance of 9 ½ miles in a west direction from the SpringVale offie. The name of the nearest office not on the route, on the other side was Wolverine, Michigan, at a distance of nine miles in an east direction. The post-office building was on the east side of the G.R.&I (Grand Rapids & Indiana) Railroad and at a distance of 8 (previously noted as 80) feet from the track. The railroad station name was Clarion. The post office was one mile south from the nearest point of the county boundary.
Signed by Postmaster W.R. Allen on 19 August 1918
Oliver Magee (Rural Carrier)
Oliver Magee and son Perry Magee were delivering mail. Perry "Pud" was born in 1909 .
The Pictorial History of The Boyne Valley Area labeled this photo as:
"Oliver MaGee and son Perry delivering mail in the summer of 1920."
Oliver L. Magee was buried in the Boyne Valley Cemetery Boyne Falls MI.
(17 August 1872 ~ 1 November 1926)
Oliver Magee and son Perry Magee were delivering mail. Perry "Pud" was born in 1909 .
The Pictorial History of The Boyne Valley Area labeled this photo as:
"Oliver MaGee and son Perry delivering mail in the summer of 1920."
Oliver L. Magee was buried in the Boyne Valley Cemetery Boyne Falls MI.
(17 August 1872 ~ 1 November 1926)
Post Office Department map below shows the mail routes. Of particular interest is the route heading from Clarion and Walloon Lake, heading east "To Wolverine" including Spring Vale (Two words at that time).
Above Map Description; transcription from the page below:
“This map will give you a much better location of P.O. as it is on larger scale and near to accurate than what I can do. Rural route has been changed in Emmet Co. and Clarion patrons were by route from here - office discontinued. This map no longer of value to us."
"Location of office as copied from tax description…”
Stamped 2 November 1945 AND 5 May 1947 by Post Office Department Department of Topography.
“This map will give you a much better location of P.O. as it is on larger scale and near to accurate than what I can do. Rural route has been changed in Emmet Co. and Clarion patrons were by route from here - office discontinued. This map no longer of value to us."
"Location of office as copied from tax description…”
Stamped 2 November 1945 AND 5 May 1947 by Post Office Department Department of Topography.
About 1927 ~ 30 September 1952
Ezra Hetrick (Rural Mail Carrier)
Marion Mackie Wood, Chandler Township resident, had written a letter January 31, 1945 to her daughter Isabelle Wood Oldham in Chicago. "The mail hasn’t been coming in as it should. Mr. Hetrick is getting delicater & delicater as he grows old. He used to have Merle [Ezra's son] to be along with him but Merle’s been in the army a long time & he has a tall grandson with him lots but I guess he (young Upton) don’t care to buck drifts- very much."
Marion Mackie Wood had written a letter April 1, 1947 to her daughter Isabelle Wood Oldham in Chicago. "The mail hasn’t gotten in only once in a while. Mr. Hetrick is having mumps so Roy Magee (Mr. Louise Pearson) is subbing for him. When Roy came late last week [after 5 days of no mail] he got coffee, bread & a raft of things he thought people might be out of, & brought them in. Wasn’t that nice? Mr. Hetrick's going to retire pretty soon & then we’ll likely have Roy for our mailman."
Marion Mackie Wood had written a letter 18 July 1952 to her daughter Isabelle Wood Oldham in Chicago, regarding the ill health of Mr. Ezra Hetrick of Boyne Valley Township who was their present mailman, lamenting the rural mail delivery not coming to Marion and Howard Wood's home. Mr. Hetrick had suffered a stroke, and was going to be giving up his mail delivery. The letter, in part, stated: "Last Sun we went to Mr. Hetrick’s party at the Boyne Falls school, & the $75.00 presentation chair was a beauty, & Bud, George, Georgia, Lilly Stowe, & the 2 Caldwell girls who all had boarded with them [The Hetrick Family] & went to Highschool [in Boyne Falls MI], gave Mrs. Hetrick a lovely table lamp & a corsage. Don’t [sic] Connie [Gallop] think of the nicest things! of course it was she who sparked the whole thing. Mr. Hetrick is very very shattered with his health. He is carrying mail, but his brother goes with him every day- He will get a few dollars more a month on his pension if he keeps going until Fall, poor dear. He always questioned us having the mail go past here every time the subject was brought up." AND October 5, 1952: "Today Mr. Hetrick is giving up the mail route. His birthday time. The day he started this route, so it will be quite a celebration. The rural mail carriers are giving him a party...
Ezra L. Hetrick was buried in the Boyne Valley Cemetery Boyne Falls MI. (1884 ~ 1957)
Marion Mackie Wood had written a letter April 1, 1947 to her daughter Isabelle Wood Oldham in Chicago. "The mail hasn’t gotten in only once in a while. Mr. Hetrick is having mumps so Roy Magee (Mr. Louise Pearson) is subbing for him. When Roy came late last week [after 5 days of no mail] he got coffee, bread & a raft of things he thought people might be out of, & brought them in. Wasn’t that nice? Mr. Hetrick's going to retire pretty soon & then we’ll likely have Roy for our mailman."
Marion Mackie Wood had written a letter 18 July 1952 to her daughter Isabelle Wood Oldham in Chicago, regarding the ill health of Mr. Ezra Hetrick of Boyne Valley Township who was their present mailman, lamenting the rural mail delivery not coming to Marion and Howard Wood's home. Mr. Hetrick had suffered a stroke, and was going to be giving up his mail delivery. The letter, in part, stated: "Last Sun we went to Mr. Hetrick’s party at the Boyne Falls school, & the $75.00 presentation chair was a beauty, & Bud, George, Georgia, Lilly Stowe, & the 2 Caldwell girls who all had boarded with them [The Hetrick Family] & went to Highschool [in Boyne Falls MI], gave Mrs. Hetrick a lovely table lamp & a corsage. Don’t [sic] Connie [Gallop] think of the nicest things! of course it was she who sparked the whole thing. Mr. Hetrick is very very shattered with his health. He is carrying mail, but his brother goes with him every day- He will get a few dollars more a month on his pension if he keeps going until Fall, poor dear. He always questioned us having the mail go past here every time the subject was brought up." AND October 5, 1952: "Today Mr. Hetrick is giving up the mail route. His birthday time. The day he started this route, so it will be quite a celebration. The rural mail carriers are giving him a party...
Ezra L. Hetrick was buried in the Boyne Valley Cemetery Boyne Falls MI. (1884 ~ 1957)
1 October 1952 ~ 13 August 1953
Roy A. Magee (Rural Mail Carrier)
Roy A. Magee (Rural Mail Carrier)
Marion Mackie Wood wrote in her same 5 October 1952 letter, as mentioned above about Mr. Hetrick, to her daughter Isabelle Wood Oldham in Chicago: "Roy McGee [Magee] has been on the route since the 1st- so he [Mr. Hetrick] has been already retired- as cold as it is he's [Mr. Hetrick's] in luck to be staying in. We must try to have the mail go past here.- Mr. Hetrick always said no about it for the last 25 years." [Roy Magee (a twin to Ira Marshall Magee who had died at about 19 years old) died 13 August 1953 at only 46 years old, so hardly carried the mail for one year.] Roy Magee was still delivering Howard and Marion Wood's mail to neighbor Bud Gallop when Marion wrote in her November 15, 1951 diary: "Roy Magee was all scared when he gave Bud my candy- he had spilled a can of kerosene in on the mail. Bud opened the pkg. & it hadn’t penetrated. I’m glad- It’s delicious- Sweet of Nell- " [Cousin Nell Hamilton Lyons had sent the candy to Marion.]
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After 30 August 1951 In Chandler Township
Sharon Ellsworth Crego (Rural Mail Carrier)
Sharon Ellsworth Crego (Rural Mail Carrier)
Sharon Crego's family moved from Grand Ledge MI to settle on a farm in Chandler Township in 1932. He worked on the family farm to help the family make it through the Great Depression. Sharon's father worked for the Townsend Family. In 1943, Sharon was inducted into the military in the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps in Detroit MI. He returned from the military in 1951 to again work on the farm, and also to deliver mail to Chandler Township as a rural mail carrier out of the Boyne Falls Post Office for 35 years. Sharon passed away 31 December 2012.
On 4 April 2009 Karla Howard Buckmaster talked with Sharon Crego on the phone. Sharon told that his father was James Arthur Crego who lived on Chandler Hill. James' first wife was Prudence Gilbert. The Gilberts lived across from where Connie Gallop's farm was on Chandler Hill, near to the Gallop Cemetery.
1900 Chandler Township Charlevoix County Census Record:
Gilbert
Gustirs (Agustus) Gilbert Apr 1849 Michigan Head
Ella Gilbert Jan 1864 Michigan Wife
Frank H Gilbert Aug 1882 Michigan Son [Day Laborer]
Prudenc Gilbert Aug 1884 Michigan Daughter
Byron E Gilbert Feb 1892 Michigan Son
Robert G Gilbert May 1896 Michigan Son
On 4 April 2009 Karla Howard Buckmaster talked with Sharon Crego on the phone. Sharon told that his father was James Arthur Crego who lived on Chandler Hill. James' first wife was Prudence Gilbert. The Gilberts lived across from where Connie Gallop's farm was on Chandler Hill, near to the Gallop Cemetery.
1900 Chandler Township Charlevoix County Census Record:
Gilbert
Gustirs (Agustus) Gilbert Apr 1849 Michigan Head
Ella Gilbert Jan 1864 Michigan Wife
Frank H Gilbert Aug 1882 Michigan Son [Day Laborer]
Prudenc Gilbert Aug 1884 Michigan Daughter
Byron E Gilbert Feb 1892 Michigan Son
Robert G Gilbert May 1896 Michigan Son
1952/1953 Volunteer Effort by Mail Carriers
2001 ~ July 2012 (Retired)
Dirk Martin
Dirk Martin
1903 Rural Delivery Winter Problem
Already by 1903 the Charlevoix County Rural Mail Delivery had evidently been affected by fences built by the roadways creating snow drifts. The Public and Local Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan, Part 1 By Michigan (shown below) stated that "along those highways in Charlevoix county, which are used or hereafter shall be used as United States mail or rural free delivery routes, shall be constructed of open wire fencing, and the building of any form of fence along such highways, which can cause the formation of snow drifts is prohibted."
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3 December 2007 Winter Problem
A Rural Letter Carrier wrote a letter to the editor, published in the Petoskey News Review,
voicing his concerns associated with rural mail delivery during the winters
in Otsego, Antrim, and Charlevoix Counties.
The carrier addressed the roadways needing to be safely plowed,
and the rural residents needing to keep access to the mailbox cleared.
A Rural Letter Carrier wrote a letter to the editor, published in the Petoskey News Review,
voicing his concerns associated with rural mail delivery during the winters
in Otsego, Antrim, and Charlevoix Counties.
The carrier addressed the roadways needing to be safely plowed,
and the rural residents needing to keep access to the mailbox cleared.
11 October 2012 Small Post Offices
Like Boyne Falls May See Shorter Hours
Like Boyne Falls May See Shorter Hours
The Boyne Falls Post Office is the server of the Rural Delivery for Chandler Township so those residents have a Boyne Falls mailing address. The above titled newspaper article referred to the plans for hours being cut in the Boyne Falls office from 8 to 6 hours per day. The article explained the plight of the US Postal Service because of lack of funds.