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PictureL George W. Sisler, Early postmaster. Desk on the right is still in use in the post office today.

100 YEARS OF POSTAL SERVICE

       The history of the Post Office in Stanwood is rather sketchy at best. Dates of the appointments and lengths of tenure of the early postmasters and their assistants are mostly obscured by time. An early account of the history of Cedar County states that William Allen was appointed postmaster at Stanwood in the year 1869. Since he was also station master for the railroad, it is likely that the post office was located in the depot. The length of Mr. Allen’s stay in office is not known or is that of his successor, John Elliot.

       Some time before the turn of the century F. L. Milton became postmaster and had the office in the building known as the party room of George’s Steak House. This building Mr. Milton later converted to a furniture store and undertaker’s parlor. When J. B. Wilson became postmaster, around 1900, he moved the post office to the building which is now the public library. Later in his postmastership Mr. Wilson had the post office in his meat market, which was in the rear part of the old bank building. Still later he moved the post office to a small frame building that stood on the site of the present town hall.

       George Sisler, who followed J. B. Wilson as postmaster, moved the office to the building that is still referred to as “the old post office,” currently owned by Paul Gadke, just east of the Ropa store. This remained the site of the post office during the tenure of John Grant and Cleve Long. The latter served the community honorably for more than eighteen years, the longest term in office of any postmaster thus far in Stanwood. Mr. Long retired in 1953. Frederick Meyer was appointed acting postmaster, and on May 24th received his commission.

       The present post office building was constructed in 1955 and first occupied on August first of that year.

       Down through the years a number of ladies have assisted the postmasters. Remembered by our senior citizens, some of these clerks were Lena Somes, Cora Woolison, and Helen Striebe. Mrs. Z. Meryl Strauser informs me that in 1924 and ’25 she helped Mr. Sisler in the post office. Florence Anthony and Florence Burgess also put their hands to this task, and some time in the 1930’s the smiling face of Marjorie Gruber came on the scene. Mrs. Irene Ormsby took her place in 1943. Fern Gadke and Joann Wenndt are serving as post office clerks at present. We hesitate to name any of the ladies who served in the post office as substitute clerks, lest we commit the error of omitting some.

       To temper the serious diligence of serving the public a certain amount of wit and humor seem to be a welcome ingredient of the personality of postal workers. I am reminded of witticisms of two former postmasters. In his later years when John Grant replied to my question about his health, he often said, “If I felt any better, they’d make me take something for it.” And Cleve Long used to tell Art Ropa, “Your credit is good for anything in this town except a three-cent stamp.” Those who performed their duties with a smile and a twinkle in the eye are long remembered.

       Here are the names of the Stanwood postmasters in chronological order: John Elliot, F. L. Milton, J. B. Wilson, George Sisler, John Grant, Cleve long and Frederick Meyer.

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Pictures: Henry Robson, 2nd Rural Letter Carrier; Ruby Robson, Daughter of Henry Robson, Substitute carrier for 45 years; Helen Strieby, Post Office Clerk, 1908

The Rural Mail Route

       The rural mail route service was established in 1902 or 1903, with Ed Sedam as carrier. At first he used a U. S. covered mail wagon, drawn by one horse. After some time he used his own vehicle, either a top buggy or a two-wheeled road cart, the latter being preferable when the mud was deep, especially in spring when the frost was going out. His route was about 28 miles.

       Few people subscribed to a daily paper and monthly magazines were not as numerous as they are now. However, at the times the Sears and Montgomery catalogs had to be delivered the weight of the mail compensated for the times when it was light. Sedam drove the route until 1911 when he retired, and Henry Robson was appointed to take his place. During his time daily papers and monthly magazines increased and parcel post came into common use. Mr. Robson used to drive half of his route before noon, come back into town, have his lunch and change horses, and finish the route in the afternoon. Eventually he got a Model T Ford, but often had to resort to his horses when the roads were bad. By the time he resigned, in 1928, most of the roads had been graveled, black-topped or paved.

       Roland Spear was appointed to succeed Mr. Robson in 1928, and at this time the length of the route was increased. Believe it or not, the salary of the carrier was also increased at the same time. Roland kept a pair of horses for a while and needed them sometimes in an emergency. He drove the route until 1960 when he resigned. Roby Robson, served as carrier for nearly a year, that is until January 1961, at which time Arthur Koering received the appointment. As evidence of the complete eclipse of the horse era, Koering started out with a station wagon and has never used any other power to get the mail to the rural patrons.

       Ruby Robson was substitute carrier for forty years, from 1921 until 1961. The substitute carrier since 1961 is Gordon Licht.