The post office at Oakland College commenced operating on May 28th, 1832. John Chamberlain, a professor at the college, and brother to the founders and first president of the school as appointed the first postmaster. Prior to that mail was handled at the Port Gibson Post Office which was reported to have been established in 1805. Mail before that would of been handled unofficially by travelers, explorers, military personnel, and just people going up and down the Natchez Trace or Mississippi River. Mail carried this way was Carried outside the mail, as it was not officially sanctioned. The earliest mail at the Oakland College post office was stampless. Mail without adhesive stamps. Mail was sent this way the majority of the time until January 1, 1857 when adhesive stamps were mandatory. A stampless cover was a folded letter sheet, folded and sealed with wax and addressed. The addresses where often just name of town, state, often only with name if person included. Once the letter was ready it was taken to the post office where the postmaster canceled the letter with a hand held stamp. The postage fees where based on the distance the letter traveled. Postage could be prepaid or due upon receipt. *Often researchers have seen lists of letters awaiting pick up that were posted in in what are now old newspapers. The postmasters at Oakland College. John Chamberlain May 28, 1832 John R. Hutchinson March 31, 1852 John E.C. Doremus August 8, 1854 William M. Smith July 8, 1859 The post office at Oakland College was discontinued on January 25, 1857. Sources: Listed in adjoining jpeg used by Capt Heanry A. Hudson, Jr., USNR-Ret.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 18:49:44 +0000