The first postmaster in Milford was appointed in 1793, but where they served changed quite often in the early years. When Abner Dill was appointed as the first postmaster, mail service was conducted out of local homes and businesses.
On August 10, 1793, Dill was appointed. He purchased the first lot on the corner of Northwest Front Street, then known as First Street, and Walnut Street for five shillings and three pounds, about $900 today, on April 29, 1789. Dill built a two-story house and there are indications the post office operated out of his home. The home is gone, replaced by the former M&T Bank.
John Pettigrew became the postmaster on January 1, 1797, a veteran of the American Navy during the American Revolution. He purchased a lot from Joseph Oliver in 1792 on a lot on Front Street. He built a brick dwelling on the eastern end, another dwelling on the western end plus a shop between them. He lived in one of the dwellings for 18 years and it is likely he operated the post office out of the shop building.
John Davis became the third postmaster on April 1, 1799. There is no record of where he lived or worked, so the location of the post office during his tenure is unknown. He was followed by Nataniel Russum, appointed January 1, 1800. No record remains regarding where he operated the post office either.
On July 1, 1788, Thomas Winsmore purchased a lot from Joseph Oliver on the corner of Walnut and Front, still known as First at the time. It is likely he constructed a building there and operated the post office. James Gaskins, appointed postmaster on May 17, 1814, is also a mystery with no record of where he handled Milford’s mail.
James Owen became the postmaster on April 18, 1815, but he, too has proved to be elusive. In 1810, he bought, along with Levin Rickards, a large lot on the corner of Northwest Front Street and Maple Avenue, which at that time was known as Depot Street. The lot was separated in 1811 and James Owen took the corner lot which had a brick home known as the James McColley house. He lived in the house and had a store there, but sold the property in 1812, so the location of the post office is unknown.
The next four postmasters continue to keep the post office location a mystery as John Reville, appointed May 4, 1818, Samuel Wine, appointed July 17, 1822, Charles Mason, appointed August 31, 1829, and Perry Stephenson, appointed June 3, 1841, cannot be traced which means there is no information about the post office.
William N.W. Dorsey, appointed on July 14, 1843, and again on April 6, 1853, had apprenticed as a tailor when he arrived in Milford from Maryland. However, Dorsey became a prominent businessman in town. Dorsey owned a lot with a building on the north side of Front Street and next to this lot was what he designated the post office. This was the third lot on Front Street going west from North Street.
Dorsey was followed by Joseph W. George, appointed on March 16, 1849, but there is no record of his home or business. It is possible he continued to use the Dorsey location. On March 26, 1861, Alexander N. Hall became postmaster, and he is listed as both a watchmaker and a jeweler but nothing exists about where his business was located.
On October 15, 1866, Aaron Bell and his brother, James, were appointed postmaster. Aaron lived on Washington Street in a residence on the west side of the street between Southeast Front and SE Second Street and it is speculated the brothers operated the post office from that home which is now demolished.
A cabinetmaker and undertaker, Rhoads, sometimes spelled Rhodes, Hammons was appointed postmaster on December 2, 1867. He lived on the north side of Northwest Front Street midway between Church and North. A map during that era shows the post office on the west end of Purity Row which stood on the south side of Front Street, Chruch Avenue and North Street.
Hammons was replaced by William G. Herring on March 26, 1873, and he operated the post office was on North Front Street below Walnut, which in that era meant east of the street. Reuben Stuart replaced Hammons on February 7, 1883, and he is listed as a blacksmith. There is no information about where he operated the post office.
By 1883, it was clear that Milford needed a new post office. A column in the Milford Chronicle read “No town in Delaware needs a new post office building so badly as Milford and probably no town in the United States has so many half-dead yet still alive citizens as Milford – all they need to do is ask the government for this improvement and it shall be granted.”
A notation in an 1885 director of Milford describes how the mail arrived and left Milford.
“Mail arrives from the North, East South and West at 11:45 AM; from Georgetown and the South at 9:35” the notation reads. “Depart for the North, East, South and West at 9:35 AM and 1:45 PM for Georgetown and the South of 11:45 AM.” The railroad had arrived in Milford by this time, so it is likely the mail traveled by train.
Dr. Robert Watson took the job of postmaster on April 28, 1886, and there are records he operated the post office on North Walnut Street across from the Odd Fellows Building. When his replacement, Andrew T. Thomas, took the position on May 19, 1890, the post office was on the first floor of the Odd Fellows Building. Thomas is listed as a teacher. The post office remained there when William Reynolds became postmaster on June 5, 1894.
One of the most prominent postmasters in Milford, William V. Sipple, was appointed on August 19, 1898, and the post office remained in the Odd Fellows building. Sipple was the founder of Milford’s oldest business, William V. Sipple & Sons. He also served on town council and was secretary of the Odd Fellows Cemetery for many years.
John P. Steward took over for Sipple on April 12, 1903, operating a store at 15 Northwest Front Street while living in a house adjoining the store at 17 Northwest Front Street. His store sold boots, shoes and caps. However, the post office remained at the Odd Fellows building. During his tenure, the business of the post office had grown.
“During that time, the business of the office greatly increased, and he made an earnest fight for a federal building for Milford for increased facilities,” his obituary read.
The last postmaster to operate the post office from a home or business was Frank W. Davis. The owner of Frank W. Davis & Co. Roller Mills on the northwest corner of North Washington and Park Avenue where Davis, Bowen & Friedel now stands. At that time, the city was negotiating for a new post office, so Davis continued to operate the post office from the Odd Fellows building.
On May 1, 1910, the new post office was inaugurated at 121 South Walnut Street. Davis was instrumental in achieving the new building. However, that building only served the city for 50 years before being deemed inadequate.
The current post office was constructed in 1961 and opened on May 14, 1962, on the corner of Maple Avenue and Causey Avenue. When service at the Walnut Street post office was discontinued, ownership was transferred to the Delaware Division of Public Health and the Department of Health and Social Services. It operated as a health facility for 20 years.
In July 1982, the title transferred to the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs and the Department of State to be leased to the City of Milford for the Milford Museum. The museum will move to the former police station this month and there have been no announcements about what the building will become once they have moved.
