The
first post office was at the ferry building. Mrs. John Farrell,
mother of 11 children, was the first postmistress. She, and her
husband lived at the old lumber mill just off the causeway to the
ferry. The next postmaster was a man named Varney.
About
the time that Mary McRae completed college, her father, John McRae,
owner of the Sheppard Hotel, became postmaster. He moved the post
office to the hotel and immediately assigned Mary the duties of
postmistress. It was the beginning of her career and a position she
held for many years. She served there under Presidents Cleveland,
Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt. Later this structure, above, was built
on what is believed to be McRae property, next to the east gate of
the prison.
About
1890, she
married Frank Mails and raised two children, Margaret and Walter.
Margaret worked at the post office too, but
was transferred to San Francisco during World War II. Walter went on
to an
illustrious career in baseball.
In
the 1930's a larger postoffice was constructed directly across the
street from the structure shown above. It is still in operation.
Reference:
Independent Journal - Wed., April 11, 1962 - Page 18
Reference:
Independent Journal - March 18, 1950 - Pages M8-10
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