Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
December 11, 1988
By Susan J. Dehler
Vigo County Historical Society
Since 1789, the U.S. mail must go through
When the U.S. Constitution required the establishment of post offices and post roads, the federal government made a commitment to provide a mail communication system between states and territories.
In 1789, the U.S. Post Office became an organ of the federal government and Samuel Osgood was appointed postmaster general by George Washington.
Before this, the colonial mail service had evolved from irregular deliveries by private couriers to a more organized system with regular mail routes and post offices. Many improvements were incorporated under Benjamin Franklin’s administration as deputy postmaster general (1753-1774).
Historian Carl Scheele notes that by the time Samuel Osgood took office, there were about 75 post offices and 2,400 miles of post roads established throughout the first 13 states. As settlement expanded westward and southward, the mail service became increasingly difficult to handle.
Early mail carriers received no salary, but were paid by recipients for each letter delivered. Postal rates were high and based on the distance the letter traveled. For example, between 1816 and 1845 a one-page letter sent over 400 miles cost 25 cents.
Over the years, postal reforms were enacted to provide more efficient service.
In 1847, Congress provided for the use of prepaid adhesive postage stamps and eventually a uniform postage rate was established. By 1863, Congress declared that mail carriers should receive a government salary and that delivery service should be free of charge.
Advancement in transportation allowed for the railway mail service (1863) and enabled a rural free delivery service (1896) to accommodate farmers and other rural residents.
In Terre Haute, the first post office operated out of Fort Harrison and Curtis Gilbert served as the postmaster at the fort. Most mail came by courier from Vincennes. In October 1818, the post office moved to a two-story frame building at the corner of Ohio and Water streets. John M. Coleman was appointed the first postmaster of the city.
In his “History of Vigo County,” Bradsby describes early mail delivery under John Coleman: “He kept the office in his hat for some time--weighted down by his old style bandanna. This made it very convenient, and was the first real free delivery in the country. Wherever you say him he would take off his hat and hand you your mail out, if the postage, 25 cents, was prepaid; but otherwise you could look at it and start out on a summer’s campaign to find the quarter.
A reproduction of a 19th century post office counter is on display at the museum.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.