An early view of the current Post Office. Photograph courtesy of Antiochiana, Antioch College.

The location of the early Post Office of the Village changed with each new Post Master.  The Post Office was usually housed within the Post Master’s home or business.  Since there was no home delivery service, it was important to keep up with the appointments of Post Masters and therefore the location of the Post Office.

As published by the Yellow Springs Review, July 22, 1898:

Speaking about the post office, it might not be uninteresting to give a short history of the office at this point.  We have traced the matter back to the year 1805, and while the office at that early date was known as “Ludlow” until about the year 1820, but there is no record in the P.O. department that the post office was ever called, officially, by that name.  The following is a list of postmasters at Yellow Springs, Greene count O., from the date of the establishment of the office and dates of appointment by the Post master General:

Thomas Fream, April 1, 1805.

James Miller, October 1, 1810.

Christopher Sroufe, Oct. 1, 1813.

In 1924, the Post Office was located on the corner of Dayton and Corry Streets, the current location of Williams’ Eatery.

Joel Van Mater, Oct. 28, 1817.

James B. Gardiner, Oct. 14, 1823.

Henry Grant, Nov. 7, 1826

Elisha Mills, July 15, 1828.

Ormond H. Gregory, Jan. 23, 1833.

Oliver Farnsworth, Sept. 23, 1834.

William Mills, April 25, 1835.

Zenas M. Phelps, Nov. 18, 1843.

Samuel W. Cox, July 29, 1845.

Elisha Mills, April 9, 1849.

Isaac Kershner, April 14, 1853.

Nathaniel Benedict, March 4, ’59.

James E. Gross, March 12, 1861.

Henry H. Burkholder, Feb. 4, ’65.

Charles H. Winter, April 6, 1865.

(About this time the appointing power was changed from the Postmaster General to the President and Senate).

Charles H. Winter (President and Senate) July 9, 1870.

Charles H. Winter, (President and Senate) December 18, 1874.

Charles Ridgway (President only), Nov. 2, 1875.

Mary E. McNair (Pres. and Senate) Feb. 10, 1876.

(Appointing power changed back to the Postmaster General).

Mary E. McNair, April 14, 1880.

J.W. Baldwin, June 25, 1885.

Ira W. Baldwin, July 9, 1886.

Josephine Baldwin, Nov. 1, 1887.

Thomas B. Jobe, May 10, 1889.

Appointing power changed to President and Senate July 2, 1891.

Thomas B. Jobe (President only) July 2, 1891.

1895 Sanborn Insurance Map showing the location of the Post Office on the corner of Xenia Avenue and Grove Street, later named Corry Street. Ironically, this is also the location of the modern day Post Office.

Mrs. O’Ella Munch, April 1, 1896 to April 1, 1900.

Each Postmaster is supposed to have served as such until his successor was appointed and commissioned.