Post Offices

Before 1822 when Elihu Weed became postmaster of Weeds Port , Brutus (Sennett) was the official post office for the Town of Brutus community, a five mile drive to pick up the mail. In 1822 Rufus Sheldon was serving as postmaster at Brutus. Mr. Weed set up his post office in Weed Bros. Storage and Forwarding Building at the corner of South Seneca and Furnace Streets (8902 South Seneca. )

In 1962 Virginia (Mrs. Edward) Hazzard did a research project on Weedsport's post offices and postmasters. Most of the following information was taken from her article in the Auburn Citizen Advertizer of August 27, 1962. The location of post offices between 1828 and 1859 could not be established but ~fie 1859 map shows the site as about 1817 or 1819 North Seneca Street in the Dexter E. Havens Block. In 1880 it was located in a small wood building at SS15 North Seneca; 1885 possibly at the same site as 1892, 2694 East Brutus Street; 1894 about 8885 South Seneca; 1908-1940, S918 North Seneca; 1940-1962, 2696 East Brutus in the White and Kempton building.

In 1962 the new post office building was built at the corner of North Seneca and Franklin Streets (8942 North Seneca.) The attractively designed, well landscaped building and grounds adds much to the appearance of the village. Formal dedication services were held on August 26, 1962.

The Rural Free Delivery Law enacted about 1900 gave farm residents mail service often more satisfactory than that of their village neighbors delivery at the door - only those living in larger cities have that privilege.

A list of Weedsport' s postmasters follows, with their years of service and the year or years during which they are known to have served: Elihu Weed 1822-1828 or later; Alonzo Smith 4 years; Orlando Gault, 4 years; Samuel Bibbens, 2 years; Manning Henderson, 4 years; Dexter E. Havens, S years 1858; Charles C. Adams, 4 years; James Kiernan, 1867-69; Elizabeth Kiernan, 1869-70; Ebenezer W. Turner, 1871-78; Jason Rude, 1878 - Sylvester Wright and Horatio Tryon, after 1SS0.

Horace L. Burfill, served a ten-year term, was succeeded by A. W. Shurtleff, 1898, then followed Mr. Shurtleff with another ten year term. Charles Whitman, Robert Putnam and Ray Kelsey followed with short terms. Edward Guyder was appointed in 1988 and served until replaced t~y J. Austin Howe in 1948. Mr. Howe occupied the office until 1968, was succeeded by Kenneth Spragne who completed his term in 1978. Ernest J. Blumer assumed the position in 1978 and is the current incumbent.

It would be remiss to omit reference to the many Weedsport residents who served in the Railway Mail Service. The list included many Weedsport natives who formed the nucleus of the group but the total number was increased because of the convenience of the Village to Syracuse and the fact that Weedsport provided a very desirable environment for the men and their families.

As many as 40 "Raftway mail clerks" resided in the Community. It is

said that the steady incomes of the mall clerks did much to stabilize the economy of the area durinq the Great depression of the 19S0's. In later years the Railway Clerks formed a Weedsport-centered organization known as the "Old Tymes Club" which took part of its membership from the Auburn, Cato and Jordan communities.