Milford’s new post office building was formally dedicated on March 31, 1968. The program included an organ prelude, greetings from the Mayor, an invocation from a local reverend, an address from Washington D.C.-based Stan Greigg, and a flag-raising ceremony presented by members of the Milford American Legion Post 384. Postal service was first provided to the Dickinson County community in 1870.
On April 10, 2001, heavy hail caused the collapse of the roof at the post office in the Cass County town of Cumberland. The day following the collapse, postal operations were moved to the Cumberland Community Building for a month and then to the Lumber Yard building where they remained until January 10, 2003. On that day, the Cumberland Post Office reopened in a brand new building at the site of its the original location where the roof collapse occurred. A dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting were held on February 20, 2003.
?A post office was first established in the Decatur County community of Grand River in November 1881 with Harry Milligan serving as the first postmaster. In the post office’s 130-year history in the southern Iowa town, it was located in at least five different community buildings before moving to its current location. Its current storefront was previously shared with the Bob Snyder Barber Shop; the southern portion of the building is now unoccupied.
The Post Office shares the block with the local American Legion and Lions Club buildings.
The post office in the Appanoose County town of Moulton was established in March 1868 with Jacob Neal appointed as the first postmaster. For nearly a century, the post office has been located in the eastern part of a two-story pressed brick building located along Main Street in downtown Moulton. The building was constructed in 1902 at a cost of $14,000 for use as the State Savings Bank, which occupied the west wing of the facility. After the bank closed its doors during the Great Depression, the building was sold at public auction and has since seen various occupants in portions previously occupied by the bank, including dentists, doctors and lawyers.
The building caught on fire in December 1940, but the post office escaped mostly unscathed. Nonetheless, it was relocated to the west section of the building while repairs were made. The full-time office is one of 9 active Post Offices in Appanoose County.
With a population of just 1,006, the Van Buren County seat of Keosauqua may be one of the smallest towns in the nation to feature a Federal Building and two-story Post Office. Here’s a clip from the article that was written in the Moravia Union just prior to the building’s dedication in July 1961:
Postmasters and other community leaders by the hundreds will journey to Keosauqua in southeastern Iowa on Saturday, July 29, for the public dedication of the new 80 x 63 foot federal building and post office.
Many towns of a thousand have or soon will have new post offices. But none the size of Keosauqua has a two-story structure costing $298,400. Van Buren county offices of federal agencies will occupy the top floor.
Features of the new government facility include entrances on two streets, a ramp for the convenience of the infirm, 40 tons of air conditioning, automatic oil furnace with 6,000 gallon underground tank, 30 x 15 foot loading dock, refrigerated drinking fountains, hot and cold water in six toilet rooms, 30-foot picture window, venetian blinds on all windows, and a master clock that regulates hourly 16 units all over the building.
Following the dedication, an open house was held; refreshments were served.