Open House Verona Post Office

September 9, 1961 four o'clock p. m. Veroua, Missouri

History The Post Office at Verona was established in 1857, upon the appointment of One of the earliest settlers, James M. White as postmaster. Early mail deliv'cry was at best intermittent with mail delivered to Verona by travelers or messengers on horseback. In 1863 Leonard Williams was appointed postmaster and the post office was located at the old Rcd Mill during the war period . . Since establishment of Verona's post office, there have been 13 different postmasters, serving under 18 appointments, several of the postmasters having served under more than one appoint· me'n t. In the 104 year history of the Verona Post Office, the office has b'een located in many places in the community with this new location being the first building designed and built specifically for , post office occupancy. This has boon made possible by the program of the post office department whereby private funds are uscd to erect the building according to department specifications, then leased or rented to the post office department. This new building was built by Mr. H. A. Sayers of Aurora, Mo., is owned by him and leased to the post office department. Rural d'C livery service was established with routes No.1 and 2 in 1903, route No.3 in 1905, and route No. 4 in 1906. The fou,original routes were of course served on horseback or in horse and buggy. After roads and automobiles were developed to wherc automobiles could be used for mail delivery, original routes 1 and 2 were consolidated into what is th'c present route No.1, in 1930, rout e's 3 and 4 were consolidated into what is the present route No.2 in 1927. Rural carriers now drive 152 mUes daily serving approximately 445 families. Postal business in Verona grew gradually during the years, in 1958 it was in the middle of the third class bracket with receipts of around $4,000.00. However in 1959 the Heritage Manufacturing Co., of Ft. Worth, Texas, selected Verona as a mailing point for third class bulk mail and receipts jumped to $112000 and in 1960 total'cd almost $139,000.00. The office was adva~ced to first, class July 1, 1960, giving it a unique standing among post offices when the volume of receipts is compared to the size of the community it serves.

Rural Route No. 1

Rural Route No.2

(Ori ginal Rts. 1 & 2 Combined)

(Original Rts. 3 & 4 Combined)

Name Of Rural Carrier Gus E. Anderson - 1905 John H. Engeldorf - 1907 Rowlin V. McClure - 1912 Frank D. Brown - 1917 Vinton C. Young - 1920 John B. Rentz Temp. - 1951 Walter J . Paschal - 1953 L. F. Bartlesmeyer - 1959 E. W. Hillhouse Temp.-1959 Derald L. MeYe1" - 1960 Original Route 4 Rowlin V. McClure - 1906 Henry P. Wilks - 1912 Ax-el Erickson - 1920 Consolidated W /Rt. 3 to form present Rt 2 in 1927 Temporary carri-ers - Joseph R. Miller, Homer Erickoon, William E. Davenport, Ernest E. Kristek, Henry E. Wilks, John Rentz Subotitute carriers - Rutherford T. Wilks, Homer Erickson, Claude K. 'Barker, John A. Anderson, PIes Richardson, David S. Browning, Ernest E. Kristek, Charles L. Steele, Ralph Browning, Douglas B. Huffman, Bun Lechner, E. W. Ruggles, M. E. Wilks, Alfred A. Engeldorf, Eli Wilks, Ida McClure, Henry E. Wilks, Ernest E. Wilks, John T. Lemert, William E. Davenport, Walter F. Strawn, John Rentz, E. W. Hillhouse, L. L. Lindquist Verona, Lawrence County, Missouri Established on Jan. 13, 1857 Postmasters Date of appointment Jame'3 M. White Jan. 13, 1857 Leonard Williams Nov. 25, 1863 Jeremiah N. Fly May 2,5, 1885 Richard S. Wilks June 6, 1389 Edward A. Paschal April 4, 1893 Richard S. Wilks May 3, 1897 William M. Rankin Oct. 7, 1899 Pleasant H. Barris Aug. 29, 1900 Clifford E. Miller Sept. 3, 1914 Gladys E. Wilks (acting) Jan. 1, 1921 Knox G. Thomas Feb. 17, 1922 Pleasant H. Barris Oct. 1, 1924 Ernest Young Feb. 17, 1925 Clifford E. Miller May 31, 1933" J. Ray Miller Dec. 4, 1935 Walter J . Paschal July 14, 1936 Joseph R. Mill-er Dec. 31, 1952 Aaron C. Johnson May 7, 1953 • Information after 1929 was furnished by the Post Office Name Of Rural Carrier John R. Phari3s - 1903 Henry P. Wilks - 1903 John H. Engeldorf - 1912 Homer Erickson, Temp. 1916 Walter C. Barker - 1916 Richard R. Miller, Temp. 1920 Vinton C. Young - 1920 John T. Lemert - 1930 John P. Reed - 1938 Myron E. Wilks - 1959 Original Houte Two Axel Erickson - 1903 ·1920 John T, Lemert - 1920-1930 Consoli'Ciated W /Rt. 1 in 1930

POST

OFFICE

PERSONNEL

OF"

VERONA. MISSOURI

Coleman Johnson Mable B. Strawn Manda E. Quade M. E. Wilks . D. L. Meyer L. L. Lindquist E. W. Hillhouse

Postmaster Clerk Sub Clerk Rural1{oute No.1 Rural Route No.2 Sub Carrier Rt. No.1 Sub Carrier Rt. No.2