ELMWOOD HISTORICAL TIDBIT:

Elmwood – A Village Portrait

In Commemoration of Nebraska's Centennial, 1867-1967

by Elmwood Centennial Committee

Chapter VIII

The Elmwood post office has always been a prime meeting place, and the meetings have always been regulated by the arrival of the mail at specific times of day. In the lives of many of the elder citizens, life has turned importantly on these hours when "the mail is in." Shopping and other trips are frequently coordinated to make the best use of time and energy. The same planning is true of the farmers and their wives who gauge within minutes (depending on the weather) when deliveries are made to their rural boxes by the intrepid mail carriers.

It is worth recalling that the first post office in the area was a log cabin, the McCaig home, located one mile east, and 2 ½ miles north of the present site of Elmwood. As this was in the midst of an elm grove, it was suggested that the place be called Elmwood.

The First Post Office - 1868

The first postmaster, David McCaig, was commissioned April 21, 1868, by Postmaster General Alexander W. Randall. Mail was brought to the cabin on the prairie by horse and buggy from either Ashland or Plattsmouth. Farmers would call at the McCaig home for their mail.

Later, the post office was moved a few miles south to the Walker Store which was built in 1872 on stove creek near a ford on-half mile east of Elmwood. Charles Walker, son-in-law of sam may, succeeded David McCaig as postmaster, and operated the store and post office on the May homestead.

In 1872, a store was opened on the present site of Elmwood. Eli Lane was the first merchant and the post office was located in the building where the Elmwood Café now stands. The post office changed locations numerous times, but the old State Bank building served as its location from 1937 to 1963.

1937-1963 - This is the north east corner of 4th and D Street.

The community dedicated a new post office building on January 27th, 1963. This modern structure is a drastic contrast to the first post office, established in this community 100 years ago.

1963 - New Post Office opened on East D Street

Postmasters serving the Elmwood Community were Dave McCaig, Charles Walker, Eli Lane, Silas Greenslate, Angie Prosser, Josephine Royer, Hi Willcockson, Cyrus Alton, Spice Eels, William Sargent, Rhone Tyson, John Stark, Willis Bartlett, O.D. Clements, and Helen Schneider, who has served since 1934. Rural mail carriers were John Hall, William Sargent, Frank Raker, William Sollers, Milt Preston, Frank Wall, Earl Horton, Emmett Cook, and Vincent Phillips. Mail messengers were Jack Kear, Bill Neihart, David Bogenrief, Lloyd Deles Dernier, R.M. Dennis, and William Coatman.

The mail was first hauled from Missouri Pacific depot to the post office in a wheel barrow. Later the horse and spring wagon did the job, and many recall the melodious voice of Lloyd Deles dernier as he drove the horse up the hill. The mail now arrives by star route truck at the loading dock of the post office.

Earl Horton - 1918

Emmet Cook - 1936

Frank Raker - 1938

Vincent Phillips - 1967

Current Officer-In-Charge, Will Andrew, and mail carrier, Leannes Boellstorff.  Elmwood won't have another Post Master assigned due to the reduction in hours.

Have you filled out your Postal Survey and returned it yet?

Click here to download the form

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An Example of the Goodies at the 4th Street Market

These are some beautiful flowers that I picked up at the 4th Street Market the other day.  Deb has quite the talent with making arrangements.  She usually has several bouquets ready in the cooler so you don't have to wait.  But you can call ahead, too.  Order some for that certain someone this week!

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