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Downtown Post Office - 1907

The first post office in what is now Oakland opened in 1851 at the corner of Main Street (later renamed Broadway) and 1st Street (now Embarcadero West), in Oakland’s first hotel, the Oakland House. At that time Oakland was only a village known as “Contra Costa” ( meaning the ‘other coast’ ). The name Oakland was first applied to the community in 1852 when the California Legislature passed Carpentier's bill creating the Town of Oakland. Note also that the village and town were originally part of Contra Costa County, since Alameda County was not created until 1853. The United States Post Office finally recognized Oakland as a legitimate address in 1855.

History of Oakland Post Offices

  • 1851 - first post office in Oakland opens
  • 1855 - U.S. Postal Service recognizes Oakland
  • 1900 - Oakland post office stops Sunday delivery (ref)
  • 1903 - Downtown Post Office opens
  • 1906 - earthquake swells Oakland's population and mail delivery needs
  • 1908 - Alden post office becomes station E of Oakland (ref)
  • 1911 - Melrose, Fitchburg, Elmhurst designations no longer used (ref) 1911 - Oakland gets a post office bank (ref)
  • 1912 - autos used to deliver mail (ref)
  • 1913 - parcel post service begins (ref)

1975 History of Oakland, California Post Office 1851–1975, Rod Mabe (Oakland: Oakland Post Office). (Available at the OHR, call #383.49 MABE)

Oakland Postmasters

Thomas Gallagher 1855–1858 may not be same person as linked
George M. Yard 1858–1873 ref 1 ref 2
John E. Benton 1873–1879 ref 1 ref 2 ref 3
Edwin P. Marsellus 1879–1883  
William E. Dargie 1883–1887  
James L. Hannah 1887–1890 ref 1 ref 2 ref 3 (sp. "Hanna")
Amasa Wright Bishop 1890–1894 ref 1
James J. White 1894–1898 ref 1 ref 2 ref 3
W. H. Friend 1898–1902 assistant Charles Alexander committed suicide ref 1 ref 2 ref 3
Thomas T. Dargie 1902–1907 died in office
Paul J. Schafer 1907–1915 ref 1 ref 2 ref 3
 Joseph J. Rosborough 1915–1924  
John F. Conners 1924–1927 ref 1
William Nat Friend  1928–1933  
Nellie G. Donohoe 1933–1941  
Stephen E. Graham 1941–1950  
Joseph W. Chaudet 1950–1953  
Charles R. Gainor 1953–1954  
Charles C. Herrick 1954–1961  
Herrick c.1959 father-in-law of Edwin Meese III ?
Kenneth E. Francis 1961–1962  
John F. Bushell 1962–1972  

Links and References

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