The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Scugog Exposed First post office opened in Prince Albert in 1840 A system of letter carrying through Reach Township be- ganat intervals as early as 1827, with mail being carried from the ‘Front’ (Whitby) by travellers on foot. Capt. George Leach, the first storekeeper in Reach, also became the first postmaster, opening a post office in Prince Albert in 1840. By 1848 the first mail-stage was put into opera- tion, dropping off mail twice a week at the Reach post office. This was increased to three times weekly in 1948. Port Perry opened its first post office in 1852, with local business- man Joseph Bigelow being appointed its postmaster, a position he held for 17 years. The same year, Manchester and Epsom opened post offices and daily mail began to arrive by way of a daily mail-stage. The first Greenbank post office was located on the 12th Conc., near the corner of old Brock Rd. (Hwy. 12). It was operated out of a general store kept by George Horne. Scugog Island established its first post office about 1860. Port Perry Post Office In August 1871 work commenced on a new two-storey brick post office in Port Perry near the north-west corner of Queen and John St. It operated here until the early 1900s, when it was moved to a temporary location at Rose & Co. in the Leonard Block at corner of Queen and Perry St. It also moved into a storefront in the Willard Block (Royal Bank build- ing) for a short time. The current post office was officially opened in January 1914 and it has since become a landmark in downtown Port Perry. In 1972 it appeared the building might be torn down and replaced by a modern new structure, but fortunately a group of local concerned citizens convinced the government of its historic value, saving it from demolition. Postmasters Joseph Bigelow became the first postmaster in Port Perry effective October 6, 1852, a position he held until his resignation on July 24, 1866. FIRST PORT PERRY POST OFFICE cated in downtown Port Perry, the post office was opened in 48524 in Joseph Bigelow’s building (far left). The next postmaster was Henry Gordon, who took over ue following September. Eighteen years Tater i in in January 1884, Mr. Gordon was succeeded by John W. Bur Mr. Burnham was postmaster in Port Perry u until his death in 1928, a total of 45 years. His daughter Marion Orde took over his duties, but it appears she was never ‘officially’ ap- pointed postmaster despite assuming the role. Mr. Burnham was listed as postmaster until 1930 although he died a year and a half earlier. The town’s next postmaster was George Hull. He held the position until 1958 when his son Bruce assumed the roll. Bruce Hull held the position of postmaster for 24 years of the 37 he spent working at the local post office. In 1982, Mr. Hull retired and Robert Walker became post- master, a position held for 20 years before he retired. Following Mr. Walker’s resignation, Alana Murphy was elevated to postmaster making her only the second woman to hold the post. But it’s interesting to note, Alana is the first woman to have ‘officially’ held the title of ‘postmaster’ in Port Perry Post Office’s 156 year history. By J. Peter Hvidsten Holiday exhibit opens November 20. Opening Reception 6 pm to 9pm < = <i se - mae! META4 FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2008 29