Atlanta Mail Trucks, taken in the 1940s,
The state aid circulating library, a library-on-wheels, was added in the 1930s by County Superintendent D.H. Boon during his administration. This progressive movement received statewide approval and brought much favorable publicity to Cass County.
Rural Free Delivery of the US Mail reached Cass County shortly after the turn of the Century. Frank Salmon was among the early carriers. He began on Route 3 out of Atlanta in the fall of 1904 and continued until his retirement in July 1953.
Atlanta Post Office
Only those of us that have lived in Atlanta more than 40 years will remember that the public library was once located where the Atlanta Police Department now makes its home. The building was City Hall and all of the city offices were located there. We even had programs in the auditorium, which now sits unused and abandoned.
I had trouble finding the exact year that the new US Post Office was built on William Street, but I think it was during my high school years in the early 1980s. Once the Post Office moved out of the historical building on Hiram, the library moved in and still resides there today. Every time I walk in the door, I have flashbacks to my childhood when I would go in with Momma and she let me lick the stamps she bought to pay bills with.
This story from a 1939 Citizens Journal issue takes us back to 1931, when that beautiful building was built. Before then the post office was located on N East Street. Next week we will list the outlying post offices that were located throughout Cass County.
ATLANTA POSTOFFICE ESTABLISHED 1874
The United States Post Office In Atlanta, Texas was erected in 1931. Andrew W. Mellon was Secretary of the Treasury and James Wetmore was acting Supervising Architect. The Atlanta post office established June 22, 1874, with Robert Lanier as postmaster.
This office was advanced to the third class October 28, 1890. The earliest available receipts for the Atlanta office were $1,414 for the period from October 28, 1890, to June 30, 1891. The receipts for the calendar year ended, December 31, 1918, were $10,060.
This office was advanced to the second class, July 1, 1919. The receipts for the calendar year ended, December 31, 1919, were $7,595.00. This office was relegated to the third class, July 1, 1920. The receipts for the calendar year ended, December 31, 1920, was $8,321.
This office was advanced to the second class, July 1, 1921. The receipts for the calendar year ended, December 31, 1921, was $7,221.
This office was relegated to the third class, July 1, 1922. The receipts for the calendar year ended, December 31, 1923, was $8,507.
This office was advanced to the second class, July 1, 1924. The receipts for the calendar year ended, December 31, 1938, was $17,550.
Postmasters and Date Appointed: Robert Lanier, (Dent.) June 22. 1874; Ransom Hardy, (Dem.) April 7, 1875; James B. O’Farrell, (Dem.) August 14, 1870; William E. Singleton, (Rep.) July 17, 1889; Lottie Annie Davis, (Dem.) September 28, 1893; Joseph E. Roach, (Rep.) October 1, 1897; Anna J. Roach, (Rep.) August 14, 1905; Frank R. Blaydes (Dem.) August 25, 1916; Arthur H. O’Kelley, (Rep.) March 31, 1922; Hunter H. McWilliams, (Dem.)June 3, 1933, to June 18, 1934, and is still serving.
Clerks Now in Office: John R. Blaydes, Robert A. Cobb, Clarence L. Jones - sub clerk, James Elder Hogan - special delivery boy, Charles F. Goodman – fireman and laborer, Estell C. Pritchard - chairman laborer.
Carriers: Route No. 1, Will Salmon; Route No. 2, J. S. Sharrer; Route No. 3, Frank R. Salmon;
Retired Carriers: J. W. Sharrer, early carrier route No. 1, retired Feb. 26, 1924; L. J. Gunn, retired as carrier on route No. 4, Nov. 1, 1934, after 30 years of service. He went into the service on the establishing of route No. 4, and when he retired the route was consolidated with route No. 1. He died June 6th, 1936.
City free delivery since established in Atlanta, Feb. 1, 1917, with S. W. Flemming, as carrier, he retired July 31, 1931, account of total disability. B. Jeter Roberts, present City Carrier, appointed July 1, 1931. A. L. Keasler, first carrier on route No. 2, was retired October 1st, 1934, after serving this route for 30 years; J. C. Riley retired June 1st, 1936, after 30 years in the service, being transferred here from Buffalo, Texas, and serving both routes six and two.