Edison First Day Brings High Price! - New Jersey Postal History ...

Len Peck ~ SNUFFTOWN [SUSSEX COUNTY] EXPLAINED!Fig. 2. A later cover addressed to George Walther in Snufftown, Sussex County, New Jersey.The only problem is, there never was an official Post Office established for Snufftownin Sussex County, New Jersey, although I had heard several different times that a post officedid exist there at one time when William S. Longstreet was Postmaster. 3 So what doesexplain the confusing references?A letter which recently came into my possession solves the whole problem. (see Figure3). Transcribed, this letter reads:To The Postmaster GeneralAppointment Office, Washington, D.C.Stockholm P.O., Sussex County, N.JerseyFebruary 20, 1877Sir; I will now introduce myself as Postmasterto the above Office from July 1st 1871 to July 1st, 1874 and would wish to present to you the presentsituation of our Post Office. Hoping you will make a change of our Postmasters that is to sayappoint A. M. Holden in place of William S. Longstreet. First when Mr. Longstreet was appointedPostmaster he was keeping store, his store was just one-quarter of a mile from the Stockholm Depoton the New Jersey Midland R.Road. He kept the office in his store for one year and nine months ortill April 1st 1876. Then he quit keeping store and moved to Snufftown and there keeps a Hotel - ofnot a high grade - and without the consent of the people, moved the Postoffice to that place, distanceabout three-quarters of a mile from the Depot. While the Office was kept at Mr. Longstreet’s storeand by himself the people were satisfied but after he moved without leave, he threw the Post Officeinto the hands of James M. Lewis, a man the people have very little confidence in regard to hishonesty, a thorough Copperhead Democrat, this man has the whole charge of receiving andforwarding mails, I believe, with the exception of Registering letters which is done in a filthybarroom where rum is sold by W. S. Longstreet. The sworn assistant Frank Hamilton is now, Ibelieve, in New York State in a Telegraph Office. The mails are kept open within reach of anyonewho chooses to go behind the counter and handle them. I have a package sent from Mason City,Vol. 33/No. 2NJPHWhole No. 15863May 2005