Chelsea Post Office

CHELSEA POST OFFICE

The Town of Chelsea in 1830 was divided into three districts: the Ferry District which comprised all of present Chelsea, the Point District which is now Winthrop, and the Centre District which is now Revere. The Town's population was 770 inhabitants, of which only 30 lived within the present Chelsea limits. The Centre District was the location of the first Meeting House, church and school; all community affairs were conducted from here. It was in the Centre District that the first Post Office was opened in 1832, at Fenno's Corner. The first postmaster was Horatio Alger, a Unitarian minister and the father of Horatio Alger Jr. {author of about 119 success stories for boys}. Horatio Alger Sr. served as postmaster for ten years before being succeeded by Abel Bowen.

During Horatio Alger Sr's ten years as postmaster, rapid changes occured in the Ferry district. The ferry was now operating under steam. The Winnisimmet Company in 1833, purchased the Williams Farm and in 1835, purchased the Shurtleff Farm. The land was sold in individual lots for actual use. The population of the area grew. To accommodate the growth the Post Office was transferred to 73 Winnisimmet Street. The next move came in 1874, when the Post Office was located on Broadway and Third Street.

Mail volume increased as the city developed and soon larger quarters were needed. In 1905, the Academy of Music building in Chelsea Square, was destroyed by fire. The post office acquired the ground floor of the new building constructed on the site. This location proved ideal until the great fire of 1908. While the fire was sweeping through the city, and before the building could be consumed by flames, the Post Office personnel saved every piece of mail, locking the mail in a cell in the police station. Temporary quarters were set up in a poolroom under the Grand Army Hall. Mail was sorted and laid out between the pool sticks. Meanwhile the former building at 187 Winnisimmet Street was rebuilt in record time. The Post Office moved back and reestablished it's quarters in Chelsea Square. Plans were drawn up and work begun on a new building on Hawthorn Street in Bellingham Square. The new Post Office was completed in 1910 at a cost of $125,000. The building was formally dedicated by the President of the United States, Howard Taft. Horace Lambert was postmaster at this time.

A few years ago the Postal Service opened a distribution center in the Chelsea Market area off Beacham Street. The local office has since relocated on Broadway near Fourth Street. The Post Office building on Hawthorn Street, has been completely remodeled with a preservation of the exterior facade. The Post Office building is now the Chelsea Campus of the Bunker Hill Community College.

The name U. S. POST OFFICE, is still visible today etched into the stone wall of the former Elks Building in Chelsea Square.

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The Town of Chelsea in 1830 was divided into three districts: the Ferry District which comprised all of present Chelsea, the Point District which is now Winthrop, and the Centre District which is now Revere. The Town's population was 770 inhabitants, of which only 30 lived within the present Chelsea limits. The Centre District was the location of the first Meeting House, church and school; all community affairs were conducted from here. It was in the Centre District that the first Post Office was opened in 1832, at Fenno's Corner. The first postmaster was Horatio Alger, a Unitarian minister and the father of Horatio Alger Jr. {author of about 119 success stories for boys}. Horatio Alger Sr. served as postmaster for ten years before being succeeded by Abel Bowen. During Horatio Alger Sr's ten years as postmaster, rapid changes occured in the Ferry district. The ferry was now operating under steam. The Winnisimmet Company in 1833, purchased the Williams Farm and in 1835, purchased the Shurtleff Farm. The land was sold in individual lots for actual use. The population of the area grew. To accommodate the growth the Post Office was transferred to 73 Winnisimmet Street. The next move came in 1874, when the Post Office was located on Broadway and Third Street. Mail volume increased as the city developed and soon larger quarters were needed. In 1905, the Academy of Music building in Chelsea Square, was destroyed by fire. The post office acquired the ground floor of the new building constructed on the site. This location proved ideal until the great fire of 1908. While the fire was sweeping through the city, and before the building could be consumed by flames, the Post Office personnel saved every piece of mail, locking the mail in a cell in the police station. Temporary quarters were set up in a poolroom under the Grand Army Hall. Mail was sorted and laid out between the pool sticks. Meanwhile the former building at 187 Winnisimmet Street was rebuilt in record time. The Post Office moved back and reestablished it's quarters in Chelsea Square. Plans were drawn up and work begun on a new building on Hawthorn Street in Bellingham Square. The new Post Office was completed in 1910 at a cost of $125,000. The building was formally dedicated by the President of the United States, Howard Taft. Horace Lambert was postmaster at this time. A few years ago the Postal Service opened a distribution center in the Chelsea Market area off Beacham Street. The local office has since relocated on Broadway near Fourth Street. The Post Office building on Hawthorn Street, has been completely remodeled with a preservation of the exterior facade. The Post Office building is now the Chelsea Campus of the Bunker Hill Community College. The name U. S. POST OFFICE, is still visible today etched into the stone wall of the former Elks Building in Chelsea Square.
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