POSTMASTERS IN CHENANGO COUNTY 1798-1998

Donald A. Windsor

This blog posting continues the one on 19 August 2011 on the Post Offices in Chenango County.  It draws upon the same information packet obtained from the United State Postal Service Historian in 1998.

Here is a list of the number of postmasters for each of the 79 post offices.

Post Office            Established  
                              Discontinued 
                                     Years Operating
                                           Town
                           Postmasters
Afton                     28    1819   -      179   Afton       
Ayreshire                1    1854   1863     9   Afton
Bainbridge            32    1807   -      191   Bainbridge
Beaver Meadow     2       1848   1852     4   Otselic
                       16 (18)  1871   1967    96   Otselic
Bennettsville         11    1838   1903    65   Bainbridge
Bettsburgh              3    1808   1838    30   Afton
Bonney                   1    1898   1915    17   Smyrna
Brisben                24    1838   1985    47   Greene
Chenango Lake     3    1887   1913    26   New Berlin
Cheshireville         1    1851   1864    13   Oxford
Church Hollow  2       1854   1859     5   Coventry
                          1 (3) 1889   1889     0   Coventry
Columbus            19    1805   1901    96   Columbus
Coventry              21    1815   1923     8   Coventry
Coventryville       18    1828   1922    94   Coventry
East Bainbridge    2    1837   1841     7   Bainbridge
East German         9    1901   1901     0   German
East Guilford       13    1841   1920    79   Guilford
East McDonough   9    1837   1910    73   McDonough
East Pharsalia      23    1830   -      168   Pharsalia
Genegantslet          4    1820   1861    41   Greene
German                26    1827   1912    85   German
Greene                  33    1807   -      191   Greene
Guilford                23    1820   -      178   Guilford
Guilford Centre    16    1841   1915    74   Guilford
Haynes                   4    1891   1911    30   Oxford
Holmesville           17    1872   1991   119   New Berlin
Irelands Mills         3    1872   1913    41   Smyrna
Kings Settlement  10    1834   1876    42   North Norwich
Kirk                        1    1891   1915    24   Plymouth
Landers                  1    1898   1901     3   Afton
Lincklaen              24    1827   1956   129   Lincklaen
Linchlaen Center  10    1877   1918    41   Lincklaen
Mariposa                7    1887   1940    53   Lincklaen
McDonough          20    1825   -      173   McDonough
Mount Upton        34    1815   -      183   Guilford
New Berlin           32    1811   -      187   New Berlin
New Berlin Center 6    1830   1903    73   New Berlin
Nineveh Junction  15    1892   1954    62   Afton
North Guilford  3      1848   1855     7   Guilford
                          1  (4) 1862   1870     8   Guilford
North Lincklaen    6    1849   1872    23   Lincklaen
North Norwich    38    1811   -      187   North Norwich
North Pharsalia  10    1856   1943    87   Pharsalia
North Pitcher      31    1824   -      174   Pitcher
Norwich              35    1805   -      193   Norwich
Otselic                 25    1813   -      185   Otselic
Otselic Center      6    1872   1910    38   Otselic
Oxford                22    1798   -      200   Oxford
Oxfordville           1    1833   1839     6   ?
Page Brook          8    1875   1905    30   Greene
Pharsalia            15    1812   1919   107   Pharsalia
Pitcher               29    1841   -      157   Pitcher
Pitcher Springs  18    1827   1920    93   Pitcher
Plasterville           2    1892   1903    11   North Norwich
Plymouth            32    1811   -      187   Plymouth
Preston               19    1821   1915    94   Preston
Read                     3    1891   1903    12   Greene
Robinsons Mill     1    1833   1834     1   Guilford
Rockdale       2       1829   1841    12   Guilford
                   11  (13) 1849   1954   105   Guilford
Rockwells Mills   5    1874   1934    60   Guilford
Sherburne         39    1800   -      198   Sherburne
Sherburne Four   5    1870   1934    58   Sherburne
Smithville Flats 32    1823   -      175   Smithville
Smyrna             26    1809   -      189   Smyrna
South New Berlin 25    1822   -      176   New Berlin
South Otselic    21    1830   -      168   Otselic
South Oxford    14    1828   1915    87   Oxford
South Pitcher      2    1854   1858     4   Pitcher
South Plymout  14    1848   -      150   Plymouth
Spees Spa           2    1834   1837     3   McDonough
Stanbro              2    1883   1896    13   Otselic
Tallette               2    1884   1905    21   Columbus
Trestle               2    1893   1903    10   ?Oxford?Guilford?
Tyner                 2    1881   1901    20   Smithville
Upperville          3    1898   1915    17   Smyrna
West Bainbridge 8    1846   1903    57   Bainbridge
White Store      14    1822   1905    83   Norwich
Wilkins Creek     1    1834   1838     4   ?
Willowvale          1    1892   1892     0   ?
Yaleville              1    1863   1870     7   Guilford

Our 79 post offices had a total of 1064 postmasters, for an average of 13.5 postmasters each.  However, this distribution is skewed, so the correct parameter is the median.  The typical (median) post office had 10 postmasters.

The top three were:  Sherburne with 39 postmasters, North Norwich with 38, and Norwich with 35.  Ten post offices had only 1 postmaster each; 8 had 2 postmasters each, and 6 had 3 each.

Post offices that operated the longest had the greatest oppotunities to have more postmasters.  However, some postmasters held on to their positions longer than others.  For example, Oxford operated for 200 years, but it had just 22 postmasters.

The complete list naming every person who held the position of postmaster for every post office will be given to the Chenango County Historian's Office.

I hope that other historians will use this information to write more detailed studies, such as finding the exact locations of the post offices and will present complete lists of the postmasters' names plus some biographical coverage.

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Post Offices in Chenango County

Donald A. Windsor

Chenango County had 79 post offices during its first two centuries, 1798 through 1998, according to the United States Postal Service Historian.  All but one, East German, were established in the 1800s.  In the 1900s, 63 persisted.  As of 1998, the date of the USPS report, 21 post offices were still operating.  As of now, according to usps.com, 18 August 2011, 20 still operate; Otselic was discontinued.  Some more may be closing soon.


Here is a list of the 79 post offices.

Post Office            Established  
                                        Discontinued 
                                                  Years Operating
                                                           Town

Afton                     1819   -         179   Afton
Ayreshire              1854   1863     9   Afton
Bainbridge            1807   -         191   Bainbridge
Beaver Meadow    1848   1852     4   Otselic
                              1871   1967    96   Otselic
Bennettsville          1838   1903   65   Bainbridge
Bettsburgh             1808   1838    30   Afton
Bonney                   1898   1915    17   Smyrna
Brisben                  1838   1985    47   Greene
Chenango Lake     1887   1913    26   New Berlin
Cheshireville         1851   1864    13   Oxford
Church Hollow     1854   1859      5   Coventry
                              1889   1889      0   Coventry
Columbus              1805   1901    96   Columbus
Coventry               1815   1923     8   Coventry
Coventryville        1828   1922    94   Coventry
East Bainbridge   1837   1841      7   Bainbridge
East German        1901   1901      0   German
East Guilford        1841   1920    79   Guilford
East McDonough   1837   1910   73   McDonough
East Pharsalia      1830   -          168   Pharsalia
Genegantslet        1820   1861    41   Greene
German                1827   1912    85   German
Greene                 1807   -          191   Greene
Guilford               1820   -          178   Guilford
Guilford Centre  1841   1915      74   Guilford
Haynes                1891   1911     30   Oxford
Holmesville         1872   1991   119   New Berlin
Irelands Mills      1872   1913     41   Smyrna
Kings Settlement 1834   1876     42   North Norwich
Kirk                     1891   1915     24   Plymouth
Landers               1898   1901       3   Afton
Lincklaen            1827   1956   129   Lincklaen
Linchlaen Center 1877   1918    41   Lincklaen
Mariposa            1887   1940     53   Lincklaen
McDonough        1825   -          173   McDonough
Mount Upton      1815   -          183   Guilford
New Berlin         1811   -          187   New Berlin
New Berlin Center1830   1903  73   New Berlin
Nineveh Junction 1892   1954    62   Afton
North Guilford   1848   1855       7   Guilford
                           1862   1870       8   Guilford
North Lincklaen  1849   1872    23   Lincklaen
North Norwich    1811   -         187   North Norwich
North Pharsalia  1856   1943    87   Pharsalia
North Pitcher      1824   -         174   Pitcher
Norwich              1805   -         193   Norwich
Otselic                 1813   -         185   Otselic
Otselic Center     1872   1910    38   Otselic
Oxford                 1798   -         200   Oxford
Oxfordville          1833   1839     6   ?
Page Brook         1875   1905    30   Greene
Pharsalia             1812   1919  107   Pharsalia
Pitcher                 1841   -         157   Pitcher
Pitcher Springs    1827   1920    93   Pitcher
Plasterville           1892   1903    11   North Norwich
Plymouth              1811   -         187   Plymouth
Preston                1821   1915     94   Preston
Read                    1891   1903     12   Greene
Robinsons Mill   1833   1834        1   Guilford
Rockdale            1829   1841      12   Guilford
                           1849   1954     105   Guilford
Rockwells Mills  1874   1934      60   Guilford
Sherburne          1800   -           198   Sherburne
Sherburne Four  1870   1934      58   Sherburne
Smithville Flats   1823   -          175   Smithville
Smyrna               1809   -          189   Smyrna
South New Berlin 1822   -        176   New Berlin
South Otselic      1830   -          168   Otselic
South Oxford     1828   1915      87   Oxford
South Pitcher     1854   1858       4   Pitcher
South Plymouth  1848   -          150   Plymouth
Spees Spa           1834   1837       3   McDonough
Stanbro               1883   1896    13   Otselic
Tallette               1884   1905     21   Columbus
Trestle                1893   1903    10   ?Oxford?Guilford?
Tyner                  1881   1901    20   Smithville
Upperville           1898   1915    17   Smyrna
West Bainbridge 1846   1903    57   Bainbridge
White Store         1822   1905    83   Norwich
Wilkins Creek      1834   1838     4   ?
Willowvale           1892   1892     0   ?
Yaleville               1863   1870     7   Guilford

Our oldest post office is Oxford (200 years), with Sherburne second (198 years), and Norwich third (193 years).  The Town with the most post offices is Guilford with 9.  Next with 5 each are:  Afton and Otselic.  With 4 each are:  Bainbridge, Greene, and Pitcher.

Of the 79 post offices, 4 were discontinued and later reestablished; therefore there were 83 durations.  The median duration from establishment to discontinuance is the 42nd value when the 83 durations are ranked.  The median is 58 years.  That is, the typical post office operated for a little over a half-century, the equivalent of 2 generations.

Most of the 79 post offices, 51 (65%), were established prior to 1850.

The Earlville post office is not listed here, because it was originally in Madison County, as per the 1863 Atlas.

I do not know where these post offices were:  Oxfordville, Trestle, Wilkins Creek, and Willowvale.

I want to thank Bob Bliven for giving me his packet of post office history.  A complete list of the postmasters for each of the above post offices is a major part of this packet.  The packet will be given to the Chenango County Historian's Office.

For my other comments on post offices, see these articles and the references they cite.

The Cheshireville Hotel.  Souvenirs of Yesteryear Volume 1, page 31.

Where do you live?   Souvenirs of Yesteryear Volume 3, pages 74-76.

The oldest post office in Chenango County.   Souvenirs of Yesteryear Volume 4, pages 31-32.

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Downy Rattlesnake Plantain in Otselic

Donald A. Windsor

A Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens) was found blooming in the Town of Otselic on 7 August 2011.  This orchid was growing on the Finger Lakes Trail in the Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area between Clarence Church and Stage roads on a slope.  It had at least 3 smaller plants next to it.  Here is a photo taken by John Carhart.

I have recorded this orchid in Afton on 19 October 2000 and in Guilford on 24 July 2003.  The one in Afton was on private property near the Melondy State Forest.  Two in Guilford, in the South Hill State Forest, were blooming and had 2 smaller plants nearby.  So I now have this orchid species in 3 towns.

In 2001, I published a review of the orchids in each town.  I intend to update it this winter.


Windsor, Donald A.  Orchids of Chenango County.  Chenango County Historian's Journal 2001 July-December; 2(3-4): 14,20.

Oldest Wood in Chenango County

Donald A. Windsor

The oldest piece of wood that has ever been reported from Chenango County is 25,000 years old.  It was recovered from glacial till 300 feet below the surface in the City of Norwich.

Tom Knapp provided me with this article, quoted verbatim.

The Norwich Sun 1914 May 6.

Anon.  Fine artesian well with heavy flow.  The Norwich Knitting Company have just had completed at their factory an artesian well which overflows its outlet pipe and supplies 1042 gallons of water each hour.
W. W. Butts, an Oxford contractor, has been engaged in drilling the well and went to a depth of 362 feet before he struck the stratum of gravel and coarse grained rock which contained this abundance of water.
A particular feature in the drilling of the well was the finding of a piece of partially petrified wood 300 feet beneath the surface, which apparently was locust, and was so heavy that it sank when placed in water.
The water continues to flow from the top of the pipe but a pump will soon be placed there and the water put to use as soon as its constant flow can be determined.  The water has a temperature of 50 degrees and is pure and sweet.

The Woodfordian Advance of the Wisconsin Glacier covered what is now Chenango County around 22,000 years ago (Titus, page 21).  It melted about 16,000 years ago (Cadwell, page 72).

My field observations lead me to suspect that the Chenango River flowed through the area that is now the City of Norwich as a multibraided stream, meandering back and forth between West Hill and East Hill.  Under this valley is a glacial gouge that is from 200 to 400 feet deep and filled with glacial till, rocks, stones, gravel, sand, and mud (Cadwell, page 95).

Water wells are routinely dug over 200 feet deep.  The well for the Chenango Ice Cream Company, makers of Velvet Ice Cream, plant, between Berry and Waite streets, was 285 feet deep (Windsor).  The Knitting Mill site is about a half-mile from the Ice Cream site. 

I suspect that the newspaper reporter in the article quoted above merely assumed the wood was locust because it lasted so long.  He may not have known that any wood underwater tends to be preserved.  It is wet wood in air that rots.

It is very unlikely that this piece of wood is really the oldest.  There must be many more pieces, even intact trees, that were bulldozed by the advancing glacier.  This particular piece is merely the oldest that has been reported in a document so far.

My thanks to Tom Knapp for finding it!



       References cited:

Cadwell, Donald Herbert.  Late Wisconsonian Deglaciation Chronology of the Chenango River Valley and Vicinity, New York.  Binghamton, NY: State University of New York at Binghamton.  PhD Dissertation.  1972. 102 pages.

Titus, Robert.  The Catskills in the Ice Age.  Fleischmanns, NY: Purple Mountain Press.  1996.  124 pages.

Windsor, Donald A.  A spoonful of Velvet Ice Cream.  In: Souvenirs of Yesteryear.  Exploring Chenango County, New York.  Norwich, NY: Self-published.  Volume 2, pages 62-64.

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Queen Anne's Lace

Donald A. Windsor

Many umbels of Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota) have a maroon central floret.  Legend has it that when Queen Anne was tatting her lace, she pricked her regal finger and a drop of royal blood forever stained her eponymous lace.

Cute story, but the biological reason for that maroon floret has often puzzled me.  It does not seem to be genetic, because umbels on different stems from the same root may or may not have maroon florets. 

On Sunday 24 July 2011, I noticed an umbel with two maroon florets.  As I bent over to get a closer look, one flew away.  "Aha!", I exclaimed, in a Eureka moment.  Perhaps the maroon floret is a decoy for attracting pollinators.

The two photos below are of 2 separate umbels on two different plants.

Do those umbels without maroon florets attract these flies?  Sure, but I did not conduct a statistical study.  Do umbels with maroon florets produce more seeds?  Do the pollinators differ throughout the day?  These types of questions require a serious scientific study, which I do not have time to do.  Nevertheless, I will look at Queen Anne's Lace in a whole different way from now on. 

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