Gouldsboro Postal History

Gouldsboro Postal History
Hancock County, Maine

last update for this page: 23 February 2021

Maine Postal History ------ Waterville Stamp Club

Thank you for the contributions to this page from James Husson, Wil Seip, and the Strout family collection.

During the history of the town of Gouldsboro, there have been seven post offices.

Briefly, the history of these seven is as follows:
1. Ashville post office was established on 9 November 1886. It was renamed on 14 June 1980 as Gouldsboro (2) post office, which is still in operation.
2. Birch Harbor post office opened on 26 March 1880 and is still in operation.
3. Corea post office opened on 5 May 1896 and is still in operation.
4. Gouldsboro (1) post office was established on 1 October 1794 as Gouldsborough. The spelling was changed to Gouldsboro on 1 September 1893, and the post office closed on 28 May 1971.
5. Prospect Harbor post office was established on 26 March 1828 and is still in operation.
6. South Gouldsboro post office was established on 7 May 1878 as South Gouldsborough. The spelling was changed to South Gouldsboro on 1 September 1893, and the post office closed on 17 September 1992.
7. West Gouldsboro post office was established on 19 October 1841 as West Gouldsborough. According to the Rarity Guide, the spelling was changed to West Gouldsboro on 15 February 1887, but a cover shown below shows that the spelling, at least on this postmark, was still West Gouldsborough as late as 27 January 1898. West Gouldsboro post office closed on 27 December 1968.

In 1914 there were seven post offices in Gouldsboro: Ashville, Birch Harbor, Corea, Gouldsboro (1), Prospect Harbor, South Gouldsboro, and West Gouldsboro. (source: Post Route Map of the State of Maine 1914)

(click on image to enlarge)

Postmarks from the town of Gouldsboro include:

Ashville
Birch Harbor

Corea
Gouldsboro (1)

Gouldsboro (2)
Prospect Harbor

South Gouldsboro

West Gouldsboro

Ashville

1886 November 9:
   Ashville post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

1913 May 13:
   The circular postmark is 31–32 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four horizontal bars to the right of the circle is approximately 19 mm. (image side of card)

      (click on image to enlarge)

1937 July 21:
   The circular postmark is 33–34 mm in diameter. The four horizontal bars to the right of the circle are approximately 6 mm apart on center.

      (click on image to enlarge)

1979 May 10:
   The circular postmark is 33 mm in diameter.

      (click on image to enlarge)

1980 June 14:
   Ashville post office was renamed as Gouldsboro (2) post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

Birch Harbor

1880 March 26:
   Birch Harbor post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

2020:
   Birch Harbor post office. 3 East Schoodic Drive; Birch Harbor, Maine  04613. Lat./Long.: N 44°24′19″ x W 68°02′24″

      (click on image to enlarge)

today:
   Birch Harbor post office is still in operation.

Corea

1896 May 5:
   Corea post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

1949 October 12:
   The circular postmark is 32–33 mm in diameter.

      (click on image to enlarge)

1956 November 27:
   The circular postmark is 31–33 mm in diameter.

      (click on image to enlarge)

2020:
   Corea post office. 646 Corea Road; Corea, Maine  04624. Lat./Long.: N 44°24′02″ x W 67°58′30″

      (click on image to enlarge)

today:
   Corea post office is still in operation.

Gouldsboro (1)

1794 October 1:
   Gouldsboro (1) post office opened (as Gouldsborough). (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

1893 September 1:
   Selling changed to Gouldsboro. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

1908 April 3:
   The circular postmark is 31–32 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four horizontal bars to the right of the circle is 13–14 mm.

      (click on image to enlarge)

1971 May 28:
   Gouldsboro (1) post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

Gouldsboro (2)

1980 June 14:
   The former Ashville post office was renamed as Gouldsboro (2) post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

2020:
   Gouldsboro (2) post office. 451 Route 1; Gouldsboro, Maine  04607. Lat./Long.: N 44°28′18″ x W 68°05′43″

      (click on image to enlarge)

today:
   Gouldsboro (2) post office is still in operation.

Prospect Harbor

1828 March 26:
   Prospect Harbor post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

2020:
   Prospect Harbor post office. 11 West Bay Road; Prospect Harbor, Maine  04669. Lat./Long.: N 42°24′40″ x W 68°01′27″

      (click on image to enlarge)

today:
   Prospect Harbor post office is still in operation.

South Gouldsboro

1878 May 7:
   South Gouldsboro post office opened as South Gouldsborough. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

1893 September 1:
   Selling changed to South Gouldsboro. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

date?:
   South Gouldsboro post office.

      (click on image to enlarge)

1932 July 7:
   The circular postmark is approximately 31 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four horizontal bars to the right of the circle is approximately 19 mm.

      (click on image to enlarge)

1992 September 17:
   South Gouldsboro post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

West Gouldsboro

1841 Octobr 19:
   West Gouldsboro post office opened as West Gouldsborough. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

date?:
   According to the Rarity Guide, the spelling was changed to West Gouldsboro on 15 February 1887, but a cover shown below shows that the spelling, at least on this postmark, was still West Gouldsborough as late as 27 January 1898. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

1898 January 27:
   The circular postmark is approximately 28 mm in diameter. The diameter of the bullseye cancelation is 15 mm.

      (click on image to enlarge)

date?:
   West Gouldsboro post office.

(click on image to enlarge)

1968 December 27:
West Gouldsboro post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)