Vassalboro Postal History
Kennebec County, Maine

last update for this page: 8 July 2021



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


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

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During the history of the town of Vassalboro, there have been eight post offices.

Briefly, the history of these six is as follows:
1. Brown’s Corner post office, established on 18 January 1817, was renamed on 15 January 1866 as Riverside post office, which closed on 15 December 1911.
2. Cross Hill post office opened on 3 May 1860, closed on 30 April 1901, re-opened on 2 May 1901, and closed on 30 June 1903.
3. East Vassalboro post office was opened on 26 March 1827 and is still operating.
4. North Vassalboro post office opened on 22 March 1828 and is still operating.
5. Seaward post office opened on 3 May 1881 and closed on 30 October 1889.
6. Seward’s Mills post office opened on 6 October 1853 and closed on 17 November 1859.
7. South Vassalborough post office opened on 15 March 1827 and closed on 30 June 1903.
8. Vassalboro post office opened on 2 October 1795 and is still operating.


In 1914, there were three post offices in Vassalboro: East Vassalboro, North Vassalboro, and Vassalboro. (source: Post Route Map of the State of Maine 1914)
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

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Postmarks from the town of Vassalboro include:

Brown’s Corner Cross Hill

East Vassalboro North Vassalboro

Riverside Seaward

Seward’s Mills South Vassalboro

Vassalboro

East Vassalboro

1827 March 26:
   East Vassalboro post office opened, as East Vassalborough. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1893 May:
   Spelling of East Vassalborough post office changed to East Vassalboro. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

2020:
   East Vassalboro post office. 351 Main Street; East Vassalboro, Maine  04935. Lat./Long.: N 44°26′55″ x W 69°36′22″
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

today:
   East Vassalboro post office is still in operation.


North Vassalboro

1828 March 22:
   North Vassalboro post office opened, as North Vassalborough. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1893 April 17:
   Spelling of North Vassalborough post office changed to North Vassalboro. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1935 December 23:
   The circular postmark is 32–33 mm in diameter. The outside vertical length of the four bars to the right of the circle is 19 mm.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1949 November 26 through 1950 December 7:
   The circular postmark is 33–34 mm in diameter. The outside vertical length of the four bars to the right of the circle is approximately 19 mm.
         
      (click on an image to enlarge)

2020:
   North Vassalboro post office. 847 Main Street; North Vassalboro, Maine  04962. Lat./Long.: N 44°28′52″ x W 69°37′12″.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

today:
   North Vassalboro post office is still in operation.


Riverside

1866 January 15:
   Riverside post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1901 May: [month determined from backstamp]
   The circular postmark is 27–28 mm in diameter.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1911 December 15:
   Riverside post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)


Seward’s Mills

1853 October 6:
   Seward’s Mills post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

[year?] January 26:
   Manuscript postmark.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1859 July 26:
   Manuscript postmark.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1859 November 17:
   Seward’s Mills post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)


Vassalboro

1795 October 2:
   Vassalboro post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1834 March 8:
   Manuscript postmark. (notation; letter (top), letter (bottom))
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1852 June 21:
   The circular postmark is approximately 33 mm in diameter. (notation; letter [page 1], letter [page 2])
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

year? July 10:
   The circular postmark is approximately 33 mm in diameter.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

date?:
   Vassalboro post office.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1940 February 21:
   The circular postmark is 33–34 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)

2020:
   Vassalboro post office. 25 Alpine Street; Vassalboro, Maine  04989. Lat./Long.: N 44°27′33″ x W 69°40′49″
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

today:
   Vassalboro post office is still in operation.