Alna Postal History
Lincoln County, Maine
last update for this page: 9 March 2021
Maine Postal History
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Waterville Stamp Club
Thank you for the contributions to this page from James Husson and from the Strout family collection.
During the history of the town of Alna, there have been three post offices.
Briefly, the history of these three is as follows:
1. East Alna post office opened on 17 October 1828 and closed on 13 May 1829.
2. Head Tide post office opened on 30 December 1884 and closed on 31 March 1954.
3. New Milford post office opened on 23 June 1796 and on 1 April 1811 was renamed as Alna post office, which is still operating.
In 1914, there were two post offices in Alna: Alna and Head Tide. (source: Post Route Map of the State of Maine 1914)
(click on image to enlarge)
Postmarks from the town of Alna include:
Alna
1811 April 1:
The former New Milford post office was renamed as Alna post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
1821:
Postmaster: Josiah Stebbins. (source: Maine Register and State Reference Book. 1821.)
1895 March 27:
The circular postmark is 28 mm in diameter. The diameter of the target cancelation is approxiately 18 mm.
(click on image to enlarge)
date?:
Alna post office.
(click on image to enlarge)
1940 January 31:
Harry M. MacDonald appointed Acting Postmaster.
1940 March 8:
Harry M. MacDonald appointed Postmaster.
1945 November 29:
Harriet H. MacDonald appointed Acting Postmaster.
1946 December 27:
Harriet H. MacDonald appointed Postmaster.
1951 August 15:
Nettie R. Josephson appointed Acting Postmaster.
1951 October 15:
Nettie R. Josephson appointed Postmaster.
1964 July 3:
Lucena W. Hilton appointed Acting Postmaster.
1965 January 4:
Lucena W. Hilton appointed Postmaster. (Her surname changed to Josephson on 30 September 1966.)
1977 October 7:
Donna L. McLellan appointed Officer-in-Charge.
1978 February 11:
Donna L. McLellan appointed Postmaster.
1987 September 17:
The postmark is 33 mm in height, and the circular text is 34 mm in diameter.
(click on image to enlarge)
1991 April 6:
The postmark is 31–33 mm long. The outside vertical height of the four bars to the right of the circle is 18–19 mm.
(click on image to enlarge)
2002 June 14:
Ellen Erickson appointed Officer-in-Charge.
2002 September 21:
Georgianna E. Cote appointed POstmaster.
2004 February 3:
John G. Hauck appointed Officer-in-Charge.
2004 October 29:
John G. Hauck appointed Postmaster.
2009 July 30:
Ruth M. Robbins appointed Officer-in-Charge.
2010 December 14:
Lise M. Nickeson appointed Officer-in-Charge.
2013 January 12:
Alna post office was converted to a Remotely Manged Post Office under the direction of the postmaster of the Newcastle post office.
2020:
Alna post office. 148 Dock Road; Alna, Maine 04535. Lat./Long.: N 44°06′22″ x W 69°36′14″
(click on image to enlarge)
today:
Alna post office is still in operation.
Head Tide
1884 December 30:
Head Tide post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
1950 February 11:
The postmark is approximately 32 mm long. The outside vertical height of the four bars to the right of the circle is 18–19 mm.
(click on image to enlarge)
1954 March 31:
Head Tide post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)