Jefferson Postal History
 Lincoln County, Maine
last update for this page: 24 November 2020



Maine Postal History ------ 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 Jefferson, there have been 10 post offices.

Briefly, the history of these 10 is as follows:
1. Benner post office opened on 4 April 1900 and closed on 14 December 1905.
2. Bunker Hill post office opened on 7 June 1878, closed on 31 August 1887, re-opened on 17 February 1890, and closed on 03 December 1933.
3. Dyers post office opened on 15 February 1898 and closed on 31 January 1900.
4. East Jefferson opost office opened on 11 October 1871, and on 9 August 1905 was renamed as Jefferson (2) post office, which is still operating.
5. Fishlake post office opened on 2 April 1900 and closed on 14 July 1900.
6. Jefferson (1) post office, a private office, opened in 1811 and closed on 31 July 1905.
7. North Jefferson post office opened on 3 August 1886 and closed on 20 November 1889.
8. Pleasant Pond (1) post office opened on 27 January 1886 and closed on 10 September 1887.
9. South Jefferson post office opened on 22 June 1832, closed on 23 March 1846, re-opened on 5 August 1854, closed on 15 March 1872, re-opened on 19 August 1872, and closed on 15 May 1934.
10. West Jefferson post office opened on 16 April 1825 and closed on 17 December 1863.


In 1914, there were two post offices in Jefferson: Bunker Hill and Jefferson (2). (source: Post Route Map of the State of Maine 1914)
      
      (click on image to enlarge)



Postmarks from the town of Jefferson include:
Benner
Bunker Hill
Dyers
 East Jefferson
Fish Lake
 Jefferson (1)
Jefferson (2)
 North Jefferson
Pleasant Pond (1)
 South Jefferson
West Jefferson



Bunker Hill


1878 June 7:
   Bunker Hill post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1887 August 31:
   Bunker Hill post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1890 February 17:
   Bunker Hill post office re-opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1919 August 22:
   The circular postmark is 32–33 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four horizontal bars to the right of the circle is 19 mm.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1933 September 18:
   The circular postmark is 32 mm high by 31 mm wide. The outside vertical height of the four horizontal bars to the right of the circle is 13–14 mm.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1933 December 30:
   Bunker Hill post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)


East Jefferson


1871 October 11:
   East Jefferson post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1893 April 10: [year determined from reverse side]
   The circular postmark is 26–27 mm in diameter.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1905 August 9:
   East Jefferson post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)


Jefferson (2)


1905 August 9:
   Jefferson (2) post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1906 September 6:
   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 14–15 mm.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1939 December 12:
   The circular postmark is 32–33 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four horizontal bars to the right of the circle is 18–19 mm.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1948 December 29:
   The circular postmark is 31–32 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four bars to the right of the circle is approximately 18 mm.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1950 December 5:
   The circular postmark is approximately 33 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four bars to the right of the circle is approximately 20 mm.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

2020:
   Jefferson (2) post office. 133 Village Street; Jefferson, Maine  04348. Lat./Long.: N 44°12′14″ x W 69°27′46″
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

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


South Jefferson


1832 June 22:
   South Jefferson post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1846 March 23:
   South Jefferson post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1854 August 5:
   South Jefferson post office re-opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1872 March 15:
   South Jefferson post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1872 August 19:
   South Jefferson post office re-opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)

1934 April 23:
   The circular postmark is 33–33 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four bars to the right of the circle is 19 mm.
      
      (click on image to enlarge)

1934 May 15:
   South Jefferson post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)