Andover Postal History
Oxford County, Maine
last update for this page: 4 February 2021
Maine Postal History
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Waterville Stamp Club
Thank you for the contributions to this page from the Strout family collection.
During the history of the town of Andover, there have been three post offices.
Briefly, the history of these three is as follows:
1. Andover post office opened on 18 August 1824 and is still operating.
2. East Andover post office opened on 27 April 1900 and is still operating.
3. South Andover post office opened on 27 May 1851 and closed on 15 October 1932.
In 1914, there were three post offices in the town of Andover: Andover, East Andover, and South Andover. (source: Post Route Map of the State of Maine 1914)
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Postmarks from the town of Andover include:
Andover
1824 August 18:
Andover post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)
1839 April 4:
Manuscript postmark. (notation; letter [page 1]; letter [page 2]; letter [page 3])
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1845 January 10: [date and town determined from letter]
The rate of 121/2 cents was for 81–150 miles. (letter)
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1852:
Postmaster: Ezekiel Merrill. (source: Maine Register and State Reference Book. 1852.)
year? October 8:
The circular postmark is 26–27 mm in diameter.
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1882 March 9:
The outer oval of the postmark is approximately 24 mm high. Note that the name of the postmaster is included in the postmark. (letter [page 1]; letter [pages 2-3])
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1913 April 11 through 1928 December 24:
The circular postmark is 29–30 mm in diameter.
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1931 December 24 through 1934 December 25:
The circular postmark is 29–30 mm in diameter. The elliptical cancellation to the right of the circle is approximately 28 mm high and is composed of 9 horizontal segments.
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1932 August 3:
The circular postmark is 29–30 mm in diameter. Note that the time is upside down.
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1934 December 31:
Charles L. Ripley appointed Acting Postmaster.
1935 February 9 through 1942 December 21:
The circular postmark is 32–34 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four horizontal bars to the right of the circle is 19–20 mm.
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1935 July 19:
Charles L. Ripley appointed Postmaster.
1944 November 30:
Ivy E. Thurston appointed Acting Postmaster.
1944 December 19:
The circular postmark is approximately 32 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four horizontal bars to the right of the circle is 18–19 mm.
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1947 July 14:
William B. French appointed Postmaster.
1949 November 18 through 1952 August 19:
The circular postmark is approximately 30 mm in diameter.
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1969 November 28:
Ann Morton appointed Officer-in-Charge.
1971 January 8:
Marjorie P. Jodrey appointed Officer-in-Charge.
1971 December 11:
Marjorie P. Jodrey appointed Postmaster.
1976 July 30:
Ann M. Bishop appointed Officer-in-Charge.
1976 November 24:
Sara S. Head appointed Officer-in-Charge.
1977 January 29:
Sara S. Head appointed Postmaster.
1977 September 6 through 1979 January 5:
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.
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1979 October 30 through 1980 January 14:
The circular postmark is 33–34 mm in diameter.
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1986 September 9:
Joseph DiConzo appointed Officer-in-Charge.
1987 January 31:
James L. Desjardins appointed Postmaster.
1991 February 1:
Walter T. Inman appointed Officer-in-Charge.
1991 May 18:
Charles F. Cornwell appointed Postmaster.
2005 June 22:
Rhonda Jodrey appointed Officer-in-Charge.
2005 October 29:
Carol L. Powell appointed Postmaster.
2014 October 6:
Andover post office was converted to a level 6 (6-hour) Remotely Managed Post Office under the direction of the Postmaster of the Mexico post office. The Postmaster position remained until ultimately vacated.
today:
Andover post office is still in operation.
East Andover
1900 April 27:
East Andover post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)
1935 February 26:
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 18–19 mm.
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1940 March 15:
The circular postmark is approximately 33 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four horizontal bars to the right of the circle is 19–20 mm.
(click on image to enlarge)
1979 October 30:
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 19–20 mm.
(click on image to enlarge)
today:
East Andover post office is still in operation.