Canton Postal History
Oxford County, Maine
last update for this page: 23 November 2021
Maine Postal History
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Waterville Stamp Club
Thank you for the contributions to this page from the Canton Historical Society (via Julie Martin), James Husson, and the Strout family collection.
During the history of the town of Canton, there have been four post offices. Because two of these four bore (at different times) the name Canton in their postmarks, they are designated below as Canton (1) and Canton (2).
Briefly, the history of these four is as follows:
1. Jay Point post office (established 1817 October 9) was renamed as Canton (1) post office on 1821 May 15. It was then renamed as Canton Point post office on 1864 February 24 and remained so unti it closed on 1940 January 31.
2. North Hartford post office (established 1825 January 28) was renamed as Canton Mills post office on 1842 August 4. It then was renamed as Canton (2) post office on 1864 February 24 and remains in operation.
3. Gilbertville post office was established on 1881 December 20 and then closed on 1909 November 30. It re-opened on 1911 September 23 and closed on 1933 February 15.
4. Meadowview post office was established on 1902 September 22 and closed on 1909 August 14.
In 1914 there were three post offices in Canton: Canton (2), Gilbertville, and Canton Point. (source: Post Route Map of the State of Maine 1914)
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Postmarks from the town of Canton include:
Canton (1)
1821 May 15:
Jay Point post office (which opened 1817 October 9) was renamed as Canton (1) post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
1851 August 11:
Manuscript postmark and date. (letter)
%20cover%201851%20August%2011.jpg)
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1852:
Postmaster: John Hersey (source: Maine Register and State Reference Book. 1852.)
1864 February 24:
Canton (1) post office renamed as Canton Point post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
Canton (2)
1864 February 24:
The former Canton Mills post office was renamed as Canton (2) post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
date?:
Early location of Canton (2) post office: building at far left, along south side of Main Street:
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1900 September 24 through 1908 March 31:
The circular postmark is 28–30 mm in diameter.
%20cover%201900%20September%2024.jpg)
%20cover%201908%20March%2031.jpg)
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1932 October 4 through 1938 August 22:
The circular postmark is 28–29 mm in diameter.
%20cover%201932%20October%204.jpg)
%20cover%201938%20August%2022.jpg)
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date?:
Lyman Ellis appointed Postmaster (source: USPS Postmaster Finder - https://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt003.cfm, accessed 26 September 2020)
1963 October 31:
Mrs. Lucy K. Ellis appointed Acting Postmaster (source: USPS Postmaster Finder - https://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt003.cfm, accessed 26 September 2020)
1965 May 25:
Colby A. Davis appointed Postmaster (source: USPS Postmaster Finder - https://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt003.cfm, accessed 26 September 2020)
1965 September 8:
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 approximately 20 mm.
%20card%201965%20September%208.jpg)
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date?:
[to be determined] appointed Offier-in-Charge (source: USPS Postmaster Finder - https://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt003.cfm, accessed 26 September 2020)
1985 July 6:
Sheila J. Harlow appointed Postmaster (source: USPS Postmaster Finder - https://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt003.cfm, accessed 26 September 2020)
2005 June 29:
Wendy L. Murphy appointed as postmaster (source: USPS Postmaster Finder - https://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt003.cfm, accessed 5 February 2021)
2005 November 26:
Wendy L. Murphy appointed as postmaster (source: USPS Postmaster Finder - https://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt003.cfm, accessed 26 September 2020)
2014 November 15:
Canton (2) post office was converted to a Remotely Managed Post Office under the direction of the Postmaster of the Livermore Falls post office. (source: USPS Postmaster Finder - https://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt003.cfm, accessed 5 February 2021)
2015 November 6:
%20post%20office%202015%20November%206.jpg)
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today:
Canton (2) post office is still in operation.
Canton Mills
1842 August 4:
North Hartford post office (which opened 1825 January 28) was renamed as Canton Mills post office (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
1852:
Postmaster: Andrew Barrows (source: Maine Register and State Reference Book. 1852.)
1864 February 24:
Canton Mills post office was renamed as Canton (2) post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
Canton Point
1864 February 24:
The former Canton (1) post office was renamed as Canton Point post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
1940 January 31:
Last day of operation of the Canton Point post office.
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This was mailed on the day that the Canton Point post office closed. The circular postmark is 32–32 mm in diameter. The four horizontal bars at the right of the circle are approximately 6 mm apart on center.
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1940 January 31:
Canton Point post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
Gilbertville
1881 December 20:
Gilbertville post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
1909 November 30:
Gilbertville post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
1911 September 23:
Gilbertville post office re-opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
1933 February 6:
This was mailed just 9 days before the Gilbertville post office closed. The circular postmark is 31–32 mm in diameter.
(click on image to enlarge)
1933 February 15:
Gilbertville post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
Meadowview
1902 September 22:
Meadowview post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)
1908 July 17:
The circular postmark is 28 mm in diameter, and to its right is a target killes.
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1909 July 9:
The circular (receiving) postmark is 28.5 mm in diameter.
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1909 August 14:
Meadowview post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide)