Anson Postal History

Anson Postal History
Somerset County, Maine

last update for this page: 10 March 2021

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 Anson, there have been three post offices.

Briefly, the history of these three is as follows:
1. Anson (1) post office opened on 3 January 1811 and was renamed on 11 July 1845 as North Anson post office, which is still operating.
2. South Anson post office opened on 16 February 1833 and was renamed on 23 February 1847 as Anson (2) post office. Anson (2) post office closed on 16 March 1854, re-opened on 6 January 1855 and is still operating.
3. West Anson post office opened on 2 October 1849, closed on 21 February 1867, re-opened on 20 December 1869, and closed on 10 May 1870.

In 1914, there were two post offices in Anson: Anson (2) and North Anson. (source: Post Route Map of the State of Maine 1914)

(click on image to enlarge)

Postmarks from the town of Anson include:

Anson (1)

Anson (2)

North Anson

South Anson

West Anson

Anson (1)

1811 January 3:
   Anson (1) post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

1821:
   Postmaster: James Collins. (source: Maine Register and State Reference Book. 1821.)

1844 September 28:
   Manuscript postmark. (notation; letter [page 1]; letter [page 2])

      (click on image to enlarge)

1845 July 11:
   Anson (1) post office was renamed as North Anson post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

Anson (2)

1847 February 23:
   The former South Anson post office was renamed as Anson (2) post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

1854 March 16:
   Anson (2) post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

1855 January 6:
   Anson (2) post office re-opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

1933 October 23:
   The circular postmark is 28–30 mm in diameter.

      (click on image to enlarge)

1950 March 11 through 1950 December 12:
   The circular postmark is 29–30 mm in diameter. The elliptical cancellation to the right of the circle is 32–33 mm tall and is composed of 4 horizontal bars above the numeral and 4 horizontal bars below.

      (click on an image to enlarge)

1955 May 31:
   Wesley A. Sawyer appointed Acting Postmaster.

1956 July 19:
   Wesley A. Sawyer appointed Postmaster.

1962 November 7:
   The circular postmark is 29–30 mm in diameter.

      (click on image to enlarge)

date?:
   The rectangular postmark is approximately 44 mm wide and 19–20 mm high.

      (click on image to enlarge)

1971 August 25:
   Rita P. Walker appointed Officer-in-Charge.

1971 Deccmber 11:
   Rita P. Walker appointed Postmaster.

1980 March 8:
   Charlotte W. Bogue appointed Postmaster.

1991 October 31:
   Peggy A. Ham appointed Officer-in-Charge.

2020:
   Anson (2) post office. 72 Main Street; Anson, Maine 04911. Lat./Long.: N 44°47′49″ x W 69°53′26″

      (click on image to enlarge)

1992 February 8:
   Wayne H. Nixon appointed Postmaster.

1997 May 22:
   Elaine A. Luce appointed Officer-in-Charge.

1997 November 8:
   Elaine A. Lucs appointed Postmaster.

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

North Anson

1845 July 11:
   The former Anson (1) post office was renamed as North Anson post offie. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

date?:
   North Anson post office.

      (click on image to enlarge)

date?:
   North Anson post office.

      (click on image to enlarge)

2020:
   North Anson post office. 9 Madison Street; North Anson, Maine 04958. Lat./Long.: N 44°51′21″ x W 69°53′46″

      (click on image to enlarge)

today:
   North Anson post office is still in operation.

South Anson

1833 February 16:
   South Anson post office opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)

1847 February 23:
   South Anson post office was renamed as Anson (2) post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)