Palenville Post Office
[written in is Dec 1934]
Article located at the Palenville Public Library and transcribed by Celeste
MacCormack
Name Was Changed in 1833 and Few Years Later, Again Designated by Original Title
In reply to a request made by Assistant Postmaster Chester J. Hinman of Palenville, for some information as to the postoffice in that village, W. W. Howes, First Assistant Postmaster General, at Washington, D. C., writes as follows:
“Mr. Chester J. Hinman,
‘Assistant Postmaster,
‘Palenville, N.Y.
‘My Dear Mr. Hinman:
“In reply to your letter of recent date you are advised that according to the records of the Department of the postoffice of Palenville, Greene County, New York, was established January 7, 1826, with Benjamin P. Burham as postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Irvingsville, October 29, 1833.
Name
Changed Back
“The name of the Irvingsville office was changed back to Palenville and Richard Hardwick was appointed postmaster July 28, 1841.
“Sincerely yours,
W.
W. Howe.
“First Assistant Postmaster General.”
This is an interesting bit of local history, although not quite complete. It is regretted that Mr. Howe did not go further into the history of this old postoffice and named the postmaster who succeeded Richard Hardwick.
Probably there are very few, if any, residents of Palenville who are aware of the fact given in Mr. Howe’s letter.
The acting postmaster at Palenville is Frederick J. Timmerman. For at least thirty years, the late John R. Hinman and his son, Chester J. Hinman, have been postmasters at Palenville, the son succeeding the father in an unbroken tenure of office through several Presidential administrations.
Mr. Timmerman was recently appointed acting postmaster and it is expected the appointment will be made for a full term soon. Mr. Hinman is at present assistant postmaster.
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Postmaster Date of Appointment
Benjamin P. Burham January 7, 1826
Rufus Palen September 3, 1828
Albert E. Leete April 16, 1832
Hiram Smith October 29, 1833
Daniel G. Centre November 17, 1834
Richard Hardwick July 28, 1841
Charles H. Teal March 1, 1842
Lawrence A. Falk August 13, 1857
George N. Bonestel August 25, 1859
Daniel T. Lennon April 19, 1860
Peter Hawver November 1, 1860
Charles H. Teal December 31, 1861
Chauncey L. Goodwin March 13, 1886
John R. Hinman April 12, 1889
Ambrose Timmerman May 4, 1894
John R. Hinman June 18, 1898
Chester J. Hinman December 23, 1914
Frederick J. Timmerman August 1, 1934
Edgar Griffin August 1, 1935
Arthur Congdon December 16, 1936
John L. Cass February 27, 1940
Archie Smith November 1, 1942
John L. Cass May 31, 1943