Ye Olden Oakland Days

Contributed by Oakland Pioneers, No. 29)

POSTMASTERS AND POSTOFFICES

Through the courtesy of Congressman Arthur Elston, Fred L. Button, president of the Oakland Pioneers, has been furnished by the Postoffice department at Washington with the following information in regard to the post masters who have served in the city of Oakland:

The first postoffice in the present city of Oakland bore the name of "Contra Costa," the present Alameda county being then a part of Contra Costa county, and the office was established with the appointment of Amedee Marrier as postmaster, his commission being dated November 6, 1851. He held office until Thomas Gallagher was appointed on January 19, 1854. The following year the name of the office was changed to "Oakland," with the reappointment of Thomas Gallagher on March 2, 1855. (The town of "Oakland" had been incorporated May 4, 1852, and Alameda county formed from portions of Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties by act approved April 6, 1853.)

The following is a list of the postmasters who have served since that date, with dates of their respective commissions:

George M. Yard, October 19, 1858; D. C. Keyes, June 28, 1861; George M. Yard, August 23, 1861, George M. Yard (office advanced to presidential grade), April 5, 1869; John E. Benton March 14, 1873; John E. Benton, May 19, 1877; Edwin P. Marcellus, September 15, 1879; William E. Dargie, February 27, 1883; James L. Hanna, February 26, 1887; Amasa W. Bishop, May 10, 1890; James J. White, June 11, 1894; William H. Friend, June 3, 1898; Thomas Т. Dargie, June 7, 1902; Thomas T. Dargie, May 18, 1906: Paul Schafer, March 1, 1907; Joseph J. Rosborough, March 13, 1915; Joseph J. Rosborough, February 11, 1920.

The recollection of early pioneers - Henry H. Burrell, Henry Maloon and Charles G. Reed, members of the society now residing here - together with other available data, has enabled the Pioneers to locate the postoffice with approximate dates as follows:

1851 - At stage office in Eames' Oakland House, southwest corner Broadway and First; Sam Parker, clerk in charge.

1852 - At office of Amedee Marier, southeast corner Broadway and First.

1854 - At grocery store and saloon of Thomas Gallagher, southeast corner Broadway and Second.

1858 - East Side of Broadway, north of Third

1868 - At Dr. Lemon's drug store, east side Broadway, below Sixth.

1869 - North side Sixth, west of Broadway.

1872 - At 969 Broadway, went side, below Tenth.

1876 - At 465 Ninth street, south side, west of Broadway

1880 - At gore intersection Broadway and San Pablo.

1888 - in Camron block, south side Fourteenth, west of Broadway.

1891 - South side of Seventeenth from Broadway to Telegraph.

1902 - In Albany block, Broadway and Fifteenth.