Early History of Shamokin Postal Services
In 1938 the nearest post office was located in Paxinos, although it was called the Shamokin Post Office. As the Shamokin began to attain village proportions local facilities became imperatively necessary. This inconvenience led to repeated requests for the establishment of our own Post Office, and finally on the 17th of May, the Coal Post Office was created and William Fegely was commissioned as appointed as the Postmaster. The Post Office was in Mr. Fegely’s store on Shamokin Street and service was provided three days a week. A letter to Sunbury cost 61/4 cents and was optional with the sender whether the postage should be prepaid or not.
In 1840 a special route was established from Paxinos to Shamokin, with Solomon Martz as contractor, the compensation being the net proceeds of the Coal Post Office, provided they did not exceed thirty-one dollars fifty cents per quarter. For some time Mr. Martz carried the mail himself, and then employed John Smink, a boy, who made the trip three times a week on foot. At the expiration of his contract, June 30, 1844, Mr. Martz was succeeded by Casper Scholl. The first daily mail was introduced by Thomas Dornan, who had a contract for carrying the mails between Sunbury and Philadelphia.
As a Post Office designation, Shamokin was first applied to the village of Snufftown, the mail distributing point for a large part of the extensive Township of Shamokin. On the 28th of December 1840, the name of Coal Post Office was changed to the Shamokin Post Office. The former Shamokin Post Office at Paxinos was renamed Paxinos Post Office and replaced the one at Snufftown.
William Fegely continued in charge, and his successors were appointed in the following order: Samuel John, February 21, 1844 Joseph Zuern, March 26, 1846; James Thomas, February 26, 1849; Sylvanus S. Bird, July 13, 1852; Joseph Zuern, January 3, 1855; Sylvanus S. Bird, December 3, 1855; Lewis L. Bevan, March 24, 1856; F. P. Stambach, December 18, 1860; Darius S. Gilger, March 25, 1864; William A. Sterling, April 6, 1888; Simon C. Wagenseller, August 13, 1890. The free delivery system was established on the 1st of December 1890.
