Material Type

Photograph

Date Range

[between August 1934 and September 1953]

Description Level

Item

Creator

Fruet, William

Physical Description

black and white negative

Physical Condition

Very Good

History Biographical

"On August 1st, 1909 the Masinasin Post Office was established. The name Masinasin was suggested by one of the police corporals at the post. Masinasin being the Indian word for Writing-on-Stone. Mrs. Jamima Croucher was appointed postmistress and served until September 26th, 1913. She used a corner of her kitchen as the post office. Then followed William Rowley who filled the position until 1918. He built a small room onto his house for the post office. This provided room for the neighbors to gather and do a little visiting while waiting for the mail to arrive and be sorted. Mr. Rowley resigned the position in October 1917 but was prevailed upon to serve until a new post master was appointed. He served in this capacity for one year, Mr. Robert Sharpe volunteered to accept the position and was appointed post master on October 25th, 1918. Mr. Sharpe converted a small granary to serve as a post office. He installed a sorting table and a set of pigeon hole for each patron's mail. He also put in a small heating stove for use in the winter time. The building served as the post office for the next three appointed postmasters and was moved from one location to the next. Mr. Sharpe resigned the position in November 1920.Mr. and Mrs. Chrisitan Zorn were then appointed and served until September 1933. Their home burned at that time and they moved to Milk River. While the Zorn's managed the post office, Mrs. Zorn sold magazine subscriptions and kept a supply of Rawleigh products for sale. The postmaster's pay was two hundred dollars per year with a commission paid on stamps and postal notes. John August Blust was the next postmaster, assuming his duties on Novermber 24th, 1933. He served until his death in a farm accident in August 1934. Mrs. Elizabeth Blust's appointment was finalized on September 20th, 1934. She served faithfully for nineteen years, resigning on September 23rd, 1953. Mr. Charles Zorn then served as acting postmaster until hi appointment November 1953. He was the last postmaster at Masinasin as the post office closed in June 1956."

Scope and Content

Mrs. Elizabeth Blust standing out front of the exterior of the Masinasin Post Office.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

20011020250

Collection

Archive

Less detail