A Little Slip of History from the McKendree Post Office

“This blank is to be filled up at the mailing office and given to the person who presents the letter for registration.”

Come on in and sit a spell, friends. I have stumbled upon a real treasure today that takes us right back to a warm summer morning in 1874. It is just a simple scrap of paper, really—a post office receipt—but it tells a story of neighbors looking out for one another. On the first of July, nearly a century and a half ago, a man named Laban Gwinn stepped into the McKendree post office. He had a letter for W. P. Hinton over in Meadow Creek, and he wanted to make sure it got there safe and sound.

Holding this slip of paper today, you can almost feel the history between your fingers. It has turned a soft, buttery yellow over the decades, and the left side is still rough and jagged where Postmaster Jas Prince tore it out of his official ledger. You can see Mr. Prince’s handwriting in deep black ink, steady and clear, marking down the details of that day. It is in remarkable shape for something that has survived so many West Virginia winters, though the edges show the gentle, honest wear of time.

Back then, our state was still finding its feet, and sending a registered letter was a significant act. It was more than just a note; it was a promise. Whether Laban was sending important news or a bit of hard-earned money, he trusted the hands of the postmaster to start its journey through the hills. It reminds us of a time when the world felt a bit smaller, and the local post office was the heart of the community where every name on an envelope belonged to a friend or kin.

Seeing this little receipt today makes you realize that while our gadgets change, our need to reach out to one another stays exactly the same. We still want our messages to be heard and our treasures to arrive safely. This tiny piece of McKendree history is a beautiful reminder that even the smallest transactions of the past were built on a foundation of trust and a simple, handwritten signature.

Original Transcription

This blank is to be filled up at the mailing office and given to the person who presents
the letter for registration.

RECEIPT FOR A REGISTERED LETTER.

No. 1 July 1, 1874.

Post Office, McKendree Received
of Laban Gwinn
a letter addressed to W P Hinton
Meadow Creek
W Va
Jas Prince
P. M.