Snapshot of History by Mike Avitt
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BY MIKE AVITT
The Redding Post Office has undergone a remodeling since I took this photo July 2, 2005. I found some more information on the early days of Redding and the post office there so let’s get started.
I was looking for the earliest days of Maloy when I stumbled upon an article in the July 29, 1880 edition of the Ringgold Record newspaper. This article offers information that is contrary to the recorded history as we know it. The paper says Redding’s first post office opened May 5, 1855 with Wendell Poor as the first postmaster. This date is probably incorrect as Ringgold County was not yet formally organized. The history we have gives the date as August 30, 1855.
The article continues to say the Redding Post Office was moved to Sam Baird’s home in Clinton Township in 1862. In 1874, the post office moved to southern Benton Twp. near the farmstead of David Maloy. Mr. Snodgrass was the postmaster this time. The earliest plat map we have (1875) shows the Redding Post Office located in the SE quarter of section 35 in Benton Twp. Mr. Snodgrass also sold groceries and dry goods.
A May 20, 1875 Ringgold Record announces the establishment of a new town – Redding. The 1875 plat map gives Redding’s location as the top center of section 14, Clinton Twp., or about 2 miles south of the Redding Post Office.
The next location of the post office was near the previous location. Absolam Wells was the P.M. In 1878, the post office moved to Redding in the home of O. B. Hudson. Mr. Hudson also sold dry goods and groceries.
The Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad, according to our history, platted the town of New Redding in 1880 about one-fourth of a mile SW of “Old” Redding. Interestingly, the railroad put the depot between the two towns. The first depot burned in 1890 but I’m pretty sure the location was the same as the second depot because the railroad reservoir was located between the two towns, also. Water was pumped by hand through a canvass hose from the reservoir to the steam engines prior to the erection of water tanks, thus the need for reservoirs.
Another interesting point about Redding; it is the only town in Ringgold County to have a public square other than the county seat, Mount Ayr.
I found some information on David Maloy for whom the town of Maloy is named after. I’ll share that in another article. I’m struggling to find time to research my topic of choice for Ayr Days. I’m scheduled to speak at the Mount Ayr Public Library August 27 at 12:30 pm. I’m going to talk about the towns and post offices in Ringgold County and how they got their names. If you miss me at the library, I’ll write an article about those some day.