Snapshots of History: Mount Ayr Post Office

By Editor | January 15, 2025 |

Mount Ayr Post Office under construction in 1940.

By Mike Avitt
A new post office was built in Mount Ayr in 1939-40. I find this very interesting because the old post office was only eight years old.
In 1931, a building was erected at 111 S. Fillmore, the current location of First MainStreet Insurance, and the Mount Ayr Post Office opened there on January 23, 1932. And just five years later, sites were being sought for a new post office.
What’s up with that?
The reason is most likely the fact that our current post office building is a “federal” building and previous post office buildings were “privately” owned. Also, the post office at 111 S. Fillmore was much smaller than our current building. Plus, the economy was much different in the late 1930s than the early 1930s. It could also be that federal laws changed and I don’t keep abreast of those.
So, a new site was being searched out in 1938 and one location being looked at was the two lots north of the old Record-News office at 119 N. Taylor. But, the final choice was the 200 block of W. Madison.
Several buildings occupied this corner, some of which were built in 1875.
The building on the corner had served as a bank on three occasions, and also grocery stores, a millinery, and in 1938 was Dr. J. W. Hill’s office.
The next building west was Kinsell’s Hardware Store and then a couple of buildings put up about 1912, Dave Neptune’s garage and Dr. Sheumaker’s veterinary office.
On September 14, 1939, it was announced the construction firm of Busboom & Rauh, of Salina, Kansas, were the low bidders. A month later, Mount Ayr Postmaster, P. J. McGrath, announced that Busboom & Rauh’s bid of $50,500 had been accepted.
This construction firm seems to have built the post office in Bethany,Mo. earlier in the year as equipment was being moved to Mount Ayr from that place. I have been in the Bethany Post Office and it is immediately apparent that the same interior material was used in both post offices.
The old buildings were removed from the Mount Ayr lots in October 1939 and work on the new federal building began soon afterwards.
Dedication of the new federal post office took place on August 22, 1940 with the local American Legion post, Faith Lodge 179, mayor H. E. Bagley, Mount Ayr Postmaster P. J. McGrath, and others, participating. Total costs topped $75,000 when the costs of the lots, sidewalks, landscaping, and other amenities and additions.
The dedication ceremony included a history of the Mount Ayr Post Office, which was established on August 30, 1855. Part of the large basement was occupied by the Ringgold County Extension Office.
When the new post office opened there were three hundred and thirty-six lock boxes and five service windows. Remember, there was no home delivery of mail until 1959 in Mount Ayr. Also, there was a little thing called “general delivery” that did not require a box.
In 1953, box rent was increased for the first time since 1907. Rent went from 60 cents to 90 cents for a small box.
The “Corn Parade,” a mural in the Mount Ayr Post Office was hung on June 11, 1941. The painting was created by local artist Orr Cleveland Fisher and depicts a parade on the Mount Ayr square featuring local celebrities. Over the years, this painting has remained popular and attracted attention from beyond our county borders.
In 1956, Clarence Hollopeter retired as a clerk at the post office after forty-six years of service in Mount Ayr. Six years later, Walter Hudson retired with forty-two years.
As the rural population decreased over the years, rural routes were combined. In 1974, rural route two was eliminated and the customers were absorbed by the other two routes.
Lots of interesting history in the one hundred and sixty-nine history of the Mount Ayr Post Office.