The Post Office in a Western Town

The post office played an important role in any town, but especially in the West, where people felt cut off from much of the country and more isolated. The post office allowed them to keep in touch with family that might be far away and conduct business they wouldn't have been able to otherwise. Before the telegraph, the post office was about the only means of remote communication, and although it might be slow, the mail usually eventually got there.

The post office stood in a prominent place in 1880 Town in Midland, South Dakota. In many Western towns, the post office was located in a store, but others had separate buildings, as seen here. These buildings tended to be small structures, but since the mail was handed out regularly, they didn't need a large building.

Post offices often had a bulletin board as well. This was another way to distribute information. They might contain wanted posters, upcoming events, community information, or other news.

In any Western novel about mail-order brides, the post office served an important role, and I have quite a few mail-order brides novels. Below is a list that you might want to check out.

Mistaken Bride
The Writer's Rescue

Willa's Woes

Beckett's Brides

A Match for Marshall

A Match for Cord

A Match for Silas

A Match for Merle

A Match for Milton

A Match for Reece

Aida

Candace

A Christmas Snow for Sadie

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