Pascal Peolah Parker, the first postmaster of Parkersburg, Iowa, built this post office box in 1855. Parker submitted an application to the Postal Department in Washington D.C. to create a post office and name it Albion, after the township he lived in; however, the name was already taken, so the Postal Department named the post office Parkersburg to honor Parker. The first post office was located in Parker's home and was later moved to the home of the second postmaster. This caused some confusion for the wagons that delivered the mail because they continued to deliver the mail to Parker's home. Parker then became postmaster a second time and held the position until the town of Parkersburg was platted in 1865. The post office was then moved into a store owned by Joseph Demmick, who became the next postmaster. Content can be used with the following standards: SS-Gov. 9-12.28 Iowa Issues and Policy in a lesson on the establishment of official town businesses in the mid to late 1800s. For any use other than instructional resources, please check with the organization that owns this item regarding copyright restrictions.
2018.041.001 [Box, Post Office]
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