| The newly opened post office in Desloge reminds old timers of other places and
faces. When the community of unmarked streets was known as Leadville, postage was cheap
and service was slow -- but the mail did get through. With the passage of years,
facilities have been improved and the present post office in Desloge is one in which the
citizens can take pride. There are several people around who remember
when the post office was in the W. P. Giessing store at what is now the corner of Lincoln
and Elm streets. This was in the early 1900's and Mr. and Mrs. Giessing managed the
operation -- without the benefits of air conditioning and ZIP codes.
W. P. Giessing Store, Desloge, Missouri
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When the office was moved out of the Giessing store it was
located next door and John T. Dinkins was appointed Postmaster.
Several years later the facilities were moved again to what is now the corner
of Lincoln and Chestnut St. and the new Postmaster was W. T. Newman. During his tenure of
office the post office was extensively damaged by fire. Arrangements were then made to put
the post office in a section of a new commercial building constructed on Desloge's main
business street by I. W. Miller. There the post office was maintained until moved this
spring to its present location at Main and Oak.
Following W. T. Newman as postmaster was Mrs. Margaret Lester, wife of a
Desloge physician. From the time of her appointment to the present day the post office has
remained under the supervision of women. Succeeding Mrs. Lester in 1933 was Mrs. Ella B.
Newman, wife of W. T. Newman. When she became ill and unable to continue, her daughter,
Mrs. Grace Davis, was appointed to the post. From 1944 until March, 1963, Mrs. Davis was
postmaster; at the latter date the Desloge installation became a branch of the Flat River
Post Office and since then Mrs. Davis' title has been Branch Superintendent. By tradition
and experience, Mrs. Davis is admirably equipped to operate a post office. It is a family
trait. Beyond her own career, extending now to a period of more than 21 years, three of
Mrs. Davis' forbears have been postmasters. Her maternal grandfather, Frank E. Coffman,
was postmaster at Coffman, Mo., and her parents, W. T. and Ella Newman, were both Desloge
postmasters.
Mrs. Davis has an interesting background. After graduation from Desloge High
School she prepared herself for a teaching career, attending Southeast Missouri State
College, University of Wisconsin, University of California and Pittsburg, Kansas, State
Teachers College. She taught in grade school at Desloge, high school at Jennings, Mo.,
grade school and Clayton, Mo., and junior high school at Nevada, Mo.
She married Dr. W. M. Davis who practiced dentistry in Nevada, Mo., until his
death in 1937. After her husband's death Mrs. Davis returned to Desloge to make her home.
Deciding to enter the business world, she attended Rubicam Business College in St. Louis.
After completion of the course she was employed by St. Louis University School
of Dentistry; Bureau of the Census; State Treasurer and Secretary of State in Jefferson
City; and the Post Office Department.
Although carriers now deliver mail door to door, a great deal of
over-the-counter business is still conducted and a number of individuals and business
firms rent boxes. The mail is now delivered to the post office by truck. Time was when it
was brought from the depot by railroad station agent T. E. Ruffing, who was required to
carry a gun in making the delivery.
Many other innovations have transformed the Desloge post office branch into one
of the most attractive and up-to-date installations of its kind to be found. The general
public will be invited to view the facility at an open house event to be held in the near
future.
Published by the LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Wed. June
23, 1965.
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