Crayne Post Office History

 

The postal service has been a great asset for the community of Crayne for many, many years. The Crayne Post office plays an import part in the life of each resident of Crayne and those of neighbors in the surrounding area.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Crayne was a busy little community with general stores, a hotel and a blacksmith shop. The salary for the Postmaster at this time was small, and most of the Post offices were locate within one of the general stores. At that time postmasters were selected by political leaders. The postmaster position was usually given to a member of the political party of the leader in office at the time. Postmasters are now selected on postal experience and qualifications and they now receive compensation in compliance with today's economics.

Today the Crayne Post Office is the only public building and business located in Crayne.  It is located in the former Seth and Velma Ferguson's Grocery Store.  The original store building was  remodeled into an office and is home to the Crayne post office. 

 Although not in use anymore the original wooden post office front is still in the store as a reminder of its former use as the Post office.  It belongs to Seth and Velma's daughter, Sandra, today.

In 1886, James Lee Cruce became the first postmaster of Crayne. The post office was located at his farm about half a mile south of Crayne.

 In 1890, Richard Dorroh was named postmaster, followed by Hugh Glenn in 1900-02, James F. Canada in 1904, and Newton Bishop in 1907. 

 James Franklin Dorroh, William Robert Dorroh, and Eugene Dorroh each served as Postmasters of Crayne. At the time the Dorroh's served as postmasters, the office was located in the Hugh Glenn Store. This store later became the Dorroh General Store and the post office remained in this building until 1953. (This store building was located where the block building is in the center of Crayne today.)

In 1953, Seth Ferguson became Postmaster. Mr. Ferguson moved the post office to his general store. He retired as Postmaster of Crayne in 1982. His wife, Mrs. Velma Ferguson and Mrs. Jackie Dorroh served as Assistant Postmaster during this time.

In 1982, George Tucker of Mayfield became Postmaster in charge until his retirement. In February 1983, Rose Ann Bebout was appointed Postmaster.  She was Postmaster until October 2014 when she retired.

The community of Crayne is thankful today to have the post office still very much a part of our small community. It had grown over the years and in 1995 because a full-time office, being open for eight hours per day.   Until this time it has only been open for six hours per day.

In 1992 the post office was remodeled and a twenty-four-day lobby with post office boxes for rent became available to customers. The original post office window and box service area is now a lobby display for everyone to remember where we came from. The display will remain a part of the Crayne Post Office history.

In 1997, the postmaster received national honors by being named The Benjamin Franklin recipient. This award is given by the United States Postal Service Corporate Relations each year to fifty–two postal employees who demonstrate outstanding results in community outreach activities, then postmaster Rose Ann Bebout gave the credit to the Crayne community for this award.

 On October 18th, 2014 the mailing center saw a stark reduction in its window hours, it went down to 23 hours from its 41.75 hours, once again a part time post office.  Kim Asbridge, who previously was postmaster relief assumed the responsibility of managing the post office and is still on the job today. 

This picture of the front of the building was made in June of 2010.  Gone today is the historical and much remembered bench that used to sit there.  It was there when I was growing up in Crayne some 70+ years ago.
 

Many happy memories of sitting on that bench with friends having a coke and peanuts or an ice cream popcicle.  It was accidentally smashed by a vehicle that went forward instead of backwards.  I was sad to not see the much remembered bench on the front porch anymore.