CAVE POST OFFICES

CAVE POST OFFICES

Thomas Lera

Cave Books www.cauebooks.com Library of Congress Control Number 2011001057 ISBN 978-0-939748-76-1

First edition February, 2011

Frontice Piece: An early picture of the Mammoth Cave and Store.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Lera, Thomas M. Cave post offices / by Thomas Lera. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13:978-0-939748-76-1 (pbk.) ISBN-10: 0-939748-76-2 (pbk.) 1. Names, Geographical—. 2. United States—History, Local. 3. - United States—History. 4. Cities and towns—United States-History 5. Post office buildings—United States. 6. Postal service—United States—History. 7. —United States—History. 8. Canceling machines—United States—History. I. Title.

E155.L47 2011 383'.42-dc22 2011001057

©2011 Thomas Lera

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any data storage or retrieval system without the express written permission of the copyright owner. Published by CAVE BOOKS 4700 Amberwood Drive Dayton, Ohio 45424-4602 http://www.cavebooks.com

Cave books is the publication affiliate of the

Publisher: Roger McClure Book design by Greyhound Press, Bloomington, Indiana design by Gary Berdeaux, Park City, Kentucky

Printed in The United States of America Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 3 Preface 4 A Short Introduction to Postmarks and Cancellations 5 Historical Records of the United States Post Office 19 Alabama 23 Arizona 24 Arkansas 28 California 30 Colorado 34 Georgia 35 Hawaii 38 Illinois 39 Indiana 42 Kansas 43 Kentucky 45 Maryland 53 Mississippi 55 Missouri 56 Montana 59 Nevada 62 New Mexico 64 New York 66 North Carolina 70 Ohio 72 Oregon 73 Pennsylvania 77 South Carolina 79

1 Cave Post Offices

South Dakota 80 Tennessee 82 Texas 85 87 Washington 94 West Virginia 95

Summary 98 Appendix One: Cave Post Offices 99 Appendix Two: Cave-Related Post Offices 109 References 125 Index 127 Thomas Lera 135 Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Hoke and the American Spelean History Association's Journal of Spelean History for publishing portions of this book in 2004-2006 in issues 126,127, 128, and 129, and J. P. van der Pas, friend and long time editor and publisher of The Speleo Stamp Collector and Speleophilately International. I am grateful to William Halliday for his insight and information on several cancellations and town names, Greg Beck and William Mixon for their constructive comments to improve the manuscript, and to Roger McClure and Cave Books for accepting and publishing this manuscript. I also thank the American Philatelic Research Library and the Smithsonian Institution Library at the for opening their holdings for research on the history of each state's place names. Finally, I thank Sandy Fitzgerald for her support and dedication to editing and making sure I finally finished this work. The passion you showed for living life is what has inspired me to be so passionate in what I do. This book is every bit as much your accomplishment as it is mine. All illustrations of cancellations are from the collection of Thomas Lera or, where noted, courtesy of Speleophilately International. Preface

To understand and chronicle the development of the "cave" post offices found in the United States, one has to look at "speleophilately," or the collecting of cave , postage stamps, and other philatelic cave-related materials. One result of the 8th International Congress of held in 1981 at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, was the publication of The Speleo Stamp Collector (changed to Speleophilately International for a brief period), which has been continuously edited and updated by Jan Paul van der Pas. To date, several hundred postage stamps have been issued that in some way relate to caves and bats. Two publications containing checklists have been published by the American Topical Association: in 1996, Hand Book No. 128, Bats in by Thomas Lera; and in 2000, Hand Book No. 143, Speleophilately: Collecting Caves of Postage Stamps by Ronnie L. Nixon. The checklists presented in this publication are complete through 2010 and provide collectors the information necessary to assemble a collection of cave postal history objects. Also included herein are post offices with names directly related to cave features like sinking , lost creek, and limestone. These post offices have been researched to insure they are in fact cave-related. Town names associated with cave minerals—like Calcite, Colorado; Phosphate, Tennessee; and Azurite, Nevada—are beyond the scope of this book and are not included. Although there are no books on cave minerals on stamps, there is ^Philatelic Mineralogy (Web site: http://mineralstamps.rbnet.net/) with a very complete list of minerals illustrated with stamps, current as of February, 2010. This book begins with an introduction to the different type of postmarks and cancellations found on envelopes and postcards, followed by a short description of what can be found by searching the National Archives, and ending with a list by state of cave post offices. A Short Introduction to Postmarks and Cancellations

From the earliest days of United States production, one of the great concerns of the Post Office Department has been the prevention of illegal reuse of stamps. This has generally been accomplished by applying a to cancel the stamp.

The terms "postmark" and "cancellation" each have different specific meanings. A cancellation is always a postmark, but a postmark is not always a cancellation.

, N

\&'\ ..4? to S'J4r y Va

Figure 1. Natural Bridge, Virginia, postmark with St rate indicating the letter traveled less than 300 miles.

Postmarks were developed long before postage stamps, mostly to indicate the point of origin for a specific piece of (Figure 1). It was applied by the post office to identify the town of origin and any other transit markings such as FORWARDED or PAID.

The postmark allowed the post office to calculate the distance the letter traveled and thereby determine the amount of payment due by the recipient, not the sender. Cave Post Offices

In the 1800s, many communities were too small to have their own post offices so their mail was sent from the nearest town that had one, as seen in the letter from Cave Spring, Kentucky (Figure 2).

1 f

6*, >/^s-

Figure 2. Cave Spring, County, Kentucky, letter dated June 21,1851, carried to Bowling Green and posted June 24 [1851]. The Red "X" indicates 10

The first U.S. postage stamps were issued in 1847 and brought with them the concern that instead of buying new stamps, recipients might reuse the stamps from mail received. To prevent this, the postmaster marked usage on each stamp by hand, indicating it could not be used again. The envelope below illustrates handwritten post office, state, and date. This method of cancellation was very common on stamped mail in the 1840s and 1850s (Figure 3).

Cancellation is a more specific term, referring only to the portion of the postal marking that obliterates a postage stamp, indicating the stamp was used. The obliteration prevented reuse.

6 Introduction

j

Figure 3. Manuscript cancel'from Cave Spring, Virginia, dated October IS, 1859.

In 1859, Marcus P. Norton of Troy, N.Y., patented the handstamp, a hand-held duplex- style stamp-canceling device. In a single motion, this circular date stamp (CDS) imprinted both the date and the name of the sending town with a target killer that obliterated the stamp. Prior to standardization of cancelling equipment in the early 1890s, postmasters at smaller post offices were required to purchase their handstamps from private vendors, and, as one might imagine, there were many varieties of design and style.

Figure 4. Horse Cave, Kentucky, CDS with target killer.

Impressions made by the standardized CDS consisted of a plain circular outline measuring 28 mm in diameter, in which the name of the post office was centered at the top and the name or abbreviation of the state was centered at the bottom. The date was located in the center and consisted of three or four lines that included month, day, year, and, for larger post offices, the hour.

The handstamp was constructed of a metal die attached to a wooden handle, with removable slugs for the month, day, year, and time. Inverted dates were common, as the Cave Post Offices postmaster occasionally slid the slugs in upside down and in inverted order. The style of lettering was usually block or sans-serif.

The government also issued a cancel to be used with the standardized CDS. The outer ring of the cancel is four concentric rings, measuring 17 mm in diameter, called a target killer (Figure 4) because it obliterated or prevented further use of the stamp.

The barrel duplex handstamps (Figure 5) were initially issued to 1st and 2nd class post offices beginning about 1895. They consisted of a single, circular ring containing the name of the post office, state, date, and time, and an ellipse with a long vertical axis as the cancel portion. The ellipse had a barrel-shaped central section from which this cancel got its name. In the center of the barrel was a number believed to have referred to a specific clerk or canceling or sorting station number. It was perhaps a way to keep track of several of these handstamps within a particular post office with several mail routes.

Figure 5. Natural Bridge, Virginia, barrel duplex with clerk #1 in handstamp.

Ovate bar duplexes (Figure 6) were issued to 3rd class post offices in late 1898. The design of these handstamps featured a postmark circle (29 to 30 mm) with the post office name arced across the top, the state name or abbreviation at the bottom, and the date and time vertically across the center. The cancel consisted of eight to ten short horizontal bars tapered at both ends to form an ellipse or oval, thus giving rise to this handstamps name.

In some post offices throughout the country, postmasters and clerks were creative and used handmade cancellation devices referred to zs fancy cancels (Figure 7). These were often made from simple corks elaborately carved with images depicting everything from insects and animals to geometric patterns, letters, or numbers.

In December 1899, the Post Office Department began testing a new type of hand postmark for Service. This new rubber handstamp had two distinct sections. The name of the sending post office, state, date, and the initials R.F.D. (Figure 8) were designated in four lines on the left section. The right section consisted of a built-in cancellation composed of parallel bars and a number, which denoted the rural route of

8 Introduction the mail delivery. General distribution of this type of postmark and cancel was from early 1900 to July 1,1903.

Figure 6. Ovate bar duplex used by Mammoth Springs, Arkansas, and Limestone, Maine.

Figure 7. Hingham, Massachusetts, fancy bat cancel. A new experimental device was issued in early 1903, as the Post Office Department's first attempt to improve the legibility of rubber handstamp postmarks. Their success led to permanent use of this type of postmarking device for all smaller 4th class post offices where the receipts did not exceed $500 annually. In the 1950s, Edith R. Doane did intensive research into these devices which led to the authoritative cataloging of individual postmarks which became known as Doanes.

Approximately 1,600 Type-1 Doane 5-bar cancels were issued from August 28, 1903, to September 28, 1903. Type-1 Doane with 5-bars la-smaller sans-serif (Gothic) lettering (similar to 2b) lb-lettering with serifs (similar to 2a) lc-broad sans-serif (Gothic) lettering (similar to 3a)

9 Cave Post Offices

K r. D, JAN WEYERPC4VE, VA.

Figure 8. Weyers Cave, Virginia, R.ED, handstamp.

Type-2 Doane cancels have two sets of railroad track type-bars with a number in them. Approximately 17,500 of these were issued from September 29,1903, until June 30,1905. Type-2 Doane with 4-paired line killer bars 2a-lettering with serifs (similar to lb) (see Cave, Georgia) 2b-smaller sans-serif lettering (similar to la) (See Cavetown, Maryland, and Bat Cave, North Carolina)

Type-3 Doane cancels have four solid bars like the Type-1 handstamp, but also include a number inside them. Approximately 12,000 Type-3 Doane handstamps were issued from July 1,1905, until the fall of 1906. Type-3 Doane with four solid killer bars 3a-broad sans-serif lettering (similar to lc) 3b-normal sans-serif lettering, (as found in 4-bars,) "A" style unknown 3bf-normal sans-serif lettering, FLAT TOP "A" variety (See Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, and Cave Creek, Nevada) 3 bp-normal sans-serif lettering, POINTED "A" variety

The number in the bars of all three types referred to postmaster annual compensation in the previous fiscal year. A "1" meant annual compensation had been less than $100, a "2" signified compensation between $100 and $200, and, for each additional $100 increment, the number increased by one (Figure 9). Table One lists cave post offices that were issued Doane handstamps.

Used anywhere from one to ten years, most of these devices became worn or damaged from repeated use or improper handling. Some of them needed the killer bars replaced, or became so dirty or distorted it is sometimes hard to tell if they are truly Doanes. A few postmasters, however, took such good care of their canceling devices; they were used continuously throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

10 Introduction

Table One Cave Doane Cancels

Cave Post Office Type Number Earliest Date Latest Date Cave Creek, Arizona 3 2 12/15/1906 06/08/1910 Cave, Georgia 2a 1 01/10/1907 10/15/1940 Cave City, Arkansas 3 3 04/21/1906 02/24/1908 Cave Creek, Arkansas 2a 1 08/01/1908 01/01/1912 Mammoth Cave, Kentucky 3bf 3 06/07/1906 10/18/1908 Cave Town, Maryland 2b 3 01/12/1906 09/09/1913 Bat Cave, North Carolina 2b 2 08/16/1904 10/10/1910 Cavecreek, Nevada 3bf 2 04/30/1907 12/13/1913 Organ Cave, West Virginia 2b 2 01/17/1907 04/27/1911 Rock Cave, West Virginia 3 4 04/18/1906 08/02/1912 Cave Spring, Virginia 2b 2 12/10/1906 05/14/1908

Source: http://www.doanecancel.com (October 10, 2009)

Figure 9. Type-2b Doane from Cavetown, Maryland, and Bat Cave, North Carolina.

In the fall of 1906, the Post Office Department distributed the 4-bar killer handstamp to newly established small post offices, and furnished them as replacement equipment to existing post offices. There were two types of4-bars. Type-A 4-bar was designed with vertical spacing of the bars at typically 14 mm from the top of the uppermost bar to the bottom of the lowest bar. The font style was usually block or sans-serif, although those issued from late 1908 to early 1910 tended to have letters with a bold, more squared-off appearance. The major difference in the Type-B 4-bar was the wide 20 mm vertical spacing of the killer bars, although the type style also had a bold, squared-off sans-serif appearance (Figure 10).

A variety of cancels closely related to the manuscript type are termed straight line postmarks (Figure 11). These were used as provisional or emergency cancels in the absence of standard postmarking equipment.

11 Cave Post Offices

Today's hand cancels are primarily made from hard rubber or similar synthetic material, unlike the steel, cork or wood devices used in the past. Metal machine cancels were used in canceling machines, which debuted in 1876, and consisted of one section for the postmark and a second section for the cancellation. Cancellations made by machine have a greater variety of designs than postmarks, including straight, horizontal or parallel bars, and wavy lines (Figure 12).

Figure 10. Type A 4-bar killer from Weyers Cave, Virginia, and Type B 4-bar killer from Cave Ridge, Kentucky.

Mail is normally "post-cancelled," meaning the cancel is applied after the stamps are affixed to the envelope. In the first part of the 20th century, the postal system experienced enormous growth in the sheer volume of mail it was required to process and deliver. To improve the inefficiencies in the mostly manual processing and facilitate a speedier preparation of outgoing mail, a technological innovation called precancel was introduced.

Figure 11. Oregon Caves straight line cancel.

A precancel is really just what it sounds like: a stamp canceled before it is actually used. Precancels saved time for the postal service because mail did not have to be put through an automatic canceling machine before delivery (Figure 13). Table Two lists the cave post offices that used precancels.

12 Introduction

Table Two Cave Precancels

PSS Type* Town Issue Date 473 Natural Bridge, New York 5/1927 704 Cave City, Kentucky 3/1937 704 Horse Cave, Kentucky 6/1932 704 Cave Junction, Oregon 5/1937 705 Natural Bridge, Virginia 6/1932 705 Natural Bridge, New York 6/1932 729 Cave City, Arkansas 7/1941 734 Weyers Cave, Virginia 12/1941 734 Cave Springs, Georgia 11/1944 807 Mammoth Cave, Kentucky 5/1959 841 Cave Springs, Arkansas 5/1974 841(3 &4) Cave Creek, Arizona 12/1974 841(4) Bat Cave, North Carolina 12/1974 843 Cave Junction, Oregon about 1973 843 Natural Bridge, New York 6/1973

*PSS Type - Precancel Stamp Society numbering system Source: PSS Catalogofthe United States Bureau Precancels, 1977, Precancel Stamp Society: Framingham, Massachusetts

Many post offices in the 20th century designed special slogan cancels to promote an event of regional interest (Figure 14). These were used only for a 30-day period, after which they were destroyed.

Local post offices used a variety of hand-cancel devices every day, examples of which are shown throughout this book. One of the more common markings, the double-circle cancel from a device known as a round-dater, was usually struck in red and sometimes used on larger envelopes that could not be sent through the Automated Face-Canceller (AFC) machine. The same postmark device was often used to mark receipts, registered and certified letters, most frequently in red. The Weyers Cave Virginia, postmark on a U.S. Postal Money Order is an example (Figure 15).

13 Cave Post Offices

.y.."./^!-^.-.^.^^'^..'..'.....^'.^.'^.^./-,/* • ## # y u M iK~V *\ \i :4>-> uii-~v ^TM ;4

Figure 12. , Virginia, and Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, machine cancels manufactured by the Universal Corporation.

•

Figure 13. Precancelsfrom Cave City, Arkansas,

14 Introduction

NATIONAL STA 4^%)\ COLLECTING MONT STATION BAT CAVE, N£jg? OCTOBER 4 2

Figure 14. Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, and Bat Cave, North Carolina, slogan cancels.

Occasionally, the postmaster's canceling device was manufactured incorrectly, for example, a spelling error of the town name, as seen below in this Hows Cave, New York, cancel (Figure 16).

A recent addition to the family of postal machines was the postage meter. A letter is placed on a scale which calculates the amount of postage required, then imprints both the correct postage and a circle date stamp on a gummed label for placement on the envelop (Figure 17).

Private companies made postage meters that automatically issued the correct postage when the item was weighed. Pitney Bowes made these meters for businesses and corporations; an example of their meter stamps with a "slogan cancel" is seen in Figure 18.

15 Cave Post Offices

OFU.S.POSTALMQNEYORDER Weyers Cave, Virginia. J$ 926

( ^LsCtAMArt I89P / TOSTMASTERAT

it CROP ABOVE NUMBER AND DATE DRAWN ON YOU FOR dollars —T^_Cent@

In favor of. fr^>^v x%% PAYEE .Street

NAME 1 OF } REMITTER]

POSTMASTER

Figure 15. Weyers Cave, Virginia, Money Order Business (M.O.B.) double circle cancel (courtesy o/'Speleophilately International).

.ENT

n M i v .&. Figure 16. Hows Cave, (should be Howes Cave) NY. CDS and target killer.

16 Introduction

There are 115 post offices in the United States, discontinued or currently operating, with town names having the word "Cave, Cavern, , or Bat" in them. More than 70 of them have known cancellations. It should be noted that many towns and cities have been in operation for decades, for instance Cave City, Kentucky, and have over 15 different cancellations. I will not attempt to illustrate all of them, rather only a select few.

U.S.P0STAGF15 S0.2 9I E.2 9E

I** V'ETUl 5309125 U.S. I*?57.V*2

Figure 17. Cave City, Kentucky, and Grottoes, Virginia, postage meters.

In researching cave post offices, the genealogy of the town name was important, in that it may be related to a family or to a geographic feature. In some cases, I have not been able to locate information on location's name even from various state experts. As such, I can only assume the name of the post offices in question were derived from a local feature referenced on United States Geological Survey topographic maps.

c.FE- MhW MEXiLO'I? AMAtINt, ?5^4%MUS POSTAGE *fi t / WJ # KT NATION^; P.A.R-K' 01 no M E TEH via Me SantaFe SCOUT KD.102273

• —;J * Mailed from

' JttM Jones Hideout rD. 6014 1* »**««-».»*.•«* ^ *..*** ** ** ****.. Figure 18. Examples ofPitney Bowes slogan meters promoting Missouri's Meramec Caverns and New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

The State Tables show the town or city name and zip code if available, the dates of operation, and the county where the post office is or was located. The word Open under the dates of operation mean the post office is still operating and the word Unknown means the date information is not known at the time of this publication. Illustrations of selected postmarks and cancellations are shown whenever they are available.

17 Cave Post Offices REFERENCES

Baadke, Michael. "Refresher Course U.S. Hand Cancels Prevented Stamp Reuse." Linn's, May 10,1999.

Baadke, Michael. "Refresher Course Modern U.S. Postmarks Are Also Collectible." Linn's July 26,1999.

Helbock, Richard W. Postmarks on Postcards: An Illustrated Guide to Early 20th Century U.S. Postmarks. Scappoose, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 2002.

Helbock, Richard W. United States Doanes: A Catalog ofDoane Cancellations Used in United States Post Offices, [computer file] Scappoose, Oregon: La Posta Publications. One computer optical disc includes bibliographical references, scarcity valuation information but not catalog prices and "Doane mimic listing" by Randy Stehle. 2003.

Towle, Charles L. U.S. Route and Station Agent Postmarks. Tucson, Arizona: Mobile Post Office Society; Printed by Owl Printing Co. 1986. Includes an index of Station Agent Postmarks Listed by Name of Station, and indexed references to Postmarks Listed by State, Postmarks Listed by Railroad Name, and Waterway Postmarks Listed by State. "A Listing of Post Office Department Route Agents Employed on Railroad Cars and Steamboats." Original research by John Kay: pp 317-367.

For more information on precancels visit http://www.precancels.org.

18 Historical Records of the United States Post Office Found at the National Archives

Postmaster appointments before 1832 are found in National Archives microfilm publication Ml 131, Record of Appointment of Postmasters, October 1789-1832 (4 rolls). Postmaster's names and dates of appointments are included in records arranged alphabetically by name of post office. The records also include the state in which the post office was located, and the dates of establishment and discontinuance.

Postmaster appointments after 1832 are found in National Archives microfilm publication M841, Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-September 30, 1971 (145 rolls). These records are arranged alphabetically first by state, then by county, and finally by name of the post office. The content is similar to the pre-1832 records.

Information about the physical location of post offices is found in National Archives Microfilm Publication Ml 126, Post Office Department Records of Site Locations, 1837-1950 (683 rolls). The quantity and quality of information about each post office varies, and early site reports are relatively infrequent and often contain little information. Site reports become more common and informative after 1870. Information generally includes the post office's proximity to nearby rivers, creeks, postal routes, railroad stations, and other post offices. For example, a June 24, 1910, report for Starcave, Wythe County, Virginia, simply states it is in the northeast part of the county, 1 Vi miles southeast from Reed Island Creek (Figure 19). Maps were frequently submitted with the site reports. Maps relating to rural post offices were usually hand-drawn (Figure 20).

Before 1891, the Post Office Department had no written policies about post office names. They could be derived from several sources, including names of towns, townships, neighborhoods, crossroads, geologic landmarks, or from the postmaster's name or place of business. Policies for assigning post office names after 1891 can be found in compliers Arthur Hecht and William J. Heynen's Records and Policies of the Post Office Department Relating to Place-Names, Reference Information Paper No. 72 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, 1975).

The Microfilm Reading Room (Room 400) in the National Archives Building, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, has Post Office records on microfilm. For

19 Cave Post Offices

listings of records available as National Archives microfilm publications, see listings for Record Group 28, Records of the Post Office Department, in Microfilm Resources for Research: A Comprehensive Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1996). An example of the information contained in these records is seen below.

DIVISION Of TOPaQRAPHY £«rt ©ffitp Brpartnum! FOURTH ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL Wirtliiillmi 6y 3o/io Sir: In order that this office may determine, with as muoh aoou- vaoy as possible, the relative positions of Post Offices, so that they may be oorreotly delineated on ita maps, please care- fully answer the questions below, and furnish the diagram on the other side, returning the same as soon as possible, verified by your signature and dated. Respectfully, / -///. , v •'"••-*:»- ;.-/

*-y Fourth Assistant Postmaster General.

To Postmaster at hP.JXM t&V&s Wvthe C&» Va. The (P.O. Dept.) name of my Office is ..„

No. fari^fy &G^lJ%A^.^.fefc n Township, County of State of (£.„..€ .''. ^ 7 The name of the most prominent river near it is t..^f tltt .^.L £2^ri.. 1 The name of the nearest creek is /f^ (. ^C. '\*£&<&- »^ My Office is J/0£>/TymWs. from said river, on the fftl-t C.... sine of it, and is If-. ';, miles from said'nearest creek, on the.YiMuT- side of it. My Office is on Mail Route No. My Office is a Special Office supplied from miles distant. The name of the nearest Office on my route is , ahd its distance is miles, by the traveled road, in a direction from this, my Office. The name of the nearest Office, on Uie same route, on the ',ther side, is . and its distance is miles in a direction from this, my Office. The name of the newest Office off the route is . /."ULf. £f^_. tS-J1 *£,£<%. n tf^T^^and its distance by the most direct road is/& miles in a J^..J.& direction front this, my Office, My Office is at a distance of /.ft. Off. from the track of the Jut.i^&i. ^ jfeZg^ Hail road, on the 0a^_^2%_ side of the'railroad. My Office is ./fif. . miles, air-lino distance, from nearest point of ray County boundary.

(Signature of Postmaster) J%%*,^^ _^'&f%Lz%%^-3 (B# U./gJL^fr tun i-Mis L

\JJYCX. U f{ t cU^ta^vot- to fScurrzm, O^r^p fj&H fr % £ ***&o.

Figure 19. Starcave, Virginia, Post Office information.

20 Historical Records

DIAGRAM. EXPLANATION, AND INSTRUCTIONS.

The dot in the center of the 1-mile circle represents the site of your office. The surrounding offices should be carefully located by placing dots on or between the mile circles at the eiact distance, and in the right direction from your office, and their names plainly written. If it should be nocosSHiy to designate an office which is over 10 miles from your site, place the dot outside of the 10-mile circle, write the name of such office, and state its distance from your site. Draw distinctly the railways, roads, rivers, and creeks. Jfarfft.

West. •East.

Soutii

A/ H //y- s. ~/i*u*+ajL -in—, *fc&iat&L .%^w\- 1*U_, .&** iSjJi/f .

Figure 20. Starcave, Virginia, topographic location diagram.

21 Cave Post Offices

22 Alabama Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Spring (s) 9/11/1856-7725/1866 Fayette Cave Spring (s) 6/12/1871-10/27/1887 Fayette Cave Spring (s) 4/24/1888-7725/1894 Fayette

Ashcraft Corner, Alabama, was first known as Cave Springs; however, throughout the years of operation of its post office, the "s" was omitted from "Springs." The Cave Springs Post Office was located in the Ashcraft Mercantile Store. Samuel Richardson was named postmaster on September 11, 1856; Simeon Hamil on February 22, 1861; Joel Ashcraft on June 12, 1871; Isaac Ashcraft on February 18, 1873; George Ashcraft on April 24, 1888; and, finally, William H. Brown on June 9, 1893. Historians did not specifically mention the springs for which the town was named, only that there were several in the area thought to have medicinal qualities. There are no known cancellations from this post office.

REFERENCES Personal communication in an e-mail from Tom Turner on September 26,2001, regarding Alabama post offices.

23 Arizona Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Creek (Cavecreek) (85331) 1890-Open Maricopa Caverns - 1973-3/29/1974 Mohave Rural Branch of Peach Springs

Cave Creek Post Office is located in Maricopa County. In 1865, because of a natural water supply, a wagon road was established through this area for those traveling west seeking gold and for the Army, which traveled between Fort McDowell and Fort Whipple.

In 1874, William Rowe discovered gold on Gold Hill, northeast of Cave Creek. Immediately the town became more popular and Cave Creek Mistress Mine was developed. In 1877 Jeriah Wood established a cattle ranch in Cave Creek, which later became known as Cave Creek Station.

By the 1880s Andrew Jackson Hoskin had taken over Cave Creek Station. Hoskin cleared the land and began growing crops, which he irrigated with the plentiful water supply. Others eventually decided to come to the area to try their hand at both and ranching and the town opened a one-room schoolhouse in 1886. The first Cave Creek Post Office opened in 1890.

Ten years later, James D. Houck, a successful sheep-shearing rancher, bought Cave Creek Station and built a store. When regular stage service to Phoenix was established, things in the area began to slowly change.

However, it wasn't until 1928 that the area received a new influx of people when the land south of Black Mountain near Cave Creek opened for homesteading. The town experienced additional growth with the construction of Bartlett Dam in 1935, and the building of the Horseshoe Dam in 1940. In 1952, Scottsdale Road was extended to Cave Creek Road, resulting in another population increase at Cave Creek. Eventually, in 1986, Cave Creek became incorporated. (Note this is not the Cave Creek in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, which is known for Crystal Cave.)

There are several types of canceling devices known to have been used here, including

24 Arizona various single and double circle date stamps, a standard canceling machine imprint, a 4-bar killer, and a 10-stamp precancel (Figures 21 and 22).

Grand Canyon Caverns, located near Peach Springs, Arizona, is a privately owned natural limestone cave along historic Route 66. In 1927, the caverns were discovered after a heavy rain widened the natural funnel-shaped opening to the upper level of an unknown system of caverns. Walter Peck, a woodcutter for the Santa Fe Railroad, found the entrance one evening on his way to a poker game at the nearby Yampai railroad siding house and decided to call it Yampai Caverns.

The morning after his discovery, Walter and some cowboys with ropes and lanterns lowered one person into the cavern. One hundred and fifty feet of rope had been let out by the time the cowboy's feet touched the ground and he found himself in a very large and dark cavern. Using a coal-oil lantern, he began exploring, became excited when the light picked up some sparkle in the rocks, and thought he had found a very rich vein of gold. After gathering up a sack full of samples, he tugged on the rope and was hauled to the surface where he quickly showed his find. He also told of finding the remains of two humans and part of a saddle at the 50-foot level. By the time the newspapers had finished with the story, there was no mention of the saddle, and the remains were those of prehistoric cavemen. Soon scientists came from the east coast to study the bones, during which time Walter purchased the property and caverns in preparation of mining gold.

Walter was eager to see the assay reports. However, much to his dismay, there was no gold, only lots of iron oxide, better known as iron pyrites. He had wagered his money on an empty, funnel-shaped hole, but being an entrepreneur he soon came up with a winning solution: he would charge 25

As it turned out, the "cavemen" were Indians who had been out cutting firewood during the winter of 1917 when two members fell sick and died from the flu. Due to frozen ground conditions and a need for immediate burial, the two fallen braves were dropped into a -concealed hole, where it was thought no one would ever disturb them. Ten years later, in 1927, Water Peck stumbled upon that same hole in the ground.

In 1936, during the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) government work camps constructed a wooden staircase at the cavern entrance and a series of wooden ladders for the descent. In 1957, a beautiful wooden swinging bridge was added to allow access to the Chapel of Ages. The round-trip trek is estimated to be equivalent to walking up and down a staircase in a 15-story building. After this phase of construction was completed, more than one person was able to enter Yampai Caverns at a time, and the admission price was increased to 504:. This was the only access until 1962,

25 Cave Post Offices when, after 3/4 years of blasting 210 feet into the Caverns and bringing in additional construction materials, a modern elevator was installed. Then, out of respect for the Hualapai Indians' sacred burial site, the original natural entrance was sealed off forever.

The caverns have changed names several times. They were known as the Coconino Caverns until 1957, when they became Dinosaur Caverns. Since 1962, they have been called Grand Canyon Caverns.

The Grand Canyon Caverns Rural Branch Post Office of Peach Springs was open for only a short time. Even though the Caverns continued to attract visitors, due to a lack of outgoing mail the post office was closed and a simple mail collection box put in its place. There are no known examples from this post office.

Figure 21. Arizona territorial cancel with a CDS Cave Creek, Arizona, and cork cancel d»d/d Owe Crff^, v4f%go»d,^wfaz»cf/l

Figure 22. Cave Creek, Arizona, 4-bar killer.

26 Arizona REFERENCES Bechtel, Robert B.Arizona Statehood Postmark Catalog. Tucson, Arizona: Western Postal History Museum. 1989.

Patera, Alan H., and John S. Gallagher. Arizona Post Offices. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot. 1988.

27 Arkansas Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave City (72521) 1892-Open Sharp Cave Creek 1855-1895 Newton Cavecreek 1895-1973 Newton Cave Hill 1923 Warren Cave Springs (72718) 1908 - Open Benton

Cave Creek (Cavecreek) Post Office was located 4 miles east of the Mt. Judea Post Office in T15N R19W in Section 22 in Newton County (Figure 23).

Cave City, on US 167 north of Batesville, is named after Cave City Cave, known as Horns Cave in the 1870s, a rare sandstone cave with 300 feet of passageway ending in an underground that provides the town's water supply. Around 1889, J.A. and J.W. Laman started developing the town. William Stewart, postmaster at Loyal, moved the post office to the Laman development and changed the name to Cave City (Figure 24).

There are no known examples of postmarks from the Cave Hill Post Office.

1909

Figure 23. Cave Springs, Arkansas, 4-bar killer andprecancel and Cavecreek, Arkansas, CDS.

28 Arkansas

Figure 24. Cave City, Arkansas, CDS with target killer, 4-bar killer, andprecancel.

REFERENCES Deane, Ernie. "Arkansas Place Names." The OzarkMountaineer: Branson, Missouri. 1986.

29 California Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Dale 1913-1925 Sonoma Mammoth Cave 10/25/1883-11/30/1887 Calaveras

The 1848 discovery of gold in California provided the big impetus for expanding the United States Post Office Department Service (USPOD). On November 1, 1848, William Van Voorhees, a USPOD Special Agent, was dispatched to California charged with setting up post offices and appointing postmasters. He appointed William G. Marcy as the first official United States postmaster in California on February 22, 1849, and by January 1, 1850, had established a total of 16 post offices in the American West.

The 1850s brought increasing numbers of migrants to the Sierra Madre gold fields, as well as settlers to farm the rich valleys of the West. During this decade, another 761 post offices were established in the West, over half of them in California. Today, there are more than 4,297 post offices in California.

In 1850, Captain Taylor, a miner setting up targets on a rocky ledge for shooting practice, noticed a cool breeze coming from between the rocks. This led to his discovery of Mammoth Cave, now known as California Cavern. He later learned American Indians had inhabited the cavern, indicated by numerous grinding rocks located within. It is believed the cave may have also used as a or holding cell because the few bones found were in the fetal position, indicating death by hypothermia from the 55° F cavern temperature, rather than from a fall.

Cave City mining camp was established in 1859 and expanded adjacent to the cavern until 1875. At its peak, there were approximately 20 wood framed buildings, hundreds of tents, a school and a population of 400. Residents of Cave City installed a bar inside the cavern and used the underground room for dances, religious services, town meetings, and weddings.

Mammoth Cave (California Cavern) Post Office was opened in 1883, and closed just four years later, in 1887. There are no known examples of cancellations from it. Many famous visitors toured the cavern, including Mark Twain, Bret Harte, and John Muir,

30 California who later described the cavern in his hook Mountains of California:

... the good people had much to say about the marvelous beauty of Cave City Cave, and advised me to explore it. This I was very glad to do ... taking a trail... to the mouth of the cave, a small inconspicuous archway, mossy around the edges ... with no appreciable hint or advertisement of the grandeur of the many crystal chambers within. Lighting our candles, which seemed to have no illuminating power in the thick darkness, we groped our way onward as best we could along narrow lanes and alleys, from chamber to chamber, around rustic columns and heaps of fallen rocks, stopping to rest now and then in particularly beautiful places—fairy alcoves furnished with admirable variety of shelves and tables, and round mossy stools covered with sparkling crystals. Some of the corridors were muddy, and in plodding along these we seemed to be in the streets of some prairie village in springtime. Then we would come to handsome marble stairways conducting right and left into upper chambers ranged above one another three or four stories high, floors, ceilings, and walls lavishly decorated with innumerable crystalline forms. After thus wandering exploring, and alone for a mile or so, fairly enchanted ... a charming little lake of unknown depth, never yet stirred by a breeze ... its eternal calm excites the imagination even more profoundly than the silvery of the glaciers rimmed with meadows and snow and reflecting sublime mountains.

Our guide ... led us into the heart of the hill up and down, right and left, from chamber to chamber more and more magnificent, all aglitter like a with icicle-like and combined in forms of indescribable beauty. We were shown one large room that was occasionally used as a dancing hall, another which was used as a chapel, with natural pulpit and crosses and pews, sermons in every stone ....

It was delightful to witness here the infinite deliberation of Nature, and the simplicity of her methods in the production of such mighty results, such perfect repose combined with restless enthusiastic energy

The archways and ceilings were everywhere hung with down-growing crystals, like inverted groves of leafless saplings, some of them large, others delicately attenuated, each tipped with a single drop of water like the terminal bud of a pine tree. The only appreciable sounds were the dripping and tinkling of water falling into pools or faintly splashing on the crystal floor.

In some places the crystal decorations are arranged in graceful flowing folds deeply plicated like stiff silken drapery. In others straight lines of the ordinary forms are combined with reference to size and tone in a regularly graduated system like the strings of a harp with musical tones corresponding thereto: and on these

31 Cave Post Offices

stone harps we played by striking the crystal strings with a stick. The delicious liquid tones they gave forth seemed perfectly divine as they sweetly whispered and wavered through the majestic halls and died away in faintest cadence—the music of fairyland. Here we lingered and reveled, rejoicing to find so much music in stony silence, so much splendor in darkness, so many mansions in the depths of the mountains, buildings ever in process of construction, yet ever finished, developing from perfection to perfection, profusion without overabundance; every particle visible or invisible in glorious motion, marching to the music of the spheres in a region regarded as the abode of eternal stillness

When we emerged into the bright landscapes of the sun everything looked brighter, and we felt our faith in Nature's beauty strengthened, and saw more clearly that beauty is universal and immortal, above, beneath, on land and sea, mountain and plain, in heat and cold, light and darkness."

In 1910, "Mammoth Cave" closed and remained abandoned until 1980, when it was re- opened as California Cavern.

Cave Dale Post Office was 4% miles southwest of the Aqua Caliente Post Office and 7 miles west of the Glen Ellen Post Office (Figure 25).

CARD% /o

FOR AOORF.SS ONLY

Figure 25. Cave Dale, California, 4-bar killer.

REFERENCES Fnckstad,Wa.herN. A. Century of California Post Offices 1848-1954. Oakland, California: Philatelic Research Society; Pacific Rota Printing Co. 1955.

Gudde, Erwin Gustav. California Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary Berkeley: University of California Press. 1949.

Muir, John. The Mountains of California. The Century Co., New York. 1894.

32 California

Salley, Harold E. History of California Post Offices, 1849-1976: Includes Branches and Stations, Navy Numbered Branches, Highways and Railway Post Offices. La Mesa, California: Postal History Associates. 1977.

S alley, Harold E. History of California Post Offices, 1849-1990. Lake Grove, Oregon: The Depot. 1991.

Williams, John H. California Town Postmarks, 1849-1935. Volume 1. Louisville, Kentucky: Published for Western Cover Society by Leonard H. Hartmann. 1997.

33 Colorado Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Grotto 3/771881-3/21/1882 Jefferson

Grotto was located about 2 miles west of Medlen on Turkey Creek Road, one of the wagon routes from Denver to South Park. The location was SWA, Section 9, T6S, R70W on the south side of Turkey Creek. The first postmaster was William Crow.

There are no known postmarks from this post office.

REFERENCES Bauer, W.H., J. L. Ozment, and J. H. Willard. Colorado Postal History: The Post Offices.. The Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden, Colorado. 1990.

34 Georgia Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Blowing Cave 1855-1895 Decatur Cave 1890-1940 Bartow Cave Hill 1900 Washington Cave Springs) (30124) 1841-Open Floyd

Blowing Cave, also called Glory Hole or Willder Cave, is located in extreme southwest Georgia not far from the Florida and Alabama borders, and over time was in three different counties. Prior to 1825 the entire southwest corner of Georgia was Early County. In 1825, Early County was divided, and the southern part became Decatur County. A year later part of Decatur County was split, the eastern part becoming Thomas County. In 1905, Decatur and Thomas Counties were split again, and adjacent parts of each became Grady County. Since 1905, Blowing Cave has been in Grady County.

The Confederacy took over the post office on July 2, 1861, and it was discontinued for a short period during the war before being reopened in 1863.

An article from the Journal Magazine published on March 22, 1931, discussed "breathing caves" in Georgia. It stated, "One of the caves is 10 miles north of Whigham in Grady County. The cavern continuously inhales and exhales great puffs of air. Accompanying its breathing is a shrill whistling sound, and at certain periods of the day and night the whistling changes to a long, rumbling groan, as though a giant is struggling to break through the stone walls that pen him in. This phenomenon is due to slight changes in atmospheric pressure, and the whistling sound can be heard more than 30 feet away from the cave."

The letter with a manuscript cancel (Figure 26) was mailed to John W. Brooks, Esq., when Blowing Cave was part of Decatur County.

Floyd County, formed from part of Cherokee County in 1832, was Georgia's 82nd county and named for General John Floyd, a South Carolina Indian fighter and U.S. Congressman. Located 15 miles southwest of Rome, on Highway 411 South, is the city of Cave Spring, incorporated January 22, 1852. On November 9, 1859, Simeon Hamil 35 Cave Post Offices became the first postmaster and continued to serve until April 13,1869. On July 2, 1861, the Confederacy took over and operated the Cave Spring Post Office until December 20, 1865. Cave Spring Cave, a natural limestone cave and spring, located in Rolater Park just off the town square, gave the city its name. The post office opened in 1841, and is still operating. Examples of the Cave Spring postmark and cancellation are seen in Figures 27 and 28.

mf/%K/r jp /W

Figure 26. Blowing Cave, Georgia, manuscript cancel.

N& ^Jbae. \M- J&- >7fon£c*-

p -r ct.. /(A-*-*. C, rj,

Figure 27. Cave Spring, Georgia, octagonal postmark and cork cancel.

36 Georgia

Oi>t J* f"C/ #- /

Figure 28. Cave Spring, Georgia, manuscript cancel.

Cave, Georgia east of Rome was a stop on the Central Georgia Railway. The post office opened in 1890, and an example of a cancellation is seen in Figure 29. The city was named after the numerous caves found in Bartow County.

On August 27, 1898, J.D. Bristow completed the site survey for Cave Hill Post Office in Washington County, 11 miles east of Deepstep and 6 miles northeast of Linton. There are no known postmarks from this post office.

Figure 29. Cave, Georgia, Doane 4-bar killer with Number "1."

REFERENCES Krakow, Kenneth K. Georgia Place Names. Winship Press, Macon, Georgia. 1975.

Crown, Francis J. Jr. The Turbulent Decade - Georgia's Post Offices 1860-1869. Francis J. Crown Jr., Capshaw, Alabama. 2007.

37 Hawaii Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Anahola 1856-1869 Kauai Pukalani 1950-1961 Maui Waialua (96791) 1856-Open Oahu

Anahola ("Fish Poison Cave") was a boat landing site and small village on a river at the northern end of the Kawaihau District. Its first postmaster was Charles Griffiths. Unfortunately there are no known postmarks.

William Halliday found Waialua, when translated to English, means "Spring Cave." Waialua was a stop on the overland mail route. In the 1890s, the Waialua Post Office was located in a store with S.N. Emerson as postmaster, and in 1898 was moved to the railway station. Since then, the area has become a resort community (Figure 30).

The name Pukalani came from the Hawaiian words puka meaning hole, and lani which means in the sky, together creating Heavenly . The area is named for the many openings from the Haleakala Volcano (Figure 30).

Figure 30. Waialua, Oahu, double circle cancel and Pukalani, Hawaii, 4-bar killer, (both courtesy o/'Speleophilately International) REFERENCES Cahill, Emmet. Hawaiian Stamps: An Illustrated History. Volcano, Hawaii: Orchid Isle Publishers. 1994.

38 Illinois Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave 9/27/1847-3/26/1879 Franklin Rock and Cave 3/13/1832-10/24/1849 Hardin Cave-in-Rock (62919) 10/24/1849-Open Hardin Cave Valley 2/7/1893-7/20/1894 Jackson

Cave-in-Rock (previously known as Rock and Cave, Big Cave, Fords Ferry, and Robbins Ferry), is located in Hardin County on the north bank of the in southeastern Illinois and has a population of 450. Much history is associated with the village, mainly revolving around the cave from which the town got its name.

Charlevoix's History of New France printed the first documented mention of the cave in 1744. A map was drawn from data obtained by Martin Chartier who had come from France in 1729 to visit the area. Although once known as le caverne dans le roc, a hangout for river pirates and counterfeiters, it is now part of the Cave-in-Rock State Park.

In 1814, Lewis Barker bought the section of land where Cave-in-Rock is located. He planned to build a new road to the U.S. Saline Works that would connect with Barker's Ferry and the Kaskaskia Road. This road, which ran through Crittenden and Hardin Counties, Kentucky, would become Fords Ferry Road. In its early days it was the main road across this section of the country for pioneer settlers travelling from the Kentucky region to the east.

A plat map of Cave-in-Rock was recorded in 1839, but the village was not incorporated until 1901. Early records often refer to the town as Rock and Cave, yet in 1849, the post office changed the name to Cave-in-Rock (Figures 31 and 32). The village was in Pope County until 1839, when Hardin County was created from the counties of Pope and Gallatin. Some records before 1839 can still be found in the county court houses of Pope and Gallatin, although most records were destroyed when the Pope County courthouse burned in the Cave-in-Rock fire of 1884. Until the late 1870s, the main street of Cave- in-Rock was Water Street, which ran in front of the businesses facing the Ohio River. However, when the town burned, the businesses were rebuilt facing away from the river, and Water Street became Main Street, where the post office is still located.

39 Cave Post Offices

The town of Cave, now known as Thompsonville, was also a stop on the Illinois Central Railroad (Figure 33). The Thompsonville Post Office is still open.

The Cave Valley Post Office was located in Section 16, T10S, R2W, in Jackson County, 2% miles northeast from Ramona and 3 miles southeast from Etherton on Cave Creek. It was 200 feet from the Mobile and Ohio Railroad tracks. There are no known postmarks from this post office.

Figure 31. Cave in Rock, Illinois, manuscript cancel, (courtesy o/'Speleophilately International)

Figure 32. Cave In Rock, Illinois, CDS with target killers.

40 Illinois

Figure 33. Gzce, Illinois, manuscript postmark.

REFERENCES Adams, James N. Illinois Place Names. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Historical Society. 1969. Reprinted from Illinois Libraries, Vol. 50, Nos. 4, 5, 6 (April, May, June, 1968) with text and page numbering of the original publication retained. Illinois State Historical Society. Occasional Publications: No. 54.

Charlevoix, Francois-Xavier. Histoire et description generate de la Nouvelle-France. 3 Vols., 4to, and 6 vols., 12mo, Paris, 1744, with maps and plates. (English translation (2 Vols., 8vo, London, 1761 and London, 1763).

Mehrer, Jim. Illinois Post Offices: A Listing and Guide to Postmark Scarcity. Rock Island, Illinois: J. Mehrer. 1996.

Pre-1830Post Office Business: Excerptsfrom the Postmaster General Letter Books Pertaining to Illinois and Surrounding Areas, 1801-1829. Des Plaines, Illinois: Illinois Postal History Society. 1984.

41 Indiana Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Alum Cave 1/22/1884-1905 Clay/Sullivan Cave Spring 6/19/1854-8/15/1862 Decatur King's Cave 8/28/1870-7/10/1873 Harrison Spring Cave 7/18/1866-9/12/1866 Owen

Alum Cave Post Office was established in Clay County on January 22,1884, with Milton C. Dell as its first postmaster. The county boundaries eventually changed, and Alum Cave Post Office became part of Sullivan County. The post office was located AVi miles east of Hymira and 5 miles southeast of Coffee.

Cave Spring Post Office in Decatur County was established June 19,1854, with Edward A. Jocelyn as postmaster. There are no known postmarks.

On June 22, 1870, William H. Pfrimmer completed the site survey of King's Cave Post Office in Harrison County. It was established August 29, 1870, and would be on Mail Route 12108 between New Albany and Corydon, with Corydon 4 miles west and Lanesville 5 miles east. There are no known postmarks.

On June 4, 1866, James F. Nicholas, its only postmaster, completed the site survey for the Spring Cave Post Office. It was located on Mail Route 12105 between New Albany and Michigan City, and was established July 15, 1866, 4 miles northwest of Quincy and 4 miles south of Gosport. It was closed September 12,1866. There are no known postmarks.

REFERENCES Baker, J. David. The Postal History of Indiana Volumes 1-2. Louisville, Kentucky: Leonard H.Hartman. 1976.

Ross, V.A., and Art Hadley. Indiana Post Offices. Indian Postal History Society, Bloomington, Indiana. 1993.

42 Kansas Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave 1901-1914 Greene Cave Spring 1874-1878 Butler Cave Springs 1882-1903 Elk

These post offices were probably named after prominent geological features (Figures 34 and 35).

COBa.E.NASH

Figure 34. Cave, Kansas, 4-bar killer.

43 Cave Post Offices

ZS3 P>b£r&I>

r>-k. NOTHING BUTTHEADDRESSTO BE ON THIS SIDE, MK

T c/^C

Figure 35. Gzcg Springs, Kansas, CDS and cork cancel.

REFERENCES Rydjord, John. Kansas Place Names. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. 1972.

44 Kentucky Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave City (42147) 1860-Open Barren Cave Hill 1879-1926 Warren Cave Point 1892-1893 Franklin Cave Ridge 1916-1950 Metcalfe Cave Spring 1848-1851 Scott Cave Spring(s) 1880-1946 Logan Cave Springs Station 1869-1880 Logan Caverna 5/4/1869 - 12/22/1879 Hart Caverock 1908-1910 Knox Cave Run 1902-1913 Bath Caves 1857-1905 Carter Horse Cave(42749) 3/1/1860-Open Hart Mammoth Cave (42259) 1842-Open Edmonson Peter Cave 1878-1892 Martin Proctors Cave 1894-1906 Edmonson Russell Cave 1879-1900 Fayette Twin Cave 1900-1901 Meade Wind Cave 1902-1996 Jackson

Mammoth Cave is surrounded by a 52,369-acre national park that lies within Hart, Barren, and Edmonson Counties. The post office has served cave visitors since December 23,1842, when Archibald Miller was its first postmaster, and is still in operation today. It is located in the vicinity of the cave's Historic Entrance half a mile east of the , 3 miles north of , and 14 miles east of Brownsville. Figures 36 and 37 are examples from Mammoth Cave Post Office.

45 Cave Post Offices

*—-_

Figure 36. Mammoth Cave slogan Pitney Bowes Meter from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

a^tJ^X Zf^7" /?

g^^L^@%g^^

Figure 37. Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, manuscript postmark dated June 28 (1847).

In 1863 a slave, Jonathan Doyle, discovered a cave some 4% miles south of Mammoth Cave. It later acquired its name from the Proctor brothers, who were prominent area politicians and businessmen. The most notable brother, Larkin J. Proctor, an attorney and legislator, operated the Mammoth Cave concession area for visitors just before and after the Civil War. His nephew, John R. Proctor, was the Kentucky State Geologist in the late 19th century. From March 23,1894, through March 1906, William L. Hawkins operated the Proctors Cave Post Office on Kentucky Route 70 just north of then Mammoth Cave Railroad tracks (Figure 38).

46 Kentucky

Figure 38. Proctors Cave, Kentucky, CDS. Cave City Post Office (Figure 39) is located in Barren County at the junction of U.S. 31 West and Kentucky Route 70, 7 miles north of Glasgow, and about 15 miles from Mammoth Cave. In 1853, the Knob City Land Company of Louisville acquired the site from Thomas T. Duke, with plans for a resort to profit from its proximity to Mammoth Cave. The tract was surveyed and laid off into town lots. On June 12, 1860, Beverly Curd, the storekeeper and postmaster of the Woodland General Store and Post Office (established in 18 50), moved its location to Knob City. The town was later renamed Cave City—either for the many caves in the area, or for the one large cave within the future city limits—and was incorporated in 1866. Two of the most popular tourist caves are Crystal Onyx Cave and Onyx Cave.

fc one

Figure 39. Cave City, Kentucky, postmark and > ipt cancel.

47 Cave Post Offices

Horse Cave lies at the junction of U.S. 31 West and Kentucky Route 218 in Hart County, 5 miles south of Munfordville. Horse Cave got its name from the time when outlaws hid their horses in the huge entrance of Hidden River Cave. Major Albert Anderson of Barren County established the town in the 1840s, and later, in 1858, donated land for the Louisville and Nashville depots. Major Anderson's deed to the railroad carried one restriction: the name of the station must always be Horse Cave. The post office was established March 1, 1860, with William J. Band as postmaster, and the town was incorporated in 1864 (Figure 40).

Figure 40. Horse Cave, Kentucky, precancel and Horse Cave, Kentucky, ovate bar duplex with number "I.

This was the time when the "Great Cave Wars" were beginning, as Mammoth, Crystal, Onyx, Hidden River, and several other caves were all attempting to capture the tourist market. All types of descriptive adjectives were used to lure the unsophisticated tourist to the caves: "the largest," "the best," "the longest," "the most beautiful," "satisfaction guaranteed," "greater than Mammoth Cave," and so on. Tourist income at the caves was hundreds of dollars, which meant economic growth and stability for the towns.

On May 4, 1869, local residents changed the name of Horse Cave to Caverna in an attempt to form the new county of Caverna, with their town as the county seat (Figure 41). Once the town had officially changed its name, the citizens attempted unsuccessfully to convince the railroad to change the name of its station. In 1879, the residents took a referendum to the state legislature to create a new county; however, their effort was again soundly defeated due to the lobbying efforts of adjacent counties. Faced with defeat in both the Kentucky Legislature and at the hands of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, the residents of Caverna changed the name of their post office and town back to Horse Cave. Caverna, however, has been preserved in the name of the independent school district shared with neighboring Cave City.

48 Kentucky

Wind Cave Post Office was near the fork of the Lick Branch of the War Fork of Station Camp Creek, 6Vi miles northeast of McKee in Jackson County. Established by Godfrey P. Issacs on April 14,1902, it was named for a local limestone cave whose entrance was 50 to 60 feet high. "It is as impressive as anything you would find in Mammoth Cave. A cool breeze comes out of there because warm air goes into the top of the thing and then cool air comes out the bottom, down next to the ground" said a local resident in 1902. The post office closed in 1996 (Figure 42).

Figure 42. Wind Cave, Kentucky, 4-bar killers and a spelling error "WIMD"in the town name.

Cave Ridge contains part of the Fisher Ridge Cave System which, at 113 miles, is the seventh longest cave system in the world. Cave Ridge Post Office was located in Metcalfe County, off Interstate 64, just east of Cave City. It was open from 1916 to 1950 (Figure 43).

Cave Run Post Office was on the mail route from Salt Lick to Yale, located on the Bank of the Licking River about 30 feet from the Licking River Railway Ragland Depot. Creath

49 Cave Post Offices

Evans was appointed the first postmaster on February 27, 1902.

Figure 43. Cave Ridge, Kentucky, 4-Bar killer.

Caves Post Office was located on Mail Route 29136, 6 miles northwest from Carter and 3 miles southeast from the K & F Branch of the C & O Railroad. In May 1898, the town was also briefly known as Carter Caves.

Caverock Post Office was located on the west side of Stinking Creek on Mail Route 29584 about 3 miles southwest of Walker and 3% miles northeast of Flat Lick.

Peter Cave Post Office was located on Peter Cave Road about 7 miles north of Inez and 7 miles east of Peach Orchard. On May 26, 1883, R.H. Cassel was named postmaster.

From April 23, 1900 to January 1, 1901, Twin Cave Post Office mail was dropped off at

Bttnm to &. M. FHASEK, /} ,<

If not delivered within 5 days, '

1 \

^

Figure 44. Russell Cave, Kentucky, postmark and target killer dated December 21, 1882. 50 Kentucky the Twin Caves Station of the Illinois Central Railroad. The town of West Point was 4 miles to the northeast.

On October 1, 1915, Millie Thompson filed a post office site survey and stated that Cave Hill Post Office was on Mail Route 29941. The town of Gasper was 7 miles to the southwest.

Cave Springs in Logan County was an unincorporated location southwest of Russellville on Route 79 and Route 1151 (Figure 45).

The author has no information on the towns Cave Spring in Scott County and Russell Cave near Lexington (Figures 44 and 46).

Figure 45. Cave Spring, Logan County, Kentucky, 4-bar killer.

J

Figure 46. Cave Spring, Scott County, Kentucky, PMd»%«77,iptpostmark.

51 Cave Post Offices

There are no known postmarks from Cave Run, Caves, Caverock, Peter Cave, Twin Cave, or Cave Hill Post Offices.

REFERENCES Lera, Thomas. 2001. NSS 2001 Convention Guidebook "Kentucky 'Cave' Post Offices": 4-6

Rennick, Robert M. Kentucky Place Names. Lexington, University Press of Kentucky. 1984.

Rennick, Robert M. 1991. "The Post Offices of Edmonson County, Kentucky." La Posta vol. 129:32-9.

Rennick, Robert M. Kentucky's Bluegrass: A Survey of the Post Office. Lake Grove, Oregon: The Depot. 1993.

Patera, Alan H., and John S. Gallagher, v^ Checklist of Kentucky Post Offices. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot, 1989.

52 Maryland Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cavetown (21720) 1815-Open Washington The Caves 1878-1879 Baltimore

In 1748, Joseph Spangenberg wrote in one of the Moravian Diaries, "On July 12th they passed over the South Mountain and came on the same day to the Canigotschik, where they inspected a remarkable cave, which passed through the earth for 300 yards. In its opening 1,000 people can stand, and then it separates into two branches."

Cavetown, a little village nestled at the foot of South Mountain, derived its name in 1815 from a large natural cavern on the edge of the town, popularly known as Bishops Cave. The town is celebrated for its romantic, picturesque location, and healthy atmosphere. Bishops Cave itself was located about 300 yards east of the town. The mouth of the cave was 58 feet wide, but the entrance, covered by an arch-like ceiling, was only about 6 feet high. The cave's height ranged between 15 and 20 feet and its total length was 360 feet, with the first of several chambers measuring about 140 feet long and nearly the same in width. Two additional passages terminated in a small, crystal-clear, icy lake. From July 4th to 6th, 1823, James Camper illuminated the cave, and local residents visited this natural wonder for the fee of HVi't. By 1912, however, the adjacent quarry had made the cave unsafe, and, by 1920, it was closed (Figure 47).

On April 5, 1878, John Bowen completed the site survey for The Caves Post Office, located near Mail Route 10018 between Baltimore and Lake Roland. The post office was 3 miles north of Stevenson Station. There are no known postmarks.

Figure 47. Cavetown, Maryland, CDS with target killer and DoaneNumber "3." 53 Cave Post Offices REFERENCES Hinke, William J., and Charles E. Kemper. "Moravian Diaries of Travels through Virginia." The Virginia Magazine of History andBiography. Vol. 11, No. 3 (Jan., 1904): 236.

Scharf, J. Thomas. History of Western Maryland Vol. II. Baltimore Regional Publishing Company. 1969.

54 Mississippi Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cuevas 1/19/1893-4/30/1956 Harrison Cuevas Rural Station 5/1/1956-4/13/1973 Harrison of Pass Christian

The Holy Office of the Catholic Church of Spain identified Cuevas as a Spanish Sephardic (Jewish) family surname meaning cave. Cuevas is named after Juan Jose de Cuevas who discovered Cat Island. There are no caves found in or around Cuevas, Harrison County. The author has retained the town in this publication as the word means cave, but true speleophilatelists may want to exclude it (Figure 48).

Figure 48. Cuevas, Mississippi, 4-bar kille.

REFERENCES Helbock, Richard W. United States Post Offices Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 2005. Volume 7 - The Lower Mississippi States.

55 Missouri Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Pump 1854-1861,1867-1890 Camden Caverna 1876-1906 McDonald Cave Spring (1) 1834-Unknown Crawford Cave Spring (2) Unknown- 1844 Pulaski Cave Spring (3) 1844-1867 Wright Cave Spring (4) 1871 - 1907 Greene Cave Station St Louis, Mo. 1900 - 1905 Saint Louis Marvel Cave Park 1980-1987 Stone Meramec Caverns Rural 1956 Franklin Station of Stanton, Mo.

Cave Spring (4), now referred to as Willard, on State Highway 126, is named after the Fulbright Spring and Cave, a water supply source for the Missouri Water Company. The post office was open from 1871 to 1907; the postmark shown is dated October 14, 1884 (Figure 49).

Figure 49. Cave Spring, Green County, Missouri, CDS with target killer.

56 Missouri

Caverna, a town on Highway 71 named after the numerous caves in the area, is famous for Truitts Cave with its underground cafe (Figure 50).

Figure 50. Caverna, Missouri, CDS with target killer.

Marvel Cave Park is a National Natural Landmark on top of Roark Mountain near Branson. The cave was known by the Osage Indians in the early 1500s, after a tribe member fell through the cave's main entrance, a sinkhole. Marvel Cave is known for being one of the largest caves in Missouri, having one of the largest cave entry rooms (the Cathedral Room) of any cave in North America, and for being one of the longest running tourist attractions in the Ozarks (Figure 51).

flfA

- \A Fiunm of co«4

Figure 51. Marvel Cave Park, Missouri, and Meramec Caverns Rural Station 4-bar killers3

Meramec Caverns is a commercial cave in the Ozarks, near Stanton (Figure 51).

Cave Station, a branch of the Saint Louis Post Office, was open from 1900 to 1905. Originally Station #8, it later became Station #37 located at 2348 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri (Figure 52).

The author has no information about the town of Cave Spring (2) in Wright County, however an example of the manuscript cancel is shown in Figure 53.

57 Cave Post Offices

, st loui^j

% 1

^oo/^ 1138

Figure 52. C?f e Station, St. Louis, Missouri, registration handstamp.

5 T J ' t^ - ; ^7

H

Figure 53. Cave Spring, Wright County, Missouri, manuscript cancel.

There are no known postmarks from Cave Pump, Cave Spring (1), and Cave Spring (2).

REFERENCES Helbock, Richard W. United States Post Offices Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 2005. Volume 7 - The Lower Mississippi States.

58 Montana Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cavern 3/29/1909-1/31/1936 Jefferson Cavetown 4/2/1878-11/9/1880 Broadwater

Cavern Post Office (Figure 54) served the area of what is now Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, with Eugene Woodward as the first postmaster. Hidden in the white limestone cliffs above the Jefferson River, 15 miles southwest of Three Forks and 10 miles east of Whitehall, are two dark holes that are gateways to an underground world of multi-tiered columns, frozen waterfalls, and rock icicles. In 1805 and 1806, Lewis and Clark passed along the river below the caverns, unaware of their existence, as were the fur trappers, miners, emigrants, and railroad builders who later traveled the same river.

One cold November day in 1892, two men hunting near the cave noticed a spot barren of snow, though the rest of the area was covered. They became curious, investigated, and discovered a hole opening into the rock. One of the hunters, Tom Williams, returned with friends six years after the discovery to explore the cave. Wondering about the possibility of developing the caverns, they approached Dan Morrison, a local miner and investor.

JAH

1936 P. Art

Figure 54. Cavern, Montana, 4-bar killer.

Morrison ended up opening the cavern to the public. He named it "Limespur Cave" and began to build a 2,000-step wooden staircase inside, which included the now-famous spiral staircase. In 1901, he launched an intensive publicity campaign, touting the cave as

59 Cave Post Offices a rival to Mammoth and Wind Caves, but its success backfired.

News of the caverns, which had become popularly known as Morrison Caves, reached the office of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Upon investigation, railroad officials believed the government had granted them Morrison's land, took him to court in 1908, and won the suit. The railroad immediately gave the land back to the U.S. government which made it into to a national monument and renamed the cave "Lewis and Clark Caverns." Unfortunately, the National Park Service had no money to run the property and the caverns were soon closed to the public. Dan Morrison continued to petition the government for permission to guide people through the cave, and, when his requests were repeatedly denied, began to arrange tours, hire guides, and collect fees on his own.

The conflict between Morrison and the federal government continued until Morrison's death in 1932, by which time the government had decided the caverns were more trouble than they were worth, and officially transferred the land to the state park system. In 1937, Lewis and Clark Caverns became Montana's first state park.

Cavetown Post Office was 11 miles northeast of East Helena on Canyon Ferry Road and on the east side of Canyon Ferry Lake near Chinaman Cove and Cave Bay. The town was first in Meagher County and later in Broadwater County (Figure 55).

Figure 55. Cavetown, Meager County Montana Territory, postmark, (courtesy o/'Speleophilately International)

60 Montana REFERENCES Lutz, Dennis. 1976. Montana Post Offices: 1864-1974. Havre, Montana. Montana Postal History Society. Photocopy. Reprinted from Montana Postal Cache, February 1975 - November 1975.

Meschter, Daniel Y. The Postal History of Montana through June 30, 1870. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 1989.

Helbock, Richard W. A Checklist of Montana Post Offices 1864-1988. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publication. 1985.

61 Nevada Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Creek (Ranch PO) 11/5/1887-4/30/1929 Elko Cave Valley (Ranch PO) 6/24/1926-2/15/1933 Lincoln

The Cave Creek Ranch Post Office (Figure 56) was established on November 5, 1887. The ranch, owned by Thomas Short, was situated at the south end of Ruby Valley. The ranch name is from an icy cold river which cut its way through the cave.

Mailing Office, on date when mailed.

Figure 56. Cave Creek, Nevada. U.S. Post Office Department registered package left the post office on August 8, 1909. The Record of Transit shows it was received on August 10th in Palisade from Clerk Frank P. Costello on the Ogden and San Francisco Train #3, and delivered to the postmaster at Eureka on August 11th. The handstamp is a Doane - Type 3bfwith a Number "2."

The ranch post office was discontinued April 30, 1929, and relocated in Ruby Valley proper. The Cave Creek Ranch and nearby marshlands were later sold to the government,

62 Nevada establishing the Ruby Lake Migratory Water Fowl and Game Refuge, now known as the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

The Cave Creek School, which served Southern Ruby Valley until the 1970s, still stands.

The George M. Wheeler Survey, made between 1869 and 1873, named the area east of the South Egan Range in Lincoln County Cave Valley. During the same period, George Washington Bean led an exploration through the valley and included a description of the caves in his report to Brigham Young. "The main cave is one-half mile in length and varying in breath from 5 to 60 feet. The smaller caves or branches are from 10 feet to 100 yards in length, 10 to 25 feet wide, and are 7 to 25 feet high."

The Cave Valley Post Office was established on a ranch in the valley in 1926 and was discontinued in 1933 (Figure 57).

Figure 57. Cave Valley, Nevada, 4-bar killer, (courtesy o/'Speleophilately International)

REFERENCES Carlson, Helen S. Nevada Place Names. University of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada. 1974.

Frickstad, Walter N., and Edward D. Thrall, with the collaboration of Ernest G. Meyers. v4 Century of Nevada Post Offices 1852-1957. Oakland, California: Philatelic Research Society. 1958.

Harris, Robert P. Nevada Postal History, 1861-1972. Santa Cruz, California: Bonanza Press. 1973.

63 New Mexico Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County La Cueva 1868-1961 Mora

In the early 1800s, Vicente Romero began ranching and farming in the area of Mora County. A post office was established in the nearby town of La Cueva, which is situated in the Organ Mountains along the Mora River. The actual "cueva" or cave is a volcanic rock outcropping named for a 10-foot-tall cave at its southeast end. Excavations have revealed it was inhabited as long ago as 5000 BC, most likely as a shelter from rain storms for early hunters in pursuit of rabbit, antelope, deer, and bighorn sheep. The Bureau of Land Management currently maintains the La Cueva National Historical Site. The postmark shown below is a territorial postmark, dated July 28, 1869, before New Mexico became part of the United States in 1912 (Figure 58).

9: ?

Figure 58. La Cueva, New Mexico, manuscript postmark.

64 New Mexico REFERENCES Helbock, Richard W. Post Offices of New Mexico. Las Cruces, New Mexico. 1981.

Helbock, Richard W. A Checklist of New Mexico Post Offices, 1849-1988. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 1989.

Julyan, Robert Hixson. Place Names of New Mexico. Albuquerque, New Mexico: University of New Mexico. 1996.

65 New York Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Grotto 1882-1902 Tompkins Howe (s)(s) Cave (12092) 1867 - Open Schoharie Natural Bridge (13665) 1829-Open Jefferson

The one of largest and most celebrated caves in the northeastern United States is Howe Caverns, located in Schoharie County. Known to the Iroquois and Seneca Indians as Otsgaragee, or Cave of the Great Galleries, it was not commercialized until after Lester Howe explored it in 1842. Opened first as a local curiosity, it later achieved fame when a hotel was built nearby and its owner conducted weddings and dances within the cave. Economic problems eventually caused the cave to close, and subsequent quarrying of the limestone removed part of its original entrance. In 1929, a group of local businessmen dropped an elevator shaft into the area which was originally part of the rear of the cave. This portion is still visited today, and includes a stream passage with many formations,; an underground lake with boat rides; and long, winding, walking passages.

The post office, still in operation today, was opened in 1867, with Washington D. Zimmer as the first postmaster. Several cancellation types are known to have been used, with examples below. The most interesting feature in these examples is the differences, or errors, in the post office name. Type One (Figure 16) is HOWS CAVE, a single circle date stamp with target killer. Type Two (Figure 59) is HOWE CAVE, a steel duplex Type D-l postmark used from 1893 to 1924, when Mr. Judson Eckerson was the Postmaster.

Type Three (Figure 59) is HOWES CAVE, a 4-bar killer Type A subtype A/3 postmark. It has been used from 1924, when Ernest J. Bellinger was postmaster, to the present. Type Four (Figure 60) with spelling error HOWES GAVE is another 4-bar killer postmark. Type Five (Figure 61), HOWE'S CAVE, a double outer/single circle date stamp with target cancel, was used from 1867 to 1893. The last example (Figure 62) is Howe Cave, N.Y. REC'D (Receivingpostmark).

Examples of cancellations are shown below for Natural Bridge, which opened September 12, 1829, with Charles R. Knight as its first postmaster. Natural Bridge Caverns is a unique area named for a natural bridge formed by the geological occurrence of Indian

66 New York

River's disappearance and reappearance through a limestone cavern (Figure 63).

Figure 59. Type Two, Howe Cave, New York, CDS with ovate bar duplex and Type Three, Howes Cave, New York, 4-bar killer.

USA 19

Figure 60. Type Tour, H wes Gave, New York, 4-bar killer.

v

iTHEOhW*J^

Figure 61. Type Five, Howe's Cave, New York, double circle cancel.

Natural Bridge also has several different types of "precancels" (Figure 64). PSS 473, issued May 1927, is a 25-subject rubber hand stamp with lines and condensed block upper and lowercase letters of 3 mm lines 12 mm apart.

67 Cave Post Offices

Figure 62. Howe Cave, New York, receiving postmark.

Figure 63. Natural Bridge, New York, double circle with 6-bar killer.

PSS 705, issued in the summer of 1932, is a wide hand electro stamp with condensed font, wide spaces between letters in 2% mm blocked capital letters, and 1 mm between town name and state abbreviation.

Natural Bridge NY

Figure 64. J\&aW.Bn%, Mw W, /,n%%««6 (%S 473, f&S 7&S 4»;/f&S &#j.

68 New York

PSS 843, issued June 1973, was a new vinyl hand stamp with lines, no punctuation, 2% mm blocked with upper and lower case letters used, and a two-letter state abbreviation.

There are no known postmarks from Grotto Post Office, which was located 5 miles northwest from West Groton and 5 miles west of the Southern Central Railroad Peru Station.

REFERENCES Kay, John L., and Chester M. Smith, Jr. New York Postal History: The Post Offices and First Postmasters from 1775 to 1980. State College, Pennsylvania: American Philatelic Society. 1982.

Kaiser, Louis W. A Checklist of the Post Offices of New York State to 1850: With the Names of the First Postmasters. Ithaca, New York: L.W. Kaiser. 1965.

69 North Carolina Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Bat Cave (28710) 12/22/1879-Open Henderson Grotto 3/3/1893-3/31/1905 Moore

Bat Cave Preserve is a designated 93-acre National Natural Landmark near the community of Bat Cave in Henderson County.

The Bat Cave system consists of ten passable and several impassible entrances that lead into a complex underground network. The main chamber is a dark cathedral more than 300 feet long and approximately 85 feet high. Fissure caves like this system are formed by rock splits, boulder movements, and other motions of the earth, while most other caves are formed by water abrading and dissolving rock. A survey in 1984 measured the total length of the passageways at 5,560 feet, making Bat Cave system the second longest known granite fissure cave in the world, and the longest granite cave in North America.

One of The Nature Conservancy's goals in managing this preserve is to reestablish the critically endangered Indiana bat to its former habitat. The cave itself is closed to public visitation at all times, while the preserve is closed from October to mid-April, in an effort to allow the bats to hibernate undisturbed, retaining the stored energy they need to survive the winter.

The Bat Cave Post Office was first located in Rutherford County with Louisa J. Duvall as post mistress, then in Henderson County when county boundaries changed (Figure 65).

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Figure 65. Bat Cave, North Carolina, CDS with target cancel, precancel, andDoane type-2B.

70 North Carolina

Grotto was located 8/4 miles from Broadway, 6 miles from Lumley, and half a mile east of Mail Route 18363. There are no known postmarks. A site survey completed by Judson C. Thomas on January 25, 1893, stated that mail was carried twice a week on Mail Route 18363 from Broadway to Lumley.

REFERENCES Helbock, Richard W. United States Post Offices. Lake Oswego, Oregon; La Posta Publications. 1999. Volume VI- The Mid-Atlantic States.

71 Ohio Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Ash Cave 6/26/1857-7/19/1866 Hocking

The land that is now Hocking Hills State Park has been traveled and inhabited by American Indians almost continuously for centuries, beginning with the Adena 7,000 years ago, extending to the Wyandot, Delaware, and Shawnee in the 1700s. Over the years, their cooking fires left behind a bed of ash 100 feet long and 6 feet deep in one cave. Early settlers first discovered what they later named Ash Cave in the late 1700s. In the 1830s, a powder mill was built within the park near Rockhouse and a gristmill at Cedar Falls. By the early 1900s, Rockhouse had both a hotel and post office, and Ash Cave had become a popular gathering place for churchgoers whose preachers used the large rock near the entrance as a pulpit. In 1924, the state of Ohio purchased the first parcel of 146 acres of what would later become the Hocking Hills State Park, which included Ash Cave. There are no known postmarks from the Ash Cave Post Office.

REFERENCES Gallagher, John S., and Patera, Alan H. The Post Offices of Ohio. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot. 1979.

72 Oregon Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Junction (97523) 1936-Open Josephine Cave Junction Oregon 4/1/1956-9/1/1977 Josephine Caves Rural Station Cave Junction Takilma 9/2/1958-9/15/1967 Josephine Rural Station Cave Junction Holland 9/1/1958-12/1/1960 Josephine Rural Station Cave Junction Kerby Rural 9/1/1958 - Open in summer Josephine Station Oregon Caves 1924-1956 Josephine

Cave Junction is a scenic town of about 1,225 residents located just north of California off Highway 199, approximately 30 miles southwest of Grants Pass. It is considered the "Home of the Oregon Caves," which are located about 20 miles southeast of the town off Highway 46. It serves as a home base for visitors from around the world, many of whom travel to the Illinois Valley specifically to see the caves.

Oregon Caves National Monument was founded in 1874 when Elijah Davidson was chasing his dog Bruno, who in turn was pursuing a bear. The dog followed the bear into a dark hole high on the mountainside, but Davidson stopped at the entrance. He could see nothing, but ventured into the mysterious, pitch dark cave to save his dog when he heard an agonizing howl. Without light or match, he was able to wade down a gurgling, ice-cold stream and eventually find his way back into daylight, Bruno at his heels.

Later, others explored deeper into the cave, returning home to tell of its great beauty and mystery. In 1907, a party of influential men visited the cave, including Joaquin Miller, the "poet of the Sierras." Charmed by it, Miller wrote of the "Marble Halls of Oregon." The ensuing publicity alerted federal officials to the possibility of preserving the cave, and, in 1909 President William Howard Taft proclaimed a tract of 480 acres as Oregon Caves National Monument. It took until 1922 for an automobile road to reach the park, and another 12 years before a six-story hotel, the Chateau, was constructed. The very same

73 Cave Post Offices year, 1934, Oregon Caves National Monument was transferred from the USD A Forest Service to the National Park Service, which still administers it.

Workers blasted and widened passages in the cave during the 1930s, putting waste rocks in side passages, covering many limestone formations. Changes in airflow patterns altered the growth of formations, caused greater swings in temperature, and freezing water cracked rock layers. Lights in the cave promoted the growth of algae, turning areas of the cave green, while smoke from torches blackened other portions.

Since 1985, the National Park Service has removed more than a thousand tons of rubble in its effort to restore the cave. Transformers, asphalt trails, and cabins were removed to prevent sewage or oils from leaking into the cave from the surface. Thousands of formations previously buried under rubble were uncovered, and some that were broken have been repaired with epoxy and powdered marble. Airlocks have restored natural cave winds by blocking airflow in artificial tunnels. Not everything has been, nor can be, restored; however, one can now see a much-renewed cave.

Cave Junction Post Office was established in 1936 and is still in operation (Figures 66 and 67). There have been four rural stations of Cave Junction. Oregon Cave Rural Station was established April 1, 1956, as a summer month (June-September) post office, and was discontinued on September 1, 1977. Holland Rural Station, named after pioneer James E. Holland, existed from September 1,1958 to December 1, I960, and was located 7 miles east of Cave Junction. Takilma Rural Station was named for the Takilma Indians and was located on the east fork of the Illinois River from September 1, 1958, to September 16, 1967. Kerby Rural Station was opened on July 1, 1965, and is the only rural station still in operation (Figure 68).

USA SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT

Figure 66. OnAprillO, 1996, the U.S. Post Office issued a postal envelope with the "Save Our Environment Stamp" The stamp depicts a 600feet south of Hug Point, and nearby Palls Creek Palls off Highway 101 near Cannon Beach. Phis example shown has a Cave Junction, Oregon, 4-bar killer.

Oregon Caves Post Office was established July 30,1924, with George C. Sabin as its first postmaster, and was discontinued March 31, 1956, with mail rerouted to Cave Junction. It used a variety of postmarks including a Type "D" 4-bar killer (Figure 69).

74 Oregon

M4 A PUBLIC THAT R^v „ , ~ - - - - -_—_/*

Figure 67. Cave Junction, Oregon, precancels (PSS 843 andPSS 704).

g WASHINGTON ZE

\2m % 1958 _

Figure 68. Cave Junction, Oregon, Rural Stations 4-bar killers. (Kerby courtesy o/'Speleophilately International)

Figure 69. Oregon Caves, Oregon, 4-bar killer.

75 Cave Post Offices

REFERENCES Helbock, Richard W. Oregon Post Offices 1847-1982. Las Cruces, New Mexico: La Posta. 1982.

76 Pennsylvania Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Hunter's Cave 2/1/1850-11/1/1872 Greene Hunter's Cave 7/13/1886-12/1/1894 Greene Hunters Cave 12/1/1894-3/15/1904 Greene Penn Cave 9/5/1892-12/1/1895 Centre Penncave 12/1/1895-6/31/1903 Centre

Hunter's Cave Post Office was established February 1, 1850, with William Paul as Postmaster. Service was suspended on October 1, 1872, and mail was delivered through Waynesburgh until July 13, 1886, when it was re-established with Simon C. Cowin as postmaster. On December 1, 1894, the apostrophe was dropped, altering the name to Hunters Cave with Willian H. Orndorff as postmaster. On March 15, 1904, service was once again discontinued with mail rerouted to Rutan, and eventually to Holbrook. Mr. John L. Kay, secretary of the Pennsylvania Postal History Society, reported, "in checking two histories of Greene County, the town was called Hopewell until they applied for the establishment of a post office and were told there already was a Hopewell Post Office in Pennsylvania. Hunter's Cave was their second choice" (Figure 70).

Figure 70. Hunters Cave, Pennsylvania, manuscript cancel.

77 Cave Post Offices

Penns Cave is located near Centre, Pennsylvania, in the farmland of the northern Nittany Valley, named for Princess Nittanee. According to legend, the princess fell in love with Malachi Boyer, and her seven brothers forced him to flee when they discovered this love. Boyer was captured by the angry braves and thrown into the sinkhole at Penns Cave to die. His cries of "Nitanee, Nitanee" resounded throughout the cavern, and after a week, exhausted from his efforts, he crawled into one of the furthermost recesses of the cavern and died. Later, the seven brothers weighted the body with stones and dropped it into the deepest water of the cavern.

The first recorded exploration of the cave was in 1795 by the Reverend James Martin, the first Presbyterian minister of Penns Valley. Penns Cave and Hotel, opened to the public in 1885, was advertised as "America's only all water cavern tour." Penn Cave Post Office was established September 5, 1892, with Jesse Long as postmaster. Its name was condensed into Penncave on December 1, 1895, and it was discontinued on June 31, 1903. In 1908, the Campbell family purchased the property at auction and it still remains in their hands. There are no known postmarks from Penn Cave (Penncave) Post Office.

REFERENCES Kay, John L., and Chester M. Smith, Jr. Pennsylvania Postal History: The Post Offices and First Postmasters from 1775 to 1994. Lincoln, Massachusetts: Quarterman Publications, Inc. 1995.

Personal Communication from Bob McKain on August 14,2001 regarding Pennsylvania post offices.

78 South Carolina Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave 1899-1916 Allendale

On October 4, 1982, Joseph Thomas proposed a post office be located in Great Cypress Township at the Cave railroad station, a stop on the Carolina Midland Railway and extension of the Southern Railroad about 6 miles west of Appleton. There are no known Cave Post Office postmarks.

79 South Dakota Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Hills 7/15/1889-6/29/1894 Harding Wind Cave 10/18/1892-12/8/1893 Fall River Wind Cave 1/3/1893-11/30/1908 Custer Windcave 12/1/1895-10/15/1908 Custer

Wind Cave was discovered in 1881 when brothers Jesse and Tom Bingham heard a loud whistling noise coming from a small hole in the ground. A wind, created by differences between atmospheric pressures in and outside the cave, was said to be blowing with such force out of the hole that it knocked off Jesse's hat.

It was left to later adventurers like Alvin McDonald to follow this wind through the cave's extensive network of passageways containing , popcorn, , chocolate- colored crystals, formations resembling faces and animals, and chambers that inspired names such as the Garden of Eden and the Dungeon. One of the most prominent features in Wind Cave is thin, honeycomb-shaped structures of calcite that protrude from the walls and ceilings (Figure 71).

There are no known examples of the Cave Hills Post Office.

Figure 71. Wind Cave, South Dakota, CDS with target killer and Wind Cave, South Dakota, CDS.

80 South Dakota REFERENCES Patera, Alan H., John S. Gallagher, and Kenneth W. Stach. South Dakota Post Offices. Lake Grove, Oregon: The Depot. 1990.

Helbock, Richard W. A Checklist of South Dakota Post Offices 1850-1994. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publication. 1994.

Patera, Alan H., and John S. Gallagher. A Checklist of South Dakota Post Offices. Lake Oswego, Oregon: The Depot. 1986.

81 Tennessee Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Bone Cave 3/9/1866-1978 Van Buren Cave 12/21/1848-11/30/1901 White Cave 1/1/1902-9/30/1925 White Cave Bluff 2/1/1899-10/15/1900 Unicoi Cave Creek 9/2/1873-12/1/1875 Roane Cave Creek 6/27/1879-11/14/1903 Roane Cave Hill 10/8/1831 - 5/16/1845 Greene Cave Mills 6/12/1827-10/28/1828 Warren Cave Mills 2/19/1877-10/20/1896 Dickson Cave Point 5/23/1898 - 3/31/1905 Macon Cave Spring 5/7/1832-1/19/1844 Maury Cave Spring 8/10/1846-2/8/1849 Maury Cave Spring 7/6/1855-1/25/1884 Carter

Tennessee town name information is limited. Most of the names were derived from nearby natural features, like cave spring and cave point, or man-made features like cave mills. However, detailed information on all of the postmasters can be found in Tennessee Post Offices and Postmaster Appointments 1789 - 1984, compiled by D.R. Fraizer in 1986. The following is a listing in brief of the post offices and their first postmasters.

Bone Cave Post Office in Van Buren County was opened on March 9, 1866, with James Sparkman as postmaster and was discontinued on October 31, 1978. Named after the 3-mile4ong Big Bone Cave one of the best4cnown and most historic caverns in Tennessee. It was the center of extensive saltpeter mining operations during the War of 1812, when as many as 300 men at a time dragged sacks of nitrous earth from deep inside the cave to the leaching vats near the entrance. Mining was renewed during the Civil War, and the vats, tramways, and ladders, in an excellent state of preservation, can still be seen in the cave (Figure 72).

Cave in White County opened on December 21, 1848, with William Anderson as

82 Tennessee postmaster and closed on November 30,1901. It reopened on January 1,1902, with Edna P. Taylor as postmaster and was once again discontinued on September 30, 1925, with mail being sent to Doyle, which is still operating (Figure 72).

17 ?L A.M. i- 1932 /— S'f isa Figure 72. iWe Ckw, Tennessee, 4-bar killer and Cave, Tennessee, manuscript cancel.

Cave BlufFin Unicoi County was opened on February 1, 1899, and discontinued on October 15, 1900, with MaryJ. McNabb as its only postmaster.

Cave Creek in Roane County opened on September 2, 1873, with Samuel E. Harvey as first postmaster and was discontinued on December 1,1875. It was reopened on June 27, 1879, with John W Littleton postmaster and discontinued permanently on November 14, 1903. The town and creek were named after a stream that flowed from a nearby cave.

Cave Hill in Greene County was opened on October 8, 1831, with Cain Broyles as postmaster, and was discontinued on May 16, 1845.

Cave Mills in Warren County opened on June 12, 1827, with Ralph Matthews as postmaster, and closed on October 28, 1828. After county boundaries changed, Cave Mills in Dickson County reopened February 19, 1877, with William J. Norris as postmaster and, on October 20, 1896, the mail delivery was transferred to Ruskin, until it was discontinued in 1927.

Cave Spring in Maury County was opened on May 7, 1832, with Joseph Brown as postmaster, and was discontinued on February 8, 1849.

Cave Spring in Carter County opened July 6, 1855, with Phineas Williams as

<

Figure 73. Cave Spring, Carter County, Tennessee, manuscript cancel.

83 Cave Post Offices postmaster. The name was changed to Milligan Post Office on January 25, 1884, and it was discontinued in 1910 (Figure 73).

Cave Point in Macon County was opened on May 23, 1898, with Charles J. Cartwright as the first and only postmaster. When it was discontinued on March 31, 1905, mail was sent to Lafayette, which is still operating today (Figure 74).

H-frHKhn*. 8 27 6 /t ft 9 Figure 74. Cave Point, Tennessee, registered letter with CDS with two target killers.

There are no known postmarks or cancels from Cave Bluff, Cave Hill, or Cave Mills.

REFERENCES Frazier, D.R. Tennessee Post Offices and Postmaster Appointments 1789 -1984. Dover, Tennessee: D.R. Frazier. 1984.

84 Texas Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Bee Cave (s) 4/19/1870-3/15/1915 Travis Grotto 12/11/1901-1/14/1905 Hopkins Natural Bridge Caverns (78266) 1982-1999 Comal San Antonio Natural Bridge Unknown Comal Caverns Rural Station

Named by early settlers for a large cave of wild bees found near the site, Bee Caves (Beecaves or Bee Cave) is located at the intersection of State Highway 71 and Farm Roads 620 and 2244, 12 miles west of Austin in west central Travis County. A post office was opened in 1870, with Martin V. Lackey as postmaster. In the mid-18 80s, the Bee Caves community had a steam gristmill, cotton gin, general store, church, school, and 20 residents. In 1915, the post office at Bee Caves was discontinued and mail for the community was sent to Cedar Valley (Figure 75).

After. daja, return to

BEE CAVES, Travis Co., TEX.

,/h^^L^ t?

Figure 75. Bee Caves, Texas, CDS with target killer.

85 Cave Post Offices

Natural Bridge Caverns, the largest in Texas, was discovered on March 27, 1960, by four students from St. Mary's University in San Antonio. The cavern is located off Farm Road 1863 in the hill country of Comal County, midway between New Braunfels and San Antonio. Its name was derived from the 60-foot natural limestone slab bridge that spans the amphitheater-like setting of the cavern's entrance.

Commercial development of the cavern began on March 25, 1962, and it was opened to the public on July 3, 1964. During excavation of the entrance trail, arrowheads and spearheads dating from 5000 BC were found. Just inside the entrance, jawbones of a species of grizzly bear that became extinct over 8,000 years ago were also discovered. (Figure 76).

San Antonio Natural Bridge Caverns Rural Station operated as a sub-station of the San Antonio Post Office (Figure 76).

Figure 76. Natural Bridge Caverns, Texas, 4-bar killer and Natural Bridge Caverns, Texas, Rural Station double circle.

E.H. Payne submitted the site survey and request to establish the Grotto Post Office on October 9, 1901. There are no known postmarks from this location, which was on the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad about 3% miles east of Winnsboro and AVi miles to the northwest of Pickton.

REFERENCES Helbock, Richard W. United States Post Offices Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 1998. Volume II- The Great Plains States.

86 Virginia Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Spring (s) 1847-1908 Roanoke Cave Spring Branch Unknown Roanoke of Roanoke Cavesville 1816-1837 Orange Endless Caverns 1929-1943 Rockingham Natural Bridge (24579) 1800-Open Rockbridge Natural Bridge Station #1 1911-1961 Rockbridge Natural Bridge Station #2 1961 - Open Rockbridge Natural 1860-1955 Scott Saltpetre (er) Cave 1858-1923 Botetourt Shenandoah Caverns (22847) 1926-Open Shenandoah Shenandoah Caverns Rural 1949 Shenandoah Station of Quicksburg Starcave 1902-1913 Wythe (The) Grottoes 1888-1890 Rockingham Weyer s Cave 1874-1894 Augusta Weyers Cave (24486) 1894-Open Augusta Weyer s Cave B & O Railroad 1875-1876 Augusta (MP # 273-5-12)

Cave Spring (s), south of Roanoke on U.S. Highway 220, was named for Cave Spring Cave which was the town's water supply. In 1888 the "s" was dropped and the town name changed simply to Cave Spring. The post office closed in 1908 (Figures 77 and 78).

According to The Heritage of Virginia: The Story of Place Names in the Old Dominion by James Hagemann, Grottoes was originally called Shendun and was established when people concentrated in the area to work the iron mines and furnaces. Iron mining was a quick boom-and-bust operation in Virginia, and Shendun soon closed. Reincorporated in 1912, the new town was named after the area caves in Rockingham County and the , when cave tourism was on the rise.

87 Cave Post Offices

3¥? Figure 77. Cave Springs, Virginia, CDS with target cancel.

&^

& V /*,«/ -&*u~JL &,$>• *^r ******* ^C*r,~7"

Figure 78. Cave Spring, Virginia, manuscript postmark. Grottoes is located on U.S. Highway 340. The cave was discovered in February, 1804, by Bernard Weyer and was later visited by Thomas Jefferson. Between 1888 when the post office opened and 1890 the town name was shortened from the Grottoes of Shenandoah to Grottoes. The post office is still operating (Figure 79).

The town of Weyers Cave was incorporated on March 3, 1874, when the first passenger train chugged into town and stopped at the not-yet-finished depot. The depot location had been chosen because of its close proximity to area market cities and short distance from another transportation artery, the Valley Pike. These transportation crossroads meant farmers could ship goods from the depot, merchants could have goods shipped in, and passengers could easily travel to the big cities beyond.

Weyers Cave, now known as , west of Grottoes on U.S. Highway 340, in

88 Virginia

Figure 79. Grottoes Virginia, CDS and CDS with ovate bar duplex. the Upper Valley Regional Park, was discovered in 1804, in Augusta County and is the oldest commercial cave in the United States. The town and post office are named after the cave and the post office has been in continuous operation since 1877.

The new stop on the B & O Railroad was first named Cave Station because of the nearby Grottoes. LB. Kagey, the town's first railroad agent, contracted to have freight brought to the new depot, and opened a general store and post office with himself as the first postmaster. With the exception of Sundays, one passenger and one passenger-freight train passed through the village daily (Figure 80).

WEYERS CAVE

«•*-»'.» *o*r *** * *'

Figure 80. Weyers Cave Station, B & O Railroad handstamp with manuscript cancel and a precancel.

In the 1890s, N.I. Kagey, I. B.'s brother, started a telephone company with all lines running into Kageys general store. About this same time, Whitesels chicken coop factory got underway, and for more than 80 years the wooden crates were built in the village. In 1905, a bank was established in the big stone building across from the railroad, with N.I. Kagey as the first cashier, and the town became electrified from the use of a single-cylinder gas engine located in the center of town. By 1912 Weyers Cave had one of the first rural electrification systems in the country from a new water-powered mill located on the outskirts of town.

89 Cave Post Offices

Botetourt County's Saltpeter (Saltpetre) Cave off U.S. Highway 81 at Natural Bridge, was a major source of niter for the Confederate Army. The neighboring town was named after the cave in 1858. The post office closed in 1923 (Figure 81 and 82).

/ // )

Figure 81. Salt Peter Cave, Virginia, manuscript cancel.

Figure 82. Saltpeter Cave, Virginia, manuscript cancel and CDS with target killer.

Figure 83. Shenandoah Caverns, Virginia 4-bar killer and Quicksburg Shenandoah Caverns Rural Station Double Circle cancel. (courtesy o/'Speleophilately International)

90 Virginia

Figure 84. Endless Caverns, Virginia, 4-bar killer and Last Day postmark.

t NATIONAL AIR MAIL WEEK

Mgr. Augusta Automobile Club Hotel Richnond Augusta, G-a. i

Figure 85. Endless Caverns, Virginia, seven wavy lines machine cancel; the special marking, from the National Air Mail Week illustrates the first flight of the Shenandoah Valley air mail route.

91 Cave Post Offices

Shenandoah Caverns, in Quicksburg County off Interstate 81, was discovered in 1884 during the construction of the Southern Railroad and was commercialized in 1922. The post office is named after the caverns and is still in operation (Figure 83).

Endless Caverns, in Orange County off Interstate Highway 81 at New Market, was discovered in 1879. The post office was named after the caverns and remained in operation until 1943 (Figures 84 and 85).

Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County is a geological formation carved out by Cedar Creek. The creek has carved out a gorge in the limestone terrain forming an arch 215 feet high with a span of 90 feet. Natural Bridge has been designated a Virginia Historical Landmark and a National Historical Landmark (Figures 86 and 87).

SA 19

Figure 86. Natural Bridge, Virginia, 4-bar killer.

HTUML BRIDGE, YA.

-*. *.*_•_*•

Figure 87. Natural Bridge Station, Virginia, 4-bar killer

Natural Tunnel is a cave located in the Appalachian Mountains near Duffield that is so large it is used as a railroad tunnel. The railroad was constructed in 1893, and the first train, was operated by the Virginia & Southwestern Railway Company. In 1899, Natural Tunnel was purchased by the Tennessee & Carolina Iron and Steel Company. The railway originally carried passenger trains; today, the line is still open but is used only to transport coal (Figure 88).

There are no known postmarks or cancels from Cavesville and Starcave. A June 24,1910, report for Starcave, Wythe County, simply stated it is in the northeast part of the county,

92 Virginia near Reed Island Creek, with the post office Wi miles southeast from the creek (Figures 19 and 20).

UNITED STATES POSTAGE

Z CENTS 2

Figure 88. Natural Tunnel, Virginia, 4-bar killer.

REFERENCES Axelson, Edith F. Virginia Postmasters and Post Offices, 1789-1832. Athens, Georgia: Iberian Publishing Co. 1991.

James, Charles L. Alleghany County, Virginia: Post Offices and Postmasters. Lake Grove, Oregon: The Depot. 1993.

Hagemann, James. The Heritage of Virginia: The Story of Place Names in the OldDominion. Norfolk, Virginia: Donning Company, 1986.

Helbock, Richard W. United States Post Offices Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 2004. Volume VI - The Mid-Atlantic States.

Wine, J. Floyd. Frederick County, Virginia, Post Offices: Past and Present. Winchester, Virginia: J.F. Wine. 1987.

93 Washington Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Grotto 7/13/1910-11/30/1918 King Grotto 7/9/1923-3/21/1980 King

Grotto is 4 miles northwest of Skykomish on the South Fork of the Skykomish River in northeast King County. The name was derived from the deep ravines and gorges of Grotto Mountain a mile to the northeast, which resembled caves (Figure 89). 1 &* ,-^\—"\^ 11 II^W_^KgjE^ w ^^•^H Figure 89. Grotto, Washington, manuscript cancel.

REFERENCES Helbock, Richard W. United States Post Offices Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 1998. Volume I -The West States (formerly Western Post Offices).

94 West Virginia Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave 1886-1954 Pendleton Grotto Dell 1860-1866,1867-1875 Roane Organ Cave 1887-1950 Greenbrier Rock Cave (26234) 1859-Open Upshur Rock Cave, 1959 Upshur Arlington Rural Station

Rock Cave is both a small mountain village and post office on Route 20. Between 1848 and 1859 it was known as Rudes Mill, then in September, 1859, the name was changed to Rock Cave. There was a proposal to name it Rock Lava for what appeared to be lava stones found on Straight Fork Run, on the assumption there had once been a volcano in the area. However, the name finally settled on was for a nearby cave (Figures 90and91).

Figure 90. Rock Cave, West Virginia, Arlington Rural Station 4-bar killer (courtesy o/'Speleophilately International) and Rock Cave, West Virginia, 4-bar killer.

Organ Cave, off Route 219 in Greenbrier County south of Ronceverte, is named after a stalactite formation resembling an organ. It is the 37th largest cave in the world, was once mined for saltpeter, and also served as General Robert E. Lee's underground powder works. The post office of the same name operated between 1887 and 1950 (Figure 92).

Cave is an unincorporated community located in Pendleton County, named after a cave

95 Cave Post Offices in the vicinity, was located on U.S. Highway 220 along the South Branch Potomac River. The post office was established in 1886 and closed in 1954 (Figure 93).

JdJfk- HMUU^ ^i^j utfiK^L-

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Figure 91. Rock Cave, West Virginia, CDS and target killer.

Figure 92. Organ Cave, West Virginia, 4-bar killer and CDS with target killer.

Figure 93. Cave, West Virginia, 4-bar killer.

96 West Virginia

There are no known postmarks for Grotto Dell Post Office.

REFERENCES Helbock, Richard W. United States Post Offices Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 2004. Volume VI -The Mid-Atlantic States.

97 No Cave Post Offices in the Following States

There have been no cave or cave-related post offices in the states of Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, or Vermont.

The following pages contain:

Appendix One - Cave post offices: a combined list of the previously discussed states and their corresponding cave post offices.

Appendix Two - Some cave-related post offices: a list of 32 states with selected cave- related post office names, for example, sinking spring, limestone, and lost creek.

98 Appendix One

Alabama Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Spring (s) 9/11/1856-7/25/1866 Fayette Cave Spring (s) 6/12/1871-10/27/1887 Fayette Cave Spring (s) 4/24/1888-7725/1894 Fayette

Arkansas Cave Post Ofices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave City (72521) 1892-Open Sharp Cave Creek 1855-1895 Newton Cavecreek 1895-1973 Newton Cave Hill 1923 Warren Cave Springs (72718) 1908 - Open Benton

Arizona Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Creek (Cavecreek) (85331) 1890-Open Maricopa Grand Canyon Caverns - 1973-3/29/1974 Mohave Rural Branch of Peach Springs

99 Cave Post Offices

California Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Dale 1913-1925 Sonoma Mammoth Cave 10/25/1883-11/30/1887 Calaveras

Colorado Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Grotto 3/7/1881-3/21/1882 Jefferson

Georgia Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Blowing Cave 1855-1895 Decatur Cave 1890-1940 Bartow Cave Hill 1900 Washington Cave Springs) (30124) 1841-Open Floyd

Hawaii Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Anahola 1856-1869 Kauai Pukalani 1950-1961 Maui Waialua (96791) 1856-Open Oahu

100 Appendix One

Illinois Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave 9/27/1847-3/26/1879 Franklin Rock and Cave 3/13/1832-10/24/1849 Hardin Cave-in-Rock (62919) 10/24/1849-Open Hardin Cave Valley 2/7/1893-7/20/1894 Jackson

Indiana Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Alum Cave 1/22/1884-1905 Clay/Sullivan Cave Spring 6/19/1854-8/15/1862 Decatur Kings Cave 8/28/1870-7/10/1873 Harrison Spring Cave 7718/1866-9/12/1866 Owen

Kansas Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave 1901-1914 Greene Cave Spring 1874-1878 Butler Cave Springs 1882-1903 Elk

101 Cave Post Offices Kentucky Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave City (42147) 1860-Open Barren Cave Hill 1879-1926 Warren Cave Point 1892-1893 Franklin Cave Ridge 1916-1950 Metcalfe Cave Spring 1848-1851 Scott Cave Spring(s) 1880-1946 Logan Cave Springs Station 1869-1880 Logan Caverna 5/4/1869 - 12/22/1879 Hart Caverock 1908-1910 Knox Cave Run 1902-1913 Bath Caves 1857-1905 Carter Horse Cave(42749) 3/1/1860-Open Hart Mammoth Cave (42259) 1842-Open Edmonson Peter Cave 1878-1892 Martin Proctors Cave 1894-1906 Edmonson Russell Cave 1879-1900 Fayette Twin Cave 1900-1901 Meade Wind Cave 1902-1996 Jackson

Maryland Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cavetown (21720) 1815-Open Washington The Caves 1878-1879 Baltimore

Mississippi Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cuevas 1/19/1893-4/30/1956 Harrison Cuevas Rural Station 5/1/1956-4/13/1973 Harrison of Pass Christian

102 Appendix One

Missouri Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Pump 1854-1861,1867-1890 Camden Caverna 1876-1906 McDonald Cave Spring (1) 1834-Unknown Crawford Cave Spring (2) Unknown- 1844 Pulaski Cave Spring (3) 1844-1867 Wright Cave Spring (4) 1871 - 1907 Greene Cave Station St Louis, Mo. 1900-1905 Saint Louis Marvel Cave Park 1980-1987 Stone Meramec Caverns Rural 1956 Franklin Station of Stanton, Mo.

Montana Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cavern 3/29/1909-1/31/1936 Jefferson Cavetown 4/2/1878-11/9/1880 Broadwater

Nevada Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Creek (Ranch PO) 11/5/1887-4/30/1929 Elko Cave Valley (Ranch PO) 6/24/1926-2/15/1933 Lincoln

New Mexico Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County La Cueva 1868-1961 Mora

103 Cave Post Offices

New York Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Grotto 1882-1902 Tompkins Howe (s)(s) Cave (12092) 1867 - Open Schoharie Natural Bridge (13665) 1829-Open Jefferson

North Carolina Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Bat Cave (28710) 12/22/1879-Open Henderson Grotto 3/3/1893-3/31/1905 Moore

Ohio Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Ash Cave 6/26/1857-7/19/1866 Hocking

Oregon Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Junction (97523) 1936-Open Josephine Cave Junction Oregon 4/1/1956-9/1/1977 Josephine Caves Rural Station Cave Junction Takilma 9/2/1958-9/15/1967 Josephine Rural Station Cave Junction Holland 9/1/1958-12/1/1960 Josephine Rural Station Cave Junction Kerby Rural 9/1/1958 - Open in summer Josephine Station Oregon Caves 1924-1956 Josephine

104 Appendix One

Pennsylvania Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Hunter's Cave 2/1/1850-11/1/1872 Greene Hunter's Cave 7/13/1886-12/1/1894 Greene Hunters Cave 12/1/1894-3/15/1904 Greene Penn Cave 9/5/1892-12/1/1895 Centre Penncave 12/1/1895-6/31/1903 Centre

South Carolina Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave 1899-1916 Allendale

South Dakota Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Hills 7/15/1889-6/29/1894 Harding Wind Cave 10/18/1892-12/8/1893 Fall River Wind Cave 1/3/1893-11/30/1908 Custer Windcave 12/1/1895-10/15/1908 Custer

105 Cave Post Offices

Tennessee Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Bone Cave 3/9/1866-1978 Van Buren Cave 12/21/1848-11/30/1901 White Cave 1/1/1902-9/30/1925 White Cave Bluff 2/1/1899-10/15/1900 Unicoi Cave Creek 9/2/1873-12/1/1875 Roane Cave Creek 6/27/1879-11/14/1903 Roane Cave Hill 10/8/1831 - 5/16/1845 Greene Cave Mills 6/12/1827-10/28/1828 Warren Cave Mills 2/19/1877-10/20/1896 Dickson Cave Point 5/23/1898 - 3/31/1905 Macon Cave Spring 5/7/1832-1/19/1844 Maury Cave Spring 8/10/1846-2/8/1849 Maury Cave Spring 7/6/1855-1/25/1884 Carter

Texas Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Bee Cave (s) 4/19/1870-3/15/1915 Travis Grotto 12/11/1901-1/14/1905 Hopkins Natural Bridge Caverns (78266) 1982-1999 Comal San Antonio Natural Bridge Unknown Comal Caverns Rural Station

106 Appendix One

Virginia Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave Spring (s) 1847-1908 Roanoke Cave Spring Branch Unknown Roanoke of Roanoke Cavesville 1816-1837 Orange Endless Caverns 1929-1943 Rockingham Natural Bridge (24579) 1800-Open Rockbridge Natural Bridge Station #1 1911-1961 Rockbridge Natural Bridge Station #2 1961 - Open Rockbridge Natural Tunnel 1860-1955 Scott Saltpetre (er) Cave 1858-1923 Botetourt Shenandoah Caverns (22847) 1926-Open Shenandoah Shenandoah Caverns Rural 1949 Shenandoah Station of Quicksburg Starcave 1902-1913 Wythe (The) Grottoes 1888-1890 Rockingham Weyer's Cave 1874-1894 Augusta Weyers Cave (24486) 1894-Open Augusta Weyer's Cave B & O Railroad 1875-1876 Augusta (MP# 273-5-12)

Washington Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Grotto 7/13/1910-11/30/1918 King Grotto 7/9/1923-3/21/1980 King

107 Cave Post Offices

West Virginia Cave Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Cave 1886-1954 Pendleton Grotto Dell 1860-1866,1867-1875 Roane Organ Cave 1887-1950 Greenbrier Rock Cave (26234) 1859-Open Upshur Rock Cave, 1959 Upshur Arlington Rural Station

108 Appendix Two Some Cave Related Post Offices

Alabama Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Dolomite 1888-1901 Jefferson Limestone 1886-1901 Madison Lost Creek 1861 Randolph Natural Bridge (35577) 7/17/1890-Open Winston

ST CARD FOOTKARTC. \

i FOR ADDRESS ©AILY . I

Figure 94. Dolomite, Alabama, 4-bar killer.

Alaska Cave RelatedPost Ofices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Lost River 1951-1955 Nome

109 Cave Post Offices Arkansas Cave RelatedPost Ofices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1894-1981 Newton Limestone Valley 1876-1894 Newton Lost Creek 1846-1859 Grant

•:

\

Figure 95. Limestone, Arkansas, 4-barkiller.

California Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Hornitas 1856-1877 Mariposa Hornitos (95325) 1887-Open Mariposa Sink 1859-1861 Los Angeles

The town of Hornitos was first settled in 1852 by Mexican miners who had been driven out of Quartzburg (Kernville). The original post office was established as Hornitas, June 18,1856, with its name changed to its current spelling August 20,1877. The word hornitos may be the diminutive oihorno meaning bake oven or kiln, used in the volcanic districts of Latin America. Others believe the name is probably a transfer from Los Hornitos located in the Mexican state of Durango. In 1858, the place gained wide recognition when the Mount Gaines quartz mill built two arrastras (kilns) driven by a 30-horsepower engine.

There were stories that the shallow graves of Mexican miners looked like hornitos, or that German miners built little bake ovens of stones and mud. The little hornitos of brick, in and near the cemetery, give the impression of having been built in later years to justify the stories.

However, William Halliday suggests the name Hornitos is cave-related. A hornito is a

110 Appendix Two splatter cone which develops on the surface of basaltic lava flows when the lava is forced up through an opening in the cooled surface and then accumulates around the opening. In many cases, after the lava has cooled, the opening becomes the entrance to a lava tube cave (Figure 96).

UNITED STATES

g-;^85SP[J POSTALCARD

Figure 96. Hornitos, California, 4-bar killer, (courtesy o/'Speleophilately International)

Connecticut Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1857-1861 Hartford

Florida Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1884-1906 Walton Limestone 1905-1955 Hardee Natural Bridge 1878-1908 Walton Sink Creek 1919-1925 Jackson

111 Cave Post Offices

Figure 97. Limestone, Florida, 4-bar killer.

Georgia Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1841 Houston Sink 1880-1882 Bulloch

Idaho Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Lost River 1885-1912 Butte Niter 1904-1918 Caribou

A H ONLY THE SmmtSs MAY BE WRITTEN HERE Figure 98. Niter, Idaho, 4-bar killer.

112 Appendix Two Illinois Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1848-1871 Kankakee Lost Creek 1874-1884 Clinton

Indiana Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1841 Lawrence Lost River 1837-1878 Orange Lost River 1879-1896 Martin Sinks 1882-1905 Harrison Sinking Creek 1826-1828 Washington Sinking Spring 1837-1852 Lawrence

Iowa Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1854-1860 Des Moines Lost Creek 1896-1907 Mahaska

Kansas Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1864-1872 Washington Lost Creek 1873-1877 Linn Lost Spring 1861-1864 Marion

113 Cave Post Offices Kentucky Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1794-1799 Mason Limestone 1883-1936 Carter Lost Creek (41348) 1849-Open Breathitt Natural Bridge 1923-1942 Powell Sinking Creek 1828-1830 Warren Sinking Creek 1889-1890 Breckenridge Sinking Valley 1930-1935 Pulaski

Figure 99. Natural Bridge, Kentucky, 4-bar killer.

Maine Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone (04751) 1858-Open Aroostook Limestone River 1849-1853 Aroostook

Limestone, founded in 1869, is located in Aroostook County, which borders New Brunswick, Canada. It is currently a farming community with a population of 1,245 that produces potatoes, broccoli, and other kale crops (See Figure 6).

114 Appendix Two Michigan Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1892-1984 Alger Sink Brook 1861-1864 Allegan

Figure 100. Limestone, Michigan, CDS with target killer.

Minnesota Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1879-1881 Murray

Missouri Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Lost Spring 1872-1873 Reynolds Lost Creek 1833-1859 Lincoln Lost Creek 1875-1887 Wayne Sinkin 1869-1933 Shannon

115 Cave Post Offices

Montana Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1910-1935 Stillwater

Figure 101. Limestone, Montana, 4-bar killer.

Nebraska Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Lost Creek 1879-1885 Platte

New York Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone (14763) 1850 - Open Cattaraugus

Limestone is a 460-person farming community located in Cattaraugus County. Its post office, opened on May 11, 1850, with Chase Fuller as postmaster, is still in operation today (Figure 102).

116 Appendix Two

Figure 102. Limestone, New York, CDS with cork killer.

North Carolina Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1827-1852 Henderson Limestone 1887-1903 Buncombe

Limestone Well 1842-1853 Forsythe Natural 1892-1903 Duplin

Ohio Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Lost Creek 1831-1845 Miami

Rockhouse 1895-1907 Hocking

Saltpeter 1851-1859 Washington

Saltpetre 1872-1914 Washington

Sinking Spring (45172) 1817-Open Highland

Limestone 1887-1918 Ottawa

117 Cave Post Offices

I

bi (' ' 'i

Figure 103. Saltpeter, Ohio, CDS; Saltpetre, Ohio, CDS; and Limestone, Ohio, CDS with cork killer.

Oklahoma Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 9/22/1897-7/6/1901 Choctaw

Limestone Gap 3/29/1875-1922 Choctaw

Oregon Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Lost River 1875-1876 Klamath

Sink 1911-1920 Lake

Pennsylvania Cave Related Post Offices

Limestone 1828-1839 Armstrong Limestone (16234) 1839-Open Clarion Limestone Valley 1828-1828 Perry Limestoneville 1852-1907 Montour Lost Creek (17946) 1877-Open Schuylkill Lostcreek 1895-1905 Schuylkill Sinking Spring 1827-1960 Berks Sinking Valley 1854-1901 Blair

118 Appendix Two

IT.S.POSTWGJ4

Figure 104. Sink, Oregon, 4-bar killer.

South Carolina Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1832-1836 York Limestone 1883-1889 Edgefield Limestone Springs 1836-1879 Cherokee

Figure 105. Limestone Springs, South Carolina, CDS.

119 Cave Post Offices Tennessee Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1837-1867 Hamilton Limestone (37681) 1873-Open Washington Limestone Cove 1852-1886 Carter Limestone Cove 1886-1903 Unicoi Limestone Springs 1846-1903 Greene Lost Creek 1834-1858 Campbell Sink 1881-1906 Monroe Sinking Creek 1837-1852 Bedford Sinking Spring 1807-1813 Anderson Sinking Spring 1868-1903 Sevier

Limestone in Hamilton County was opened on March 9, 1837, under John Anderson. On April 3, 1867 the name was changed to Georgetown, which is still in operation.

Limestone in Washington County (Figure 106) opened in 1873 and is still in operation.

Limestone Cove in Carter County opened August 12, 1852, with David Baker as postmaster. It was discontinued and reopened several times, with the mail finally going to Limestone Cove in Unicoi County on June 28, 1886.

Limestone Cove in Unicoi County was opened on June 28,1886, with Elisha L. Garland as postmaster. It was discontinued on December 14, 1903.

Limestone Springs in Greene County was opened on February 16,1846, with John Love as postmaster and was discontinued on August 15, 1903, its mail going to Greeneville, which is still in operation (Figure 107).

Lost Creek in Campbell County was opened on January 2, 1834, with Charles Rice as the first postmaster. It was discontinued on April 13, 1858 (Figure 108).

Sink in Monroe County was opened on April 11, 1881, with James Henderson as postmaster and on February 14, 1906 it was discontinued and its mail was sent to Tellico Plains, which is still in operation (Figure 109).

Sinking Creek in Bedford County was opened on December 15, 1837, with Thomas Coffee as the only postmaster until it was discontinued January 30, 1852.

Sinking Spring in Sevier County opened January 24, 1868, with Martin Bates as the

120 Appendix Two postmaster. It was discontinued on February 28, 1903, and mail was forwarded to Boyd's Creek, which in turn was discontinued in 1955.

Figure 106. Limestone, Tennessee, CDS with cork killers.

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Figure 107. Limestone Springs, Tennessee, manuscript postmark.

Figure 108. Lost Creek, Tennessee, manuscript cancel.

121 Cave Post Offices

Figure 109. Sink, Tennessee, CDS and target killer.

Virginia Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1854 Marshall Limestone Hill 1857-1863 Wood Lost River 1818-1825,1833-1863 Hardy Limestone Station 1855-1857 Harrison Lost Creek 1826-1845,1849-1863 Harrison Sinking Creek 1839 Botetourt Sinking Creek 1839-1933,1951 Craig Sinks Grove 1848-1863 Mnroe

Figure WO. Sinking Creek, Virginia, CDS and target killer.

Washington Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Lost Creek 1911-1943 Pend Oreille

122 Appendix Two West Virginia Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Lost Creek 1833 Harrison Lost River 1832 Hardy Limestone Station 1854-1858 Harrison Limestone Hill 1856-1984 Wood Limestone 1854-1911 Marshall Sink 1882-1894 Raleigh Sinks 1848-1848 Monroe Sinks Grove(24976) 1853-Open Monroe Saltpetre 1905-1950 Wayne

c <* AUG \

Figure 111. Sinks Grove, West Virginia, 4-bar killer and Lost River, West Virginia, manuscript cancel.

Figure 112. Saltpetre West Virginia, 4-bar killer.

Wisconsin Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Limestone 1843-1845 Ozaukee Lost Creek 1873-1902 Pierce

123 Cave Post Offices

Wyoming Cave Related Post Offices

City/Town/ZIP Dates of Operation County Lost Spring 1896-1950 Converse Lost Springs (82224) 1951-Open Converse

124 REFERENCES

Gallagher, John S. The Post Offices of Utah. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot. 1977.

Gallagher, John S., and Patera, Alan W.A Checklist oj"WyomingPost Offices. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot. 1980.

Helbock, Richard W. Postmarks of Territorial Alaska. Las Graces, New Mexico 1979.

. A Checklist of Idaho Post Offices, 1862 - 1988. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publication. 1989.

. Oklahoma Post Offices. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 1987.

. Western Post Offices. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 1993.

. A Checklist of Indian Territory Post Offices 1824-1907. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publication. 1994.

. A Checklist of North Dakota Post Offices 1850-1994. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publication. 1994.

. A Checklist of Florida Post Offices, 1821-1995. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications. 1995.

. A Checklist of Nebraska Post Offices 1853-1990. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publication. 1995.

. A Checklist of Vermont Post Offices 1783-1995. Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publication. 1995.

Helbock, Richard W. United States Post Offices Lake Oswego, Oregon: La Posta Publications (Tarpon Springs, FL: Printed by Marrakech Express). 1998,1999,2001. 4 v. Description is: Vol. I- The West (formerly Western Post Offices); Vol. II- The Great Plains; Vol. Ill - The Upper Midwest; Vol. IV - The Northeast. Vol. I is designated as the 2d ed. of Western Post Offices; Vol. II, Vol. Ill, and Vol. IV are designated as Isteds.

125 Cave Post Offices

(Vol. I) Contents: Vol. I. The West (formerly Western Post Offices). 2d ed. 1998. — Vol. # %f Grazf P6«w. 1st ed. c!998. — P&Z 7H %g %,gr A&/w«A 1st ed. 1999. — ^ #f %g ^o^&zjf. 1st ed. 2001.

Meschter, Daniel Y., and Ruth Dolzeal. The Post Offices of Wyoming, July 25, 1868 to December 31, 1975. Wyoming: D. Y. Meschter. 1976. 1 v. Photocopy of manuscript (typescript).

Patera, Alan H. A Checklist of Idaho Post Offices. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot. 1984.

Patera, Alan H., and John S. Gallagher. The Post Offices of Minnesota. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot. 1978.

. WyomingPost Offices 1850 - 1980. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot. 1980.

. A Checklist of North Dakota Post Offices, 1850-1982. Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot. 1982. A companion volume to: North Dakota Post Offices, 1850-1982 (Burtonsville, Maryland: The Depot, 1982).

. Iowa Post Offices 1833-1986. Lake Oswego, Oregon: The Depot. 1986.

Risvold, Floyd E. The Minnesota Territory in Postmarks, Letters and History. Chicago: Collectors Club of Chicago. 1985.

Shrik, George H. 1948. "First Post Offices within the Boundaries of Oklahoma." The Chronicles of Oklahoma, 26(2): 1-69.

126 Index

Bartlett Dam 24 Bat Cave, North Carolina 70 Adena Indians 72 Bat Cave Preserve 70 Alabama 23, 99,109 Bates, Martin 120 Alaska 109 Bats in Philately 4 Alum Cave, Indiana 42 Bean, George Washington 63 American Indians 30,72 Beck, Greg 3 American Philatelic Research Library 3 Bee Cave, Texas 85 American Spelean History Association 3 Bellinger, Ernest J. 66 American Topical Association 4 Big Bone Cave, Tennessee 82 Anahola, Hawaii 38 Big Cave, Illinois 39 Anderson, John 120 Bingham, Jesse 80 Anderson, Major Albert 48 Bingham, Tom 80 Anderson, William 82 Bishops Cave, Maryland 53 Appleton, South Carolina 79 Black Mountain, Arizona 24 Aqua Caliente, California 32 Blowing Cave, Georgia 35 Arizona 24,25,99 Bone Cave, Tennessee 82 Arkansas 28,99,110 Boyer, Malachi 78 Ash Cave, Ohio 72 Branson, Missouri 57 Ashcraft Corner, Alabama 23 Bristow.J.D. 37 Ashcraft, Joel 23 Broadway.North Carolina 71 Ashcraft Mercantile Store 23 Brooks,John W 35 Atlanta Journal Magazine 35 Brown, Joseph 83 Austin, Texas 85 Brownsville, Kentucky 45 Automated Face-Canceller 13 Brown, William H. 23 Broyles, Cain 83 B Bruno (dog) 73 Bureau of Land Management 64 Baird, William J. 48 Baker, David 120 Barker, Lewis 39 4-bar killer 11 California 30,100,110 barrel duplex 8 California Cavern, California 30

127 Cave Post Offices

Camper, James 53 Caves, Kentucky 50 cancellation 5 Cave, South Carolina 79,104 Canyon Ferry Lake, Montana 60 Cave Spring 6 Carolina Midland Railway 79 Cave Spring Cave, Georgia 36 Carter Caves, Kentucky 50 Cave Spring Cave, Virginia 87 Carter, Kentucky 50 Cave Spring, Georgia 35 Cartwright, Charles J. 84 Cave Spring, Indiana 42 Cat Island, Mississippi 55 Cave Spring, Kansas 43,101 Cave Bay, Montana 60 Cave Spring, Kentucky 51 Cave Bluff, Tennessee 83, 84 Cave Spring, Missouri 56, 57, 58 Cave Books 3 Cave Springs, Alabama 23 Cave City, Arkansas 28 Cave Springs, Kentucky 51 Cave City Cave, Arkansas 28 Cave Spring, Tennessee 83 Cave City, Kentucky 17,47 Cave Spring, Virginia 87 Cave City mining camp 30 Cave Station, Missouri 57 Cave Creek, Arizona 24 Cavesville, Virginia 92 Cave Creek, Arkansas 28 Cave, Tennessee 82 Cave Creek Mistress Mine 24 Cavetown, Maryland 53 Cave Creek Ranch, Nevada 62 Cavetown, Montana 60 Cave Creek School, Nevada 63 Cave Valley, Illinois 40 Cave Creek Station 24 Cave Valley, Nevada 63 Cave Creek, Tennessee 83 Cave, West Virginia 95 Cave Dale, California 32 CDS (circular date stamp) 7 Cave, Geirgia 37 Cedar Creek, Virginia 92 Cave Hill, Georgia 37 Cedar Falls, Ohio 72 Cave Hill, Illinois 52 Cedar Valley, Texas 85 Cave Hill, Kentucky 51 Centre, Pennsylvania 78 Cave Hill, Tennessee 83, 84 Chinaman Cove, Montana 60 Cave, Illinois 40 circular date stamp (CDS) 7 Cave-in-Rock, Illinois 39 Civilian Conservation Corps 25 Cave-in-Rock State Park 39 Civil War 82 Cave Junction, Oregon 73,74 Coconino Caverns 26 Cave, Kansas 43,101 Coffee, Indiana 42 Cave Mills, Tennessee 83, 84 Coffee, Thomas 120 Cave Point, Tennessee 84 Colorado 34,100 Cave Pump, Missouri 58 Connecticut 111 Cave Ridge, Kentucky 49 Conservation Award 135 Caverna, Kentucky 48 Corydon, Indiana 42 Caverna, Missouri 57 Costello, Frank P. 62 Cavern, Montana 59 Cowin, Simon C. 77 Caverock, Kentucky 50 Crow, William 34 Cave Run, Kentucky 49 Crystal Onyx Cave, Kentucky 47 Caves, Illinois 52 Cuevas, Juan Jose de 55

128 Index

Cuevas, Mississippi 55 Fuller, Chase 116 Curd, Beverly 47

D Garland, Elisha L. 120 Davidson, Elijah 73 Gasper, Kentucky 51 Delaware 98 Georgia 35,100,112 Delaware Indians 72 Glasgow, Kentucky 47 Depression, Great 25 Glen Ellen, California 32 Dinosaur Caverns 26 Glory Hole, Georgia 35 Doane, Edith R. 9 gold 30 Doanes 9 Gold Hill, Arizona 24 double-circle cancel 13 Gosport, Indiana 42 Doyle, Jonathan 46 Grand Canyon Caverns, Arizona 25, 26 Doyle, Tennessee 83 Grand Caverns, Virginia 88 Duffield, Virginia 92 Grants Pass, Oregon 73 Duke, Thomas T. 47 Great Cave Wars 48 Duvall, Louisa J. 70 Griffiths, Charles 38 Grotto, Colorado 34 Grotto Dell, West Virginia 97 Grottoes, Virginia 87, 88 East Helena, Montana 60 Grotto Mountain, Washington 94 Eckerson, Judson 66 Grotto, New York 69 8th International Congress of Speleology 4 Grotto, North Carolina 71 Emerson, S.N. 38 Grotto, Washington 94 Endless Caverns, Virginia 92 Etherton, Illinois 40 H Evans, Creath 49 The Explorers Club of New York 135 Hagemann, James 87 Haleakala Volcano 38 Halliday, William 3,38, 110 Hamil, Simeon 23, 35 fancy cancels 8 handstamp 7 Fisher Ridge Cave System 49 Harte, Bret 30 Fitzgerald, Sandy 3 Harvey, Samuel E. 83 Flat Lick, Kentucky 50 Hawaii 38,100 Florida 111 Hawkins, William L. 46 Floyd, General John 35 Hecht, Arthur 19 Fords Ferry, Illinois 39 Heynen, William J. 19 Fort McDowell 24 History of New France 39 FortWhipple 24 Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio 72 Fraizer, D.R. 82 Hoke, Robert 3 Fulbright Spring and Cave, Missouri 56 Holbrook, Pennsylvania 77

129 Cave Post Offices

Holland, James E. 74 Kagey.N.I. 89 Holland Rural Station, Oregon 74 Kansas 43,101,113 The Holy Office of the Catholic Church Kay, John L. 77 of Spain 55 Kentucky 45,102,114 Hopewell, Pennsylvania 77 Kentucky Legislature 48 Hornitos, California 110 Kentucky State Geologist 46 Horns Cave, Arkansas 28 Kerby Rural Station, Oregon 74 Horse Cave, Kentucky 48 Kernville, California 110 Horseshoe Dam 24 Kings Cave, Indiana 42 Hoskin, Andrew Jackson 24 Knight, Charles R. 66 Houck, James D. 24 Knob City, Kentucky 47 Howe Caverns, New York 66 Knob City Land Company 47 Howe, Lester 66 Howes Cave, New York 15 Hualapai Indians 25 Hunters Cave, Pennsylvania 77 Lackey, Martin V. 85 Hymira, Indiana 42 La Cueva National Historical Site 64 La Cueva, New Mexico 64 Lafayette,, Tennessee 84 Laman, JA. 28 Idaho 112 LamanJ.W. 28 Illinois 39,101,113 Lanesville, Indiana 42 Illinois River, Oregon 74 Lee, General Robert E. 95 Illinois Valley, Oregon 73 Lera, Thomas 3,4, 135 Indiana 42,101,113 Lewis and Clark Caverns, Montana 60 Indiana bat 70 Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, Montana 59 Indian River, New York 61 Limespur Cave, Montana 59 Inez, Kentucky 50 Limestone, New York 116 International Union for Conservation of Nature Littleton, John W. 83 and Natural Resources 135 Long, Jesse 78 Iowa 113 Louisiana 98 Iroquois Indians 66 Love, John 120 Issacs, Godfrey P. 49 Loyal, Arkansas 28 Lumley, North Carolina 71 J M Jefferson, Thomas 88 Jocelyn, Edward A. 42 machine cancels 12 Journal of Spelean History 3 Maine 114 Mammoth Cave, California 30 K Mammoth Cave, Kentucky 45 Marcy, William G. 30 Kagey.LB. 89 Martin, Reverend James 78

130 Index

Marvel Cave Park, Missouri 57 New Hampshire 98 Maryland 53, 102 New Jersey 98 Massachusetts 98 New Market, Virginia 92 Matthews, Ralph 83 New Mexico 64,103 McClure, Roger 3 New York 66,104,116 McDonald, Alvin 80 Nicholas, James F. 42 McKee, Kentucky 49 Nittanee, Princess 78 McNabb, MaryJ. 83 Nixon, Ronnie L. 4 Medlen, Colorado 34 Norris, William J. 83 Meramec Caverns, Missouri 57 North Carolina 70,104,117 Michigan 115 North Dakota 98 Miller, Archibald 45 Northern Pacific Railroad 60 Miller, Joaquin 73 Norton, Marcus P. 7 Milligan, Tennessee 84 Minnesota 115 o Mississippi 55, 102 Missouri 56,103,115 Ohio 72,104,117 Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad 86 Ohio River 39 Missouri Water Company 56 Oklahoma 118 Mixon, William 3 Onyx Cave, Kentucky 47 Montana 59,103,116 Oregon 73,104,118 Mora River, New Mexico 64 Oregon Cave Rural Station 74 Morrison Caves, Montana 60 Oregon Caves 74 Morrison, Dan 59 Oregon Caves National Monument 73 Mountains of California 31 Organ Cave, West Virginia 95 Mount Gaines quartz mill 110 Organ Mountains 64 Muir.John 30 Orndorff.WillianH. 77 Munfbrdville, Kentucky 48 Osage Indians 57 Museum, National Postal 3 Otsgaragee Cave, New York 66 ovate bar duplex 8 N

National Archives 19 National Park Service 60,74 Paul, William 77 National Speleological Society 135 Payne, E.H. 86 Natural Bridge Caverns, New York 66 Peach Orchard, Kentucky 50 Natural Bridge Caverns, Texas 86 Peach Springs, Arizona 25 Natural Bridge, Virginia 92 Peck, Walter 25 Natural Tunnel, Virginia 92 Penns Cave and Hotel 78 Nebraska 116 Penns Cave, Pennsylvania 78 Nevada 62,103 Pennsylvania 77,105 New Albany, Indiana 42 Pennsylvania Postal History Society 77 New Braunfels, Texas 86 Peter Cave, Illinois 52

131 Cave Post Offices

Peter Cave, Kentucky 50 Ruby Valley, Nevada 62 Peter M. Hauer Spelean History Award 135 Rudes Mill, West Virginia 95 Pfrimmer, William H. 42 Rural Free Delivery Service 8 Philatelic Mineralogy 4 Ruskin, Tennessee 83 Pickton, Texas 86 Russell Cave, Kentucky 51 Pitney Bowes 15 Russellville, Kentucky 51 postage meter 15 Rutan, Pennsylvania 77 postage stamps 5 postmark 5 precancel 12 Proctor, John R. 46 Sabin, George C. 74 Proctor, LarkinJ. 46 Saltpeter Cave, Virginia 90 Proctors Cave, Kentucky 46 San Antonio, Texas 86 Pukalani, Hawaii 38 Seneca Indians 66 Shawnee Indians 72 Shenandoah Caverns, Virginia 92 Shenandoah Valley, Virginia 87 Quartzburg, California 110 Shendun, Virginia 87 Quincy, Indiana 42 Short, Thomas 62 Sierra Madre gold fields 30 R Skykomish River 94 Skykomish, Washington 94 Ramona, Illinois 40 slogan cancels 13 Record of Appointment of Postmasters 19 Smithsonian National Postal Museum 135 Records and Policies of the Post Office South Carolina 79, 105 Department Relating to Place-Names 19 South Dakota 80,105 Reed Island Creek, Virginia 19 Southern Central Railroad Peru Station 69 Rhode Island 98 Southern Railroad 92 Rice, Charles 120 Spangenberg, Joseph 53 Richardson, Samuel 23 Sparkman, James 82 Roanoke, Virginia 87 speleophilately 4 Roark Mountain, Missouri 57 Speleophilately: Collecting Caves of Postage Robbins Ferry, Illinois 39 Stamps 4 Rock and Cave, Illinois 39 Speleophilately International 3,4 Rock Cave, West Virginia 95 spelling error 15 Rockhouse, Ohio 72 Spring Cave, Indiana 42 Rolater Park, Georgia 36 Stanton, Missouri 57 Romero, Vicente 64 Starcave, Virginia 19,92 Ronceverte, West Virginia 95 Stevenson Station, Maryland 53 round-dater 13 Stewart, William 28 Rowe, William 24 Stinking Creek, Kentucky 50 Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge 63 St. Mary's University 86

132 Index straight line postmarks 11 Virginia & Southwestern Railway Co 92

T w

Tart, William Howard 73 Waialua, Hawaii 38 Takilma Indians 74 Walker, Kentucky 50 Takilma Rural Station, Oregon 74 Warner, Governor Mark 135 target killer 7, 8 War of 1812 82 Taylor, Captain 30 Washington 94,107 Taylor, Edna P. 83 Waynesburgh, Pennsylvania 77 Tennessee 82,106 West Groton, New York 69 Tennessee & Carolina Iron and Steel Co 92 West Point, Kentucky 51 Tennessee Post Offices and Postmaster m=st Virginia 95,108,123 Weyer, Bernard 88 Texas 85,106 Weyers Cave, Virginia 88, 89 The Caves, Maryland 53 Wheeler, George M. 63 The Nature Conservancy 70 Whitehall, Montana 59 The Speleo Stamp Collector 3,4 Willard, Missouri 56 Thomas, Joseph 79 Willder Cave, Georgia 35 Thomas, Judson C. 71 Williams, Phineas 83 Thompson, Millie 51 Williams, Tom 59 Thompsonville, Illinois 40 Wind Cave, Kentucky 49 Three Forks, Montana 59 Wind Cave, South Dakota 80 Truitts Cave, Missouri 57 Winnsboro, Texas 86 Twain, Mark 30 Winton M. Blount Research Chair 135 Twin Cave, Illinois 52 Wisconsin 123 Twin Cave, Kentucky 50 Woodjeriah 24 Twin Caves Station, Kentucky 51 Woodland General Store 47 Woodward, Eugene 59 u Wyandot Indians 72 Wyoming 124 University of Pennsylvania 135 USDA Forest Service 74 Utah 98 Yampai Caverns, Arizona 25 Young, Brigham 63 van der Pas, Jan Paul 4 Van Voorhees, William 30 Vermont 98 Zimmer, Washington D. 66 Virginia 87,107, 122 Virginia Cave Board 135

133 Cave Post Offices

134 Thomas Lera

In 2007, Thomas Lera was appointed as the Winton M. Blount Research Chair at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. He has written over 150 articles and papers published in leading journals and books such as The London Philatelist, The Collectors Club Philatelist, Encyclopedia of Cave andKarst Science, Journal of Cave andKarst Studies, and NSS Bulletin. He edited The Winton M. Blount Symposia: Select Papers 2006-2009 with the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press published in September, 2010, and has co-chaired the Winton M. Blount Symposium from 2007 to present.

When not working at the museum, he is active in the preservation and conservation of bats and caves and has written management plans for the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the latest one being the Conservation ofLanquin Caves National Park in Guatemala. In 2006, he was appointed by Governor Mark Warner to the Virginia Cave Board and is currently its Chairman. He has been the Administrative Vice-President of the National Speleological Society (NSS) receiving their prestigious individual Conservation Award and the Peter M. Hauer Spelean History Award. He is a fellow of the NSS and The Explorers Club of New York and received his Masters Degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

135 136