From Len McMaster
Northriver Mills (North River, North River Mills)
Northriver Mills was located in central Hampshire County on Springfield Grade Road (County Route 15) between Slanesville and Capon Bridge near the intersection with North River Road (County Route 4/2). The post office was originally established as North River March 13, 1821. The name was changed to North River Mills May 11, 1822, and then again to Northriver Mills December 5, 1895. The post office (zip code 26744) continued operation until it was discontinued September 30, 1972 with the mail routed to Capon Bridge.
North River is not listed by Small2, but is listed by Helbock1 with the same operation dates. The two spellings, North River Mills and Northriver Mills, are listed separately by Small; but Helbock only lists Northriver Mills, noting that “post offices that experience a name change from a two word to a one word format are typically listed only under the form that was in use for the longest period of time” 1.
| Name |
Title |
Date Appointed |
Reference |
| Established as North River |
|
03/13/1821 |
’73, ’04, WVa |
| Elisha Thompson (1131-2A-300) |
|
03/13/1821 |
|
| “Dis 1822” (1131-2A-300) |
|
|
|
| Name changed to North River Mills |
|
05/11/1822 |
’91,’04,WVa (’73) |
| C. Heiskell (1131-2A-300) |
? |
05/11/1822 |
|
| Becknal Alverson (1131-2A-300) |
Postmaster |
05/11/1822 |
’91 |
| William Dougherty (1131-3B-0171) |
Postmaster |
12/31/1826 |
|
| Walker Louthan (1131-4A-0261) |
Postmaster |
05/26/1828 |
‘91 |
| Discontinued |
|
08/17/1829 |
|
| Re-established |
|
09/17/1829 |
|
| Samuel Heiskell |
Postmaster |
09/17/1829 |
‘91 |
| William A. Heiskell (841-132-0363) |
Postmaster |
09/21/1831 |
‘91 |
| Walker Louthan (1131-4A-0261) |
Postmaster |
05/23/1832 |
|
| D. Carmichael & B. Moreland |
|
02/27/1833 |
|
| ? |
|
1837 |
|
| William Sherman |
Postmaster |
05/29/1839 |
|
| George G. Grove (841-132-0363) |
Postmaster |
11/25/1840 |
|
| John B. Miller (841-132-0369) |
Postmaster |
03/25/1843 |
|
| Joseph A. Vannosdeln |
Postmaster |
01/08/1866 |
|
| Joseph Snapp |
Postmaster |
03/13/1866 |
|
| Wm. Miller |
Postmaster |
01/24/1879 |
|
| Mrs. Cordelia Moreland |
Postmaster |
10/01/1885 |
|
| Named chg’d to Northriver Mills |
|
12/05/1895 |
’04 (WVa) |
| William Moreland |
Postmaster |
12/05/1895 |
|
| Alma L. Gess |
Postmaster |
10/14/1903 |
|
| Henry G. Shanoltz |
Postmaster |
08/14/1920 |
|
| Chris Harmison |
Acting PM |
04/01/1931 |
|
| Chris Harmison |
Postmaster, 4th |
04/21/1931 |
|
| Mr. L.R. Deaver |
Acting Postmaster |
02/21/1946 |
|
| Mr. L.R. Deaver |
Postmaster |
06/19/1946 |
|
| Miss Audra V. McDonald |
Acting PM |
03/26/1949 |
841-139-0041 |
| Audra V. McDonald |
Postmaster |
04/06/1949 |
|
| Mrs. Audra V. Croston |
name changed |
03/30/1962 |
|
| Mrs. Betty L. Miller |
Postmaster |
02/28/1971 |
|
| Discontinued, mail to
Capon Bridge |
|
09/30/1972 |
REF:
1. US Post Offices, Vol. VI by Helbock (‘04)
2. The Post Offices of West Virginia 1792-1977 by Small (‘98)
3. Virginia Postmasters and Post Offices by Axelson (‘91)
4. Virginia Post Offices by Hall (‘73)
5. Virginia Postal Markings and Postmaster Colonial – 1865 by Lisbeth
6. NARA postmaster appointments
7. NARA site locations
8. POD list of post offices
9. Census data