Wetmore Post Office

Built in 1879, the Wetmore Post Office building was originally the office, store, and home of the postmaster. Dr. John W. Walters and his wife Margaret maintained the post office. In 1896 Margaret Walters became the town’s postmistress. She began operating the post office out of the building’s store. The post office has occupied the building ever since. The building was renovated and now includes the Wetmore Historical Center.

Drug Store and Post Office

In 1880 the town of Wetmore was established along Hardscrabble Creek on a 160-acre homestead owned by William and Francis Wetmore. The Wetmore’s offered free lots to anyone who would build on the property. The town received a post office the following April. Wetmore’s first postmaster was S. H. Callen. In small towns like Wetmore, the post office served as an important sign of stability. Small town post offices were often located in the postmaster’s home or retail store. The location of the Wetmore Post Office changed with the postmaster for the next fifteen years.

In 1896 Margaret Walters became postmistress of Wetmore. From then on, the post office operated out of the L-shaped wood-frame building that her husband, Dr. John Walters, had constructed in 1879 as a combined residence and office. Soon the couple also opened a store in the building, selling drugs and sundries. John saw patients in one part of the building. Margaret operated the store and post office in other parts of the structure. The building became an important place for picking up mail, exchanging news with neighbors, and posting information. John died in 1899, and Margaret continued to serve as postmistress for many years. The position then was passed on to her son, Fred Walters, and his wife Lela.

From 1910 to 1961 the Siloam Telephone Company operated out of the Wetmore Post Office. The telephone company expanded the building’s role as the local communications hub. The company served several dozen families in a five-square-mile area. Telephone lines were strung along fence posts. Lela Walters worked the switchboard. The rise of the telephone made communications easier for local residents but reduced the importance of the post office as a place for meeting people face-to-face. In 1961 Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph acquired Siloam, and the Wetmore switchboard was no longer needed.

The post office building has received several additions and renovations over the years, the most notable being an interior remodel. The building was electrified in 1940 and the application of stucco over most of the exterior walls in 1953. In 1962 the United States Postal Service renovated the post office portion of the building. The telephone switchboard and a candy counter were removed. The post office was sealed off from the building’s residential section.

Recent Renovation

In 2005 Wetmore native Jeannie Culpin founded the Wetmore-Hardscrabble Genealogical and Historical Society. Two years later she bought the post office building. Culpin had the idea of turning it into a local history center. She began extensive renovations. Culpin got the property listed in the National and State Registers of Historic Places. In 2009 the Wetmore Historical Center opened in the renovated building. It includes a library and museum. The historical center hosts Wetmore-Hardscrabble Genealogical and Historical Society meetings and events.

The building also continues to house the local post office, which serves more than 200 households. It is one of only three original post offices still functioning in Custer County.

Built in 1879, the Wetmore Post Office building contained more than the mail. It also included the office, store, and the home of Dr. John W. Walters and his wife, Margaret A. Walters, who managed the post office. In 1896 Margaret Walters became the town’s postmistress. She operated the post office out of the store. The post office has occupied the building ever since. The building was repaired and improved. It now includes the Wetmore Historical Center.

Drug Store and Post Office

In 1880 the town of Wetmore started along Hardscrabble Creek. Wetmore came from a 160-acre homestead that belonged to William and Francis Wetmore. They offered free lots to anyone who would build on the land. The town had a post office the following April. Wetmore’s first postmaster was S. H. Callen.

In small towns like Wetmore, the post office was an important sign of stability. Small-town post offices were often found in the postmaster’s home or retail store. The location of the Wetmore Post Office changed depending where the postmaster lived and worked for the next fifteen years.

In 1896 Margaret Walters became postmistress of Wetmore. From then on, the post office operated out of the L-shaped wood-frame building that her husband built. Dr. John Walters had constructed the building in 1879 as a place to live and work. Soon they also opened a store in the building, selling drugs and dry goods.

John met with patients in one part of the building. Margaret operated the store and post office in the other rooms. The building became an important place. People picked up mail at the post office. They exchanged news with neighbors and posted information. John died in 1899. Margaret continued as postmistress for many years. The position then went to her son, Fred Walters, and his wife, Lela.

From 1910 to 1961 the Siloam Telephone Company operated out of the Wetmore Post Office. The telephone company made the building the local communications hub. The telephone company served many families in a five-square-mile area. Telephone lines hung along fence posts. Lela Walters worked the switchboard. The rise of the telephone made communications easier for local residents. However, the telephone reduced the importance of the post office as a place for meeting with people. In 1961 Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph acquired Siloam. The Wetmore switchboard was no longer needed.

The post office building has received several additions and improvements over the years, the most notable being an interior remodel. The building was electrified in 1940. The stucco covering most of the exterior walls in 1953. In 1962 the United States Postal Service improved the post office portion of the building. The telephone switchboard and a candy counter were removed. The post office was sealed off from the building’s other sections.

Recent Renovation

In 2005 Wetmore native Jeannie Culpin founded the Wetmore-Hardscrabble Genealogical and Historical Society. Two years later, she bought the post office building. Culpin turned the building into a local history center. She began extensive renovations. Culpin got the property listed in the National and State Registers of Historic Places. In 2009, the Wetmore Historical Center opened in the improved post office building. It includes a library and museum. The historical center holds Wetmore-Hardscrabble Genealogical and Historical Society meetings and events.

The building also continues to house the local post office. It delivers mail to more than 200 households. Wetmore Post Office is one of only three original post offices still working in Custer County.

The Wetmore Post Office was built in 1879. The building included the office, store, and a home. Dr. John W. Walters and his wife, Margaret A. Walters worked at the post office. In 1896 Margaret Walters became the town’s postmistress. The post office has been in the building ever since. It now includes the Wetmore Historical Center.

Drug Store and Post Office

The town of Wetmore was near Hardscrabble Creek. Wetmore was on William and Francis Wetmore’s homestead. The Wetmore’s gave free land to anyone who would build. The town’s post office came the following April. The post office was a sign of stability. Wetmore’s first postmaster was S. H. Callen. Small post offices were often in the postmaster’s home or retail store. The location of the post office depended on where the postmaster lived.

In 1896 Margaret Walters became postmistress of Wetmore Post Office. After that, the post office stayed in the L-shaped wood-frame building. The building became a permanent place for the post office. Dr. John Walters built the place in 1879 as a place to live and work. The Walter’s set out to open a store in the building. The store sold drugs and dry goods to families in Wetmore. John tended to patients in part of the building. Margaret ran the store and post office in the other rooms. The building became an important place. People picked up their mail at the post office. They got to share news with their neighbors. People were able to post information and to talk with each other. John died in 1899. Margaret was postmistress for a long time. The position then went to her son, Fred Walters, and to his wife, Lela.

From 1910 to 1961, the Siloam Telephone Company was in the Wetmore Post Office building. The building handled the mail and telephones. The company was to serve families in the area. The company strung telephone lines along fence posts. Lela Walters worked the switchboard. The telephone made talking with each other easier for local families. But the telephone cut down the people’s use of the post office. People called each other instead of meeting in person. The telephone let one person talk to another from home. In 1961 Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph bought Siloam. The Wetmore switchboard was no longer needed.

The post office building would receive many additions over the years. The most notable is the inside. The building is still in use. In 1962 the United States Postal Service fixed the post office part of the building. The telephone switchboard and a candy counter were removed. The post office was sealed off from the rest of the building.

Recent Renovation

In 2005 Wetmore native Jeannie Culpin started the Wetmore-Hardscrabble Genealogical and Historical Society. She bought the post office building. Culpin had the property listed in the National and State Registers of Historic Places. In 2009 the Wetmore Historical Center opened in the post office building. The center includes a library and museum.

The building is still the local post office. It delivers mail to more than 200 households. Wetmore Post Office is one of only three original post offices in Custer County.