Uptown Westerville history: door-to-door mail delivery begins in 1912!
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In 2019, a scrapbook dated 1916 was donated to the Otterbein University archives. In it was a photo of “Gilbert E. Mills Postman” standing at the northeast corner of West College Avenue and South Grove Street. No explanation was provided. While scanning a September 1912 issue of the campus newspaper The Otterbein Review for the archives, I noticed a small article with the caption “STUDENTS REJOICE”…door-to-door mail delivery would begin for the first time on November 15, 1912. Several scanned issues later there was another small article…sophomore Mills had scored the highest of 19 applicants and was appointed the town’s first mail carrier. Although the job interrupted his studies for a number of years, Gilbert did return to earn his degree. Here, in picture, is this niche piece of Westerville history.
Published 12/8/2020. Revised October 2025. Don Foster, Otterbein Class of 1973. donfoster73@gmail.com
Page from the 1916 scrapbook. NE corner of South Grove Street and West College Avenue. The fomer First United Brethren Church, now Church of the Master UM, behind Gilbert. Photo credit: Otterbein University Archives.The same corner today. Church of the Master United Methodist and Otterbein University’s Clippinger Hall.First United Brethren Church of Westerville opened in 1916. It was considered part of the Otterbein Univeristy campus. The pastors were initially Otterbein faculty, and the building appeared in the college yearbook for many years.The Carnegie Library was funded by Andrew Carnegie and opened in 1908. Renamed Clippinger Hall, today it houses the Office of Admissionand was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.
Enlarged from The Otterbein Review of 9/16/1912 shown below. Photo credit: Otterbein Digital Commons.
Mills scores highest and wins appointment. The Otterbein Review 11/11/1912.
Mail carrier position put aside to serve the U.S. The Columbus Dispatch 4/5/1917.
Gilbert’s senior yearbook picture in the 1920 Otterbein yearbook, Sibyl.Boyhood home at 145 West Home Street as it appears today. Otterbein’s Mayne Hall at left.First house occupied in adulthood. 161 East College Avenue as it appears today. Same side of street and opposite corner of Cellar Lumber Company.Wedding announcement on the right is from the Otterbein Archives.
The Tan and Cardinal (student newspaper) 9/17/1923. Sounds like a fun mob! Photo credit: Otterbein Digital Commons.
Above and below, The Tan and Cardinal 9/20/1920.
Previously mail had to be picked up at the post office on East College Avenue.Westerville Public Opinion of 7/22/1909 announcing construction of the East College Avenue building to house the post office. Previously, the post office was located within various stores in the Uptown. The First National Bank building referenced in the article today houses Westerville Antiques & Rustic Revamp Decor.This is also from the 1916 scrapbook and was labeled “Mail Time.” So perhaps this photo was taken sometime between the 1909 opening of the post office here and November 1912 when door-to-door delivery began.Also from the 1916 scrapbook with the post office in the background.While this 1916 scrapbook picture has nothing to do with mail delivery, it was amusing to come across this so it got added to the blog. 🙂A few more post office pictures about and below from the archives of the Westerville History Museum.The former post office building today.
Attached to the building.
Gilbert and Lillie Mills at their retirement residence in Lebanon, OH. 1976. Photo credit: Westerville History Museum.
Histories and Mysteries 