HARVARD POSTAL SERVICE
The history of the postal service in the Harvard area dates back to January 28, 1846. First known as Byron and later Dunham, the first post office was located in a small cottage on the west side of South Division Street about 302 now part of Admiral Division of Rockwell International.
On January 9, 1857, the name and location was changed to Harvard. These changes were numerous during the early years, finally locating at 104 East Brainard Street on September 1,1903. For 22 years, until January 1, 1925 this location served the postal requirements; however, in 1925, the office was moved to the Ferris Building on the corner of Ayer and West Brainard, at 36 N. Ayer Street, where it remained over 37 years. The present office (1976) at 300 North Eastman Street was occupied on August 1, 1962.
Harvard became one of the first to acquire rural delivery service with establishment May 1, 1900. By 1909 seven rural routes were serving the area, averaging approximately 25 miles per route. With improved roads and transportation, the routes were lengthened and consolidated until the present (1976) three, covering a total of 190 miles serving 822 rural families.
City delivery was established August 1, 1908 with two foot routes. On March 1, 1910, a third one was authorized, with Ray Carpenter being appointed carrier. Parcel Post service was started January 1, 1913. On October 6, 1956 an extra city mounted route was established, making three city foot and one mounted routes. There are now five city routes - 3 foot, one mounted and one auxiliary. Two offices in the vicinity were discontinued, Big Foot Prairie on December 31, 1934 and Chemung on July 15, 1943. The rural routes serve the residents of these communities, as well as the Alden rural patrons. Alden is a contract rural station of Harvard.
On July 1, 1948, Harvard was designated a first class post office, having reached the required $40,000 receipts the previous year.
Unlike early years, no mail is dispatched by rail. All incoming mail with the exception on one pouch, arrives twice daily via truck routes. Star Routes operate daily to and from Barrington and Beloit, Wisconsin.
Retired Harvard postal employees still living include,
Alvin Cooke
George Hawley
Virginia Van Tassel
Henry W. Croak
Thomas R. O'Neil
Margaret O'Leary
Dedication ceremonies at the new post office included an Open House on November 18 1962. The program included the Harvard Hornet Marching Band.
Lester T. Peacock - Postmaster
Hugh A Deneen - Assistant State Attorney
Master of Ceremonies - Rev. Joseph Healey
Invocation - Mayor Ronald J. Morris
Dedication address - Frank G. Sulewski
U. S. P. D. - U. S. Senator Paul H. Douglas
Flag Presentation - Ode to the Flag by Roland P. Lemker
Post Chaplain No. 265 of the American Legion
Benediction by Rev. Luther C. Mueller
Former postmaster were
Robert Latham - 1846
Ansel K. Goodsell - 1849
Robert Latham - 1853
Wilson Randall - 1854
Sowell Mason - 1857
Wilson Randall - 1857
Richard DeLee- 1861
Alonzo E. Axtell - 1866
John W. Groesbeck - 1876
John A. Sweeney - 1888
Henry T. Woodruff - 1889
John A Sweeney - 1894
Michael F. Walsh - 1898
Michael F. O'Connor - 1913
Benjamin T. Manley - 1922
Eugene Saunders - 1927
Rudolph B. Cook - 1933
John T. O'Brien - 1934
Donald E. Palmer - 1944
Lester T. Peacock - 1953
Jay Thomas - 1963
Henry Croak - 1963
Henry Brickley - 1964
Thomas R. O'Neil (acting) - 1964 - 1965
Roland McCauley - 1966
C. A. Haffner Jr. - 1966 - 1973
Anthony J. Pacelli became postmaster on June 30, 1973 still serving in 1976.