Akron's first post office was originally located in Portage County with Truman Beecher as postmaster. It was established December 20, 1825.

Upon completion of the Ohio Canal the office was moved to Akron in July, 1827. Wolsey Wells was appointed postmaster by President John Quincy Adams on January 20, 1826. Wells was also a lawyer, justice of the Peace and Collector of Tolls for the canal. His varied businesses were conducted in his home, located at the southwest corner of W. Exchange and Water Streets.

Mail was brought into and sent out of Akron by horseback riders, stage coach and canal] boars. Hiram J. Spicer, when 0g4 years old, took over the job of carrying the mail weekly between Akron and Bolivar, in Tuscarawas County. His father, Major Minor Spicer, had secured the contract.

Mr.Wells moved from Akron in 1813 and was succeeded by Lewis Hummiston, proprietor of Clark's Tavern. on the northeast corner of Ex-change and Main Streets. He erected a small building, just east of the hotel, where post office business was conducted.

Mr. Hummiston resigned in 1837 and Harvey II. Johnson was appointed to the office. He was a North Akron resident and moved the post office to the northeast corner of Howard and Mill Streets. (See page 103).

Postmasters who have served Akron and the location of their offices are as follows:

Dr. Dana D. Evans, 1845, east side of Howard Street just opposite Cherry Sweet, then two years later to a room just east of the northeast corner of Main and E. Market Streets.

Franklin Adams, 1849, east side of S, Howard Street, Edward W. Perrin, May, 1853, the Matthews Budding on S. Howard Street where it remained For the nest twenty years; Roland O. Hammond, 1857-1861; Richard E. Elkins. 1861.1870; James B. Storer, 1870-1882, Masonic Building, northeast corner of Howard and Mill Streets, where it remained until 1893 when it was moved to the Schumacher Building at the corner of Mill and Broadway.

Captain James H. Morrison, 1882-1886; William Chauncey Allen, 1886-1890; William B. Gamble, 1890-1895.

It was during Gamble's administration that Akron got its first government-owned post office building. In 1893, the government bought the Union Club House property at the southeast corner of High and Market Streets. A $55,000 building was erected and opened for business on July 29, 1899.

William B. Dobson. 1895-1897; Dr. L. S. Ebright, 1897-1910; William B. Baldwin, 1919 1911; A. Ross Read, 1914-1919; Kilroy P. Aldrich, a post office inspector. served as acting postmaster until May, 1921, when. C. Nelson Sparks was appointed to the position. Sparks resigned in 1926. Lloyd D. Carter was appointed to succeed him and served until February, 1986.

Rolla C. Witwer was appointed postmaster on February 18, 1936, and served until his death in August. 1910, He was succeeded by Charles B. Webb in November, 1940.

The post office Registry service was inaugurated in 1847 and in 1864, the Money Order System was established to provide a safe means for Civil War soldiers to send money home to their families.

Rural Free Delivery service was established in Akron during 1913 with eleven routes. Tire Postal Savings System and Parcel Post Service were started during Baldwin's administration from 1910 to 1914.

Akron's population jumped from 69,067 to 208,435 during the years of 1914 to 1919 and the postal receipts more than doubled. The 20-year old post office building became woefully inadequate and Grace Park Station was established to handle the parcel post business.

Congress made an appropriation for a new federal building in 1913 and a lot was purchased at the southwest corner of S. Market and Prospect Streets. Due to World War I and the economy program following the war the building was not begun until late in 1927, and the post office was moved into its new quarters in February, 1929. In 1952, this building is overcrowded and plans are being made to have a larger building erected to serve Akron's glowing needs.