Plainfield Charter Township near Belmont in Kent County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
William Hyser / Austerlitz Post Office
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 4, 2021
1. William Hyser Marker
Inscription.
William Hyser, also, Austerlitz Post Office. .
William Hyser . William Hyser (1826-1909), pioneer surgeon and Civil War captain, came to Plainfield Township in 1850, when it was a lumber center. In 1852 he built this Greek Revival house as a home and an office for his medical and civic duties. He was at various times township clerk, school inspector and supervisor, and justice of the peace. The house has also served as a stagecoach station and a post office. In 1976 it was moved to its present site. The only remaining structure from the original Plainfield village, it is now restored as a museum.,
Austerlitz Post Office . Plainfield was first settled in 1838. Its post office, known as the Austerlitz office because there was a Plainfield post office elsewhere, was established in 1843. It was later housed in this structure for a short time. At first mail came by horse; in 1848 it began to come by stagecoach; and in 1876, by rail via nearby Belmont. In the days before envelopes, letters were folded and closed by sealing wax and other means. The Austerlitz office operated until 1913 when it was consolidated into the one at Belmont.
William Hyser
William Hyser (1826-1909), pioneer surgeon and Civil War captain, came to Plainfield Township in 1850, when it was a lumber center. In 1852 he built this Greek Revival house as a home and an office for his medical and civic duties. He was at various times township clerk, school inspector and supervisor, and justice of the peace. The house has also served as a stagecoach station and a post office. In 1976 it was moved to its present site. The only remaining structure from the original Plainfield village, it is now restored as a museum.
Austerlitz Post Office
Plainfield was first settled in 1838. Its post office, known as the Austerlitz office because there was a Plainfield post office elsewhere, was established in 1843. It was later housed in this structure for a short time. At first mail came by horse; in 1848 it began to come by stagecoach; and in 1876, by rail via nearby Belmont. In the days before envelopes, letters were folded and closed by sealing wax and other means. The Austerlitz office operated until 1913 when it was consolidated into the one at Belmont.
Erected 1981 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number L0582.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in
Location. 43° 3.836′ N, 85° 35.556′ W. Marker is near Belmont, Michigan, in Kent County. It is in Plainfield Charter Township. Marker is at the intersection of West River Drive Northeast and Mall Avenue Northeast, on the right when traveling east on West River Drive Northeast. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6440 W River Dr NE, Belmont MI 49306, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The William Hyser home is now the Hyser Rivers Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 264 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 5, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
