Early Post Office

Early Post Office. . , The Hudson’s Bay Company had the contract for postal service in Nipigon until 1916 when Alice Barker, a schoolteacher from Rossport, became postmistress. At that time, the post office was moved into a 315 square foot frame building on this site. , Alice was required to keep the post office open six days a week as well as to meet twice-daily mail trains. , The building was owned by Mr. C. Bliss from Port Arthur. Rent, taxes and insurance cost about $90 a year. Several years after the rest of the town had electricity, the post office continued to be lit by an oil lamp, heated by a wood stove and had no sanitary conveniences. , Lance Grover took over as postmaster in 1934. His salary was approximately $1250 a year, depending on the revenue generated from the office. Out of that amount, he was required to furnish the premises and purchase all stationery and supplies. , In the early morning hours of February 23, 1936, the post office was robbed. The postmaster's own revolver, shells, and $7.20 were stolen. It is unclear whether the break-in was ever solved. , When the new post office on Front Street was built in 1938, Lance and his wife Helen bought the old office. It has been renovated many times since, and was the site of Henry's Confectionery, Les' Cycle and Sport Shop and Nirivia Outdoors. It has been the home of the Kruszewski/Hotchkiss family for more than 50 years.