Riggins in Idaho County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

You’ve Got Mail

Riggins’ Many Post Offices

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2013

1. You've Got Mail Marker

Captions: (middle left) Riggins-New Meadows Stage. Charlie Sullivan was the driver.; (bottom left) In the early days of Riggins, the mail and supplies were all brought in by packhorse and by foot. By 1903m a road was completed and the Grangeville-New Meadows Stage was born.; (upper right) The Hotel Riggins in the early 1900s.; (bottom center) In 1920, Postmaster Charles Cadman poses in front of the Riggins Post Office.; (bottom right) Jessie Clay and Vera Schleicher show off the temporary post office shortly after the devastating 1945 Riggins fire.

Inscription. John Riggins was Riggins’ first mailman, carrying the mail from Grangeville to New Meadows by horseback and sometimes by foot. By 1893, he operated a stage line from Grangeville to Fiddle Creek, north of Riggins and the end of the wagon road. He then went by horseback from Fiddle Creek to New Meadows.

In 1901, John Riggins’ son, Dick, established the town’s first post office in his new Hotel Riggins and served as the first postmaster.

Over the years, the post office was moved from building to building – back and forth across Main Street – depending on whom the postmaster was at the time.

In 1966, Riggins teacher and civic leader, Gus Carlson, built the present post office building on Main Street.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list.

Location. 45° 25.195′ N, 116° 18.973′ W. Marker is in Riggins, Idaho, in Idaho County. Marker is on Main Street, 0.1 miles north of Ace's Place, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in front of the Riggins Post Office building, at the southwest corner of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 South Main Street, Riggins ID 83549, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Gouge-Eye Legend (within shouting distance of this marker); Memorable Homes (within shouting distance of this marker); The Forest Service (within shouting distance of this marker); Clay's Swinging Bridge (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Riggins' Early Hotels (about 500 feet away); Early Businesses (about 700 feet away); Riggins in the 1940s (about 700 feet away); The Evolution of a River Terrace (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riggins.

Also see . . . Riggins Idaho History.
Riggins was once known as “Gouge Eye” after a vicious saloon fight in which the obvious happened between a couple of rough and tumble citizens who came here in search of gold in the 1850’s. (Submitted on November 9, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

You've Got Mail Marker (<i>wide view with Post Office in the background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2013

2. You've Got Mail Marker (wide view with Post Office in the background)

Marker Detail: Riggins - New Meadows Stage image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2013

3. Marker Detail: Riggins - New Meadows Stage

Marker Detail: Grangeville - New Meadows Stage (1903) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2013

4. Marker Detail: Grangeville - New Meadows Stage (1903)

Marker Detail: Hotel Riggins (early 1900's) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2013

5. Marker Detail: Hotel Riggins (early 1900's)

Postmaster Charles Cadman (1920) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2013

6. Postmaster Charles Cadman (1920)

Marker Detail: Jessie Clay Vera Schleicher 1945 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2013

7. Marker Detail: Jessie Clay Vera Schleicher 1945

Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 366 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 9, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7. submitted on November 18, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.