P a g e 8 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r A Post Office for Garnet A post office is a type of status symbol… one that can elevate your status from camp to town. When the post office first opened on August 31, 1896, the camp of Mitchell officially became the town of Garnet. The name Mitchell was originally chosen for the town, but when they went to apply for a post office, the name had already been taken. So, Mitchell became known as Garnet. Throughout the years the post office was located in several buildings in Garnet. The first post office was in a grocery store that neighbored a saloon, the exact name and location of the store is unknown. The first postmaster was Postmistress Susan E. Woods. Mr. Judson of Judson & Blaisdell’s Store became postmaster in 1899, the store was later bought by Mr. Frank A. Davey and became Davey’s Store. In the early 1900s through 1910, Mrs. Jennie Adams, wife of Samuel Adams, was the postmistress and operated the post office out of their home, the Adams’ House. Frank A. Davey was the postmaster in 1911, operating the post office out of the store. Edith Lowery, wife of Al Lowery ran the post office out of their home until 1924. Mrs. Hannifen’s home also functioned as the post office, sometime during the 1920s. In 1927, Nels and Lena Seadin moved into the Adams’ House and ran the post office. At some point, the post office moved to a miner’s cabin near the Adams’ House. By mid 1928, the population of Garnet had dwindled to just a handful of residents. As a result, the post office closed its doors on September 15, 1928. During the Depression there was an increase in mining activity in the area, Garnet’s population increased which necessitated the reopening of the post office on July 2, 1935. Nels Seadin was postmaster again, until his passing in 1939. After that, Walter Moore took over as postmaster. The post office in Garnet closed its doors for the last time on September 30, 1942. After the post office closed, Aggie McMahon delivered the mail to Garnet from Drummond. (Compliments of Ninah Steber. BLM) .—Courtesy of our friends at the Garnet Preservation Association, Find out more about them and their work or about visiting and supporting Garnet Ghost Town at: http:// www.garnetghosttown.org/ My/Donor Information: SUBSCRIBE TO THE GHOST TOWNS AND HISTORY OF MONTANA NEWSLETTER! Renewal? Y/N Send a Gift to: NAME____________________________________ NAME___________________________________ ADDRESS__________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________ CITY______________________________________ CITY_____________________________________ STATE__________________ZIP________________STATE_________________ ZIP________________ Yearly subscriptions are $19.95 (published monthly). Please make checks payable to Ghost Towns & History of MT, LLC and send with this clipping to 99 Lampert Ranch DR, Anaconda, MT 59711 ©2025 Ghost Towns and History of Montana, LLC. All rights reserved.
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