Nahcotta Post Office 1890-2021
I guess I still live under the delusion that the Nahcotta Post Office will be back — that the new owner of the Wiegardt House will re-up the contract with the USPS that lapsed. Or that another business entity will surface and that the Nahcotta Post Office will get a new home. (I have a rich fantasy life.)
Today, when I momentarily lost my head and Googled the distance from Oysterville to Nahcotta (I wanted the exact numbers) my request kept being changed. “Distance Oysterville WA to Nahcotta WA” I typed. “Distance Oysterville WA to Nahcotta/Ocean Park WA” GoogleMaps offered.
It took a minute or two (and several re-tries) for the penny to drop. And when it did, I became infuriated once again. Could it be that Google Maps only deals with towns, cities, place names that are recognized by the U.S. Postal Service? And since Nahcotta no longer has a Post Office and their mail goes to Ocean Park, could it be that Google Maps no longer recognizes a place named Nahcotta — only “Nahcotta/Ocean Park?”
Nahcotta Mail Delivery circa 1920s
Lest we forget: In 1889, John Peter Paul purchased John Crellin, Jr.’s Donation Land Claim and subdivided portions of it into city lots and blocks. He called his town Nahcotta in honor of Chief Nahcati who, with his family, had lived in the area and had been a great friend to early white settlers. Then John Peter Paul donated it– lock, stock, and barrel — to the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company to serve as the northern terminus for the railroad.
The U.S. Post Office was first established in Nahcotta on January 18, 1890 — 132 years ago tomorrow! Ocean Park, on the other hand, got its start as a Methodist camp meeting resort in 1883 but was not recognized by the U.S. Post Office until 1906. By 1907, its permanent population was 100 but it didn’t have its own school until 1936 when the Nahcotta School “mysteriously” burned down.
Nahcotta School, c. 1925
So, considering the history of the two towns, why is it that Google or the U.S. Post Office (or whoever is calling the shots) gets to say which one still “exists” independently? And just how many towns are there across the United States that have been abandoned by the USPS and now have no individual presence on Google — at least not on certain Google search engines? Only on Wikipedia, perhaps. The mind boggles.
I miss our post office also. The people in Ocean Park are pleasant and our experience with them has improved over time, but they are not open on Saturdays and it is simply not as convenient as just down the street. I too keep holding out hope.
I miss chatting with the ladies.
Thanks so much for your comment on my recent blog, I don’t think people who have mail delivery service or who get their mail in big urban post offices have ANY idea of the place a small rural post office has in the life of a small community. Even comparing the Ocean Park P.O. to Nahcotta’s P.O. is like comparing apples to oranges. It’s hard just to be content with our memories… Sydney
Sad to learn all of this. I well remember that p.o. building during my many forays to the Long Beach Peninsula while writing about this unique stretch of land for Coastal Living magazine’s travel & food & lifestyle stories. Makes me ponder that perhaps “time wounds all heals,” as Nahcotta and its post office were like a storybook place.
Thanks for your comments, Susan. I often think of your time spent visiting and, then, living on the Peninsula and wish we could all step back there for a bit. So much has changed in the last decade or so — everywhere, of course, but perhaps more noticeably here in these small communities of the Long Beach Peninsula. I am so thankful that it all happened after my mother and her generation were gone. They worked so hard to preserve and maintain…
We need a good, long visit. Maybe next summer will provide an opportunity! Much love to you and Bob!
Sydney (and Nyel)
I’m furious with Colleen, new owner of the Weigardt building, for her part in losing our Nahcotta Post Office and our identity as a place. No words can capture my anger, frustration or grief about this historical mistake.
“Historical Mistake” — I love that, Cate. We could write a book…
Sydney