Seeking address of 1st Post Office in New York City

Hi Josh,

You can contact the New York City Public Library for that information.

https://www.nypl.org/get-help/contact-us

Good Luck in your search.

Alice

Dear Mr. Furman,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the National Archives Catalog and located Reports of Site Locations, 1837 - 1950 in the Records of the Post Office Department (Record Group 28). Records for New York County (aka Manhattan) are in the file New York: New York - Oneida that has been digitized and may be viewed online.  However, the bulk of the documents from New York County are from the 20th century and we could not find any relating to Station A. For more information about Post Office Department records in National Archives custody, please email National Archives at Washington, DC - Textual Reference (RDT1) at Archives1reference@nara.gov.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT1. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

According to the United States Postal Service, in 1659, an official repository for overseas mail was reportedly designated for New Amsterdam. The first post office in New York County formally established by the Continental Congress was that of Ebenezer Hazard. The article Stations and Branches states that “The earliest known Post Office branch was established in New York City on January 1, 1837, at the corner of William Street and Exchange Place” as a supplement to the main post office of the city, and it also references the “General Post-office in Nassau-street.”

Please see the following lists from the United States Postal Service of Research Sources and First Post Office Sources. You also may wish to contact the New York Public Library and the New York Municipal Archives. Also, New York Postal History: The Post Offices and First Postmasters from 1775 to 1980 by John L Kay and Chester M Smith may have the information you seek.

We hope this information is helpful. Best of luck with your research!

https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/search/index?utf8=%E2%9C%93&keywords=New+York+City+Directory

Note: The above link is to the New York Public Library index to the New York City Directory's.

The earliest date I could find where the stations were designated by a letter ex: A is in the 1857/58 directory see attachment.  

Are you interesting in finding the address of the first Post Office in Manhattan or of the first one designated Station A. They are two very different things.   There were Post Offices in New York as far back as 1659 under the British.  The first United States Post Office was established in 1775.  Undoubtedly some of its locations were in Manhattan. The system of station designations did not start until much later, possibly after the establishment of home delivery in the 1860s.

Hi Josh,

You might be able to find your answer on this web-page. It is long and wordy.

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

UNITED STATES POST OFFICES IN NEW YORK STATE 1858 to 1943

https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/64000597_text

Good Luck in your search

Alice Lane

Research Volunteer