It's A Small World After All

The figure above is a photograph of the smallest post office in the United States. The Grimshawes post office, located some 6 miles or so from Cashiers, NC, measures a mere 6 feet by 6 feet 5 inches: less than 39 square feet. The post office was named for the first postmasters, Thomas and Elizabeth Grimshawe, who served in that position for 33 years, from 1878 until 1911. In 1911 the building was sold to Warren and Lena Alexander, who served as postmasters for 36 years, until 1947. In 1947 the building was purchased by the Alexanders’ daughter, Mae Alexander Passmore, who served as postmaster for the last six years of the building’s active life. President Eisenhower closed this post office, and all other third class post offices, in 1953.

There isn’t much left to say about the Grimshawes post office. It is small. And so is this post. Enjoy the photos.

A closer view of the front of the post office.

I knew I had found the post office when I saw the flag.

As seen from the street, this is the right corner of the back room. The total 38.5 square feet includes this back room and the “porch” seen in the photos above.

The door to the front porch. This photo was taken from the right back corner of the back room, the corner shown in the photo prior to this one.

The exterior siding was fairly easy to make and install.

Kathy was happy to be out and about, less than two weeks after knee replacement surgery. Thanks to her, I was able to visit Talbots and J. McLaughlin, instead of winging my way home to post these pictures.