The History of the post office in St. Andrew’s Parish
The list of a community’s defining features would include churches, schools, stores, homes, and last but not least, a post office. The ability to send and receive mail has always been a key element in the growth of a community and the way its people stay connected.
Establishment of a contract branch Post Office in St. Andrew’s Parish was the subject of a news item that ran in the Feb. 25, 1942 edition of The News & Courier. By August of 1942 a small news item announced a change was coming to the mail service in St. Andrew’s Parish. The branch Post Office that had been located in Mrs. Liger’s store opposite the Fountain Inn on Savannah Highway was to be closed and relocated to the contract station in the Avondale Pharmacy.
By 1947, “St Andrew’s Parish Appears To Be Holding Gains Solidly” as it was announced in March of 1947 that the completed branch Post Office on Avondale Drive opened for business- just one of many projects tackled by the Exchange Club of St. Andrew’s Parish on behalf of the community. Thomas A. Croghan, who lived in The Crescent, was named the branch postmaster. According to the article in the Friday, Feb. 28, 1947 edition of The News & Courier announcing the opening ceremony, Croghan was a 30-year veteran of the post office and “is experienced in all phases of post office work.” It was an active branch, somewhat centrally located among the developing neighborhoods and many members of the community could easily walk to mail letters.
The St Andrew’s Parish Exchange Club used the opening as an occasion to celebrate. They re-issued the brochure (600 total) that was published in October 1943 to celebrate the water main completion to the Parish. The Club announced that Miss Rosina Kennerty was chosen to represent the Parish in the Azalea Festival. More than 300 people attended the Tuesday evening festivities. The Club took every opportunity to celebrate the success and growth of the Parish.
By 1950 Avondale was rapidly becoming the commercial hub with a bank, numerous gas stations, a movie theater, pharmacy, grocery store, several five & dime stores, a few restaurants, and a post office. But as more and more neighborhoods began to line Folly Road, St. Andrew’s Boulevard, and Savannah Highway, this post office became too small to service the community.
The South Windermere Shopping Center and neighborhood were large additions to the area. Bill Ackerman had the idea that the post office might be better located in that area along Folly Road. This idea was not shared by all the residents of the Parish. In fact they were “up in arms” and it was decided by some members of the St. Andrew’s Parish Business Association that action should be taken to maintain the post office in the Avondale community. So Richard Bradham made an appointment with the Postmaster General of the United States.
Cecil Kearse, the Assistant Cashier and Manager of the West Ashley Citizens and Southern Bank; Dr. Charles Dawson, the pharmacist at Avondale Pharmacy; and Richard Bradham, who served as President of the St. Andrew’s Parish Business Association, traveled to Washington, D.C. to petition the Postmaster General to maintain the St. Andrew’s Post Office in the Avondale area.
Kearse recounted the story of the trip in one of several interviews before his passing. The date of this trip is not recorded; however, the timeline might indicate that they met with Arthur E. Summerfield appointed in January of 1953 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Kearse remembers that Dr. Dawson took a map, illustrating the current population distribution in the Parish, to demonstrate to the Postmaster General that the post office would be best located in Avondale. (side note: Kearse also recalls that this was Dr. Dawson’s first flight experience and he was a little reserved about the flight and took some ribbing from his travel companions.)
The delegation was successful in their petition and in June of 1957 construction began on a new St. Andrew’s Post Office on Hickory Street in Avondale. The Charleston Evening Post announced the Oct. 21, 1957 opening of the new branch post office in a caption accompanying a photo of the fully air conditioned 4,000-square-foot facility.
Ultimately the postal needs of the community outgrew this facility and a new building was dedicated on Sycamore Drive in 1977 when Jimmy Carter was President of the United States and Benjamin Bailar was the Postmaster General.
On Aug. 30, 2000 this Post Office was dedicated in the name of Judge Richard E. Fields. In October 2004, Gullah Gourmet decided to move its thriving operation into the second Old Avondale Post Office building. Now you can buy cards for mailing in their gift shop as well as their signature yummy Lowcountry delights.
.West Ashley school stories? Contact local author and West Ashley historian Donna Jacobs at westashleybook@gmail.com.
