SPRAGUE RIVER - 97639
POST OFFICE
September 14, 1923: "The Sprague River post office was established September 14, 1923, with Benjamin E. Wolford first postmaster, to serve a well know lumber community. The office is further west of and downstream from the old office and is fifteen miles westward of Beatty." (Oregon Historical Quarterly - Sept. 1946)
March 9, 1927: "B.E. Wolford is happy now as Mr. Gogerty has received his appointment as postmaster and had the office moved from the store to the Pickett building. Mr. Gogerty handles a complete line of papers and magazines." (The Klamath News)
May 3, 1927: "Mr. Gogerty has moved the postoffice again. It has become quite a problem to keep up with." (The Klamath News)
October 15, 1927: "P. Gogerty, postmaster, was taken suddenly ill Saturday morning with an attack of acute indigestion and rushed to Klamath Falls to the hospital. He returned home Thursday entirely recovered and is once more attending to his duties at the office." (The Klamath News)
March 7, 1929: "Construction of the new post office building at Sprague River is underway and it is planned that the new building will be completed and ready for occupancy by April first.
P.L. Gogerty, postmaster and owner of the new building, was a business visitor in the city today and is very enthusiastic over the prospects for the future for the new town. A newstand will be handled by Mr. Gogerty in conjunction with the post office." (The Evening Herald)
March 15, 1929: "The building being erected by P.L. Gogerty is rapidly nearing completion. It will house the post office, and in addition he plans to conduct his news stand and music store there. The upper floor will contain several apartments." (The Klamath News)
April 14, 1929: "Mr. Gogerty, local postmaster, is now occupying his new building which houses, in addition to the postoffice, his news stand and music store. This building is located next to Wolford & Wann's store and is quite an addition to the business district of Sprague River." (The Klamath News)
July 31, 1929: "P.M. Gogerty is postmaster. In the same building he has a confectionery and newsstand and he also keeps roomers, giving him a money-making combination." (The Klamath News)
October 18, 1935: "P.L. Gogerty, postmaster, has been granted 30 days leave of absence and left Tuesday for Portland and Seattle, where he will spend his vacation." (The Klamath News) - Gogerty had sold his hotel and News stand to Mrs. G.N. Stanton.
March 31, 1936: "P.L. Gogerty, postmaster here for some years, resigned recently, thus putting the Sprague River postoffice up for competitive examination. Two applicants, Mrs. Grace Stanton and Mrs. Fred Zebull drove to Klamath Falls early Saturday morning to take the examinations." (The Evening Herald)
May 25, 1936: "Court House Records: Frank Reynolds, legal age, Sprague River logger, to Grace Jewell Stantion, legal age, Sprague River postmistress." (The Klamath News)
July 14, 1936: "Mrs. Reynolds has changed the post office entrance and boxes so that patrons having lock boxes may secure their mail at any hour of the day or night." (The Evening Herald)
January 9, 1937: "Grace Reynolds, postmaster, received word during the past week of the sudden death of P.L. Gogerty. Mr. Gogerty will be remembered by many in the surrounding country, for he was the postmaster here for many years. Because of ill health he was forced to sell his property interests here. He had been under medical care for some time. No particulars have been learned yet as to the exact cause of death." (The Klamath News)
April 3, 1937: "Frank Reynolds is improving the outward appearance of the local postoffice by applying stained shingles." (The Klamath News)
April 30, 1937: "The local postoffice is receiving a number of improvements. The outside is being refinished and painted and the lobby and living quarters are being enlarged." (The Klamath News)
September 8, 1938: "Fire, originating in an outhouse behind a hotel, spread rapidly in a high wind and virtually demolished the business section of the town of Sprague River late Wednesday. A cigarette was tentatively blamed for the blaze which brought a loss estimated in excess of $50,000.
Included in the losses the Sprague River postoffice and connected hotel, operated by Mrs. Frank Reynolds." (The Klamath News)
October 28, 1938: "Frank Reynolds has gone to Prineville where he has employment. Mrs. Reynolds has resigned her position as postmistress of Sprague River and will follow him shortly." (The Klamath News)
November 16, 1938: "Mrs. B.E. Wolford and Miss Gladys George will act in the postoffice until a postmaster is appointed." (The Klamath News)
December 7, 1938: "An open competitive examination is to be held to fill the position of postmaster at Sprague River. The salary is $1100.
An applicant must be a citizen of the U.S., must have resided within the delivery of the postoffice for which the examination is held or within the city or town where such office is situated for at least one year. The competition is open to both men and women." (The Evening Herald)
December 17, 1938: "Mrs. B.E. Wolford has been appointed as acting postmistress until such time as the examinations are given." (The Klamath News)
April 18, 1939: "The postoffice is having an addition built to it." (The Klamath News)
January 26, 1940: "Signal honors have been awarded Mrs. Anna G. Wolford, Sprague River postmistress, in rating her postoffice 100 per cent, according to a letter received by the Herald and News from Congressman Walter M. Pierce.
Pierce said that Mrs. Wolford and V.E. Lee of North Powder are the only winners of the rating in the second congressional district." (The Evening Herald)
March 17, 1941: "Miss Pauline Grane, assistant postmaster in Sprague River, has returned to her job after a two weeks' vacation in California." (The Evening Herald)
December 27, 1941: "The Sprague River postoffice reports the best year in the history of the town, according to Mrs. Ben Wolford, postmaster. In fact the increase is almost 100 per cent greater than ever before. In order to accommodate the added business it was necessary for the Wolford's. who own the building to add a large room to the rear of the present quarters. A number of new shelves, desks and tables have been added to make room for the large number of parcels.
Various speculations have been made as to the reason for such an increase during the war year. This has been a very busy season at Crater Lake Box and Lumber company and the workers have put in good time and have received fat checks. It is thought that many figure on staying over to work instead of going away on vacations due to the mill closure usually occurring about this time of year. The mill is still going strong with the big problem of finding a chance to close down to make necessary repairs. If the men plan to work right up to Christmas, packages will be mailed to friends and relatives instead of being delivered in person as before.
Another speculation made by a resident was that many feel that this may be the last Christmas for several years, that they will be able to buy gifts. If so they are making hay while the sun shines. The curtailment of goods due to the war will undoubtedly affect Christmas purchases next year. This argument will have to wait until next year to be proved.
Whatever the reason is Mrs. Wolford and her assistant, Miss Paulina Grane are working many hours overtime and they will heave a terrific sigh of relief when this unusual rush is over." (The Klamath News)
February 4, 1942: "Mrs. Jack Nelson is employed in the Sprague River postoffice. She is assistant to Postmistress Mrs. Ben Wolford." (The Evening Herald)
October 27, 1947: "Mrs. Byron Welch is our new assistant postmistress, taking the place of Mrs. Hammersley." (Herald and News)
May 25, 1950: "Mrs. Freda B. Barnum has been appointed postmaster at Sprague River. This is the first postmaster Sprague River has had since Mrs. Anna G. Wolford resigned in October of 1946. Bonnie Brotherston was acting postmaster for about two years." (Herald and News)
February 26, 1956: "Mrs. Charles Burroughs has been working in the Sprague River Post Office for the past two weeks in the absence of postmaster Mrs. Mann Varnum. Mrs, Varnum will return next week from Hayward, California, where she is attending to family business." (Herald and News)
May 10, 1956: "Mrs. Charles Burroughs is acting postmaster at Sprague River while Postmaster Frieda Varnum is attending a four day convention of the National League of Postmasters at Prineville. Mrs. Varnum was accompanied by Mrs. Georgia Casebeer of Bly." (Herald and News)
October 8, 1961: "An examination for the post office at Sprague River, Ore., $2,234 a year, will be open for acceptance of applications until Oct. 24, 1961, the commission announced today.
Applicants must actually reside within the territory supplied by the above mentioned post office and they must have reached their 16th birthday on the closing date for acceptance of applications. There is no maximum age limit. However, person who have passed the age of 70 may be considered only for temporary renewable appointments of one year." (Herald and News)
January 1, 1983: Fire destroyed the Sprague River Grocery, which also housed the post office. The post office was reopened inside the fire station.
October 2017 - Ron Kemnow photo