John Clement, Sr., was commissioned March 22, 1803 as the first postmaster in town, and he began to organized the service of mail.  The first post office was in the tavern that had been built by Edward Gibbs in 1777.  That building is still standing on the corner of Main street and Mechanic street. (Neumeyer's).  On June 4, 1900, the borough council passed a resolution that gave the postmaster permission to place letterboxes on street corners throughout the town.  In 1828 during John Quincy Adams' term as President, the post office was at east Kings highway and Potter street in a store operated by Sarah Kay Norris and the postmaster was Joseph Porter.  During the years, the headquarters has been in many locations, all rented, until the present building which was built and opened for business July 1, 1935.  In 1899 Haddonfield was a village with no illumination on the streets except in the business section of east Kings highway where oil lamps hung on poles.  The more important streets had board sidewalks.

At that time three mailmen served the whole town daily.  One of the original carriers was George B. Tule, Senior, who retired on pension after he had reached thirty four years of service.  His son, Karl, supplied the facts of his father's career in those early years.  He remembers helping his father get his boots off at the end of a day's work.

Boots were necessary equipment as streets were unpaved and sidewalks were dirt paths.  Mr Tule started a day's work at 6 a.m. making a collection from the corner mailboxes, a delivery, two afternoon collections, and after supper he made the second house delivery.  His first route was fifteen miles long, on foot, of course.  It covered one third of the town and included the Batesville sections across the Ellis street bridge, the area around the Kress' Liquor Store.  He served this route for fourteen years and then was transferred to the Warwick road and Chews Landing road area and the in between streets.  Then there was nothing past west Summit avenue.  The postman delivered not only letters but all packages were his responsibility, too.  At Christmas there would be a pushcart and a boy helper.  One year "Spot" Luther helped Mr Tule.  A lantern was carried during the evening deliveries, and dogs were a constant hindrance.

When the corner of the post office was dismantled in October 1977 so that a ramp could be built for handicapped persons, the cornerstone had to be removed.  The contents of the tin box that was in the stone furnished, with the assistance of Postmaster Tom J. Hannigan, the information that made this column possible.