Before 1965, the Township of West Milford lacked a formal house numbering system, which complicated mail delivery across the extensive municipality. Rural mail carriers relied solely on the names of roads, towns, and states to deliver letters and packages, often needing to know the names and locations of residents without any reference numbers.
Mail delivery before the establishment of house numbers was a unique challenge. For instance, one envelope was addressed simply to “Red headed Gene next to the gas station on Echo Lake Road.” This unconventional addressing system worked for recipients like Gene Mathews, who received mail without issue. The mailmen, including Walter Snel and Leslie Post, covered extensive areas, including Echo Lake Road, Union Valley Road, and other local routes.
Walter Snel, who delivered mail from his personal car, was a familiar figure in the community. A graduate of Butler High School’s class of 1921, Snel delivered a variety of items to homes, including live baby chicks ordered from Chicago. He worked out of the Butler Post Office, navigating routes that included Apshawa, Gordon Lake, and the Mariontown Hill area. Snel’s deliveries were made without any house numbers, as Zip Codes were not implemented nationwide until 1963.
On the other hand, Leslie Post served customers along Union Valley Road and delivered mail as far as the Hewitt intersection, which included Pinecliff Lake area deliveries. The first West Milford Post Office was located in a building that also housed the medical office of the late Dr. Joseph Massessa, who tragically died in an air show accident.
In 1965, the Township of West Milford Committee made a significant decision to improve mail delivery by establishing a house numbering system. The committee voted 3-2 to award a contract to G. Waldo Rude Engineering Associates for the project, with a budget of $11,000. Despite some dissent, with committee members Warren Brogan and William Dunnigan advocating for a different engineering firm due to a lower bid, Mayor Wilbur Fredericks supported Rude’s proposal based on their successful history in similar projects.
The implementation of house numbers transformed the mail delivery process in West Milford. Mailmen like Snel continued their routes, now equipped with the new numbering system, making deliveries more efficient.
Prior to the construction of the current West Milford Post Office on 1560 Union Valley Road, the post office operated from a storefront in the ShopRite complex, which is now home to Frank’s Pizza. As of January, customers of the Hewitt Post Office were advised to use the West Milford Post Office for their mail services until further notice.
Today, West Milford maintains several post office locations, including branches on Route 23 in Newfoundland and Oak Ridge Road. The establishment of a house numbering system has greatly enhanced the accuracy of mail delivery, reflecting the evolving needs of the community.
