This year for Archival Awareness Week, the City of Vaughan is featuring the post offices from our past that helped put the villages and communities of Vaughan on the map! #AAW2023

On January 8th, 1854, a post office was established in Concord on Lot 6, Concession 3 (at the present-day intersection of Dufferin and Centre Streets). Until 1871, John Duncan served as the first postmaster, however, the job was not a full-time profession and he also continued farming. John Duncan was followed by the McElroys, and more. Norman Bowes was the longest serving postmaster from 1919-1947. After Mr. Bowes’s tenure, the post office underwent several location and staffing changes before Canada Post officially took it over by 1981.

City of Vaughan Archives: MG 45

The second post office for #AAW2023 is the Kleinburg Post Office. In 1860, H.S. Howland was appointed the first postmaster for Kleinburg, serving for 18 years. In 1901, James East built the second location for the Kleinburg Post Office, along with a general store, at what is now 10483 Islington Avenue. The structure had large front windows and a boomtown roofline typical for 19th and early 20th century store design. In addition to posting their mail, local farmers would stop in to exchange and purchase goods.

City of Vaughan Archives: MG 45

The Thornhill Post Office is the next feature for #AAW2023. In the early days, letters to and from Montreal cost 75 cents and took three months to travel. Comparatively, mail from Great Britain could take up to a year and cost $1.12 to post. The first post office in Thornhill was established in 1829 under William Parsons, who was also the longest serving postmaster, from 1829-61. The post office operation out of local homes and storefronts until it was given a specifically designated location.

City of Vaughan Archives: MG 45

The third #AAW2023 post focuses on the Maple Post Office, which was housed on the northwest corner of the intersection of Major Mackenzie Drive and Keele Street. Built in approximately 1852, its first postmaster was Joseph Noble, and the longest serving postmaster was Henry C. Bailey, who ran it from 1906-1938. The post office remained in its original location until 1951, when, under the tenure of Dougal McCowan, it was moved to new premises on Keele Street North, and then again in 1968 to south of Maple United Church.

City of Vaughan Archives: MG 21