Cherry Creek Post Office Troubles
Jerry Bowen © 1999
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Cherry Creekers are and have always been fiercely independent. The following series of three letters were are to and from B. F. Leach who operated the Post office located in the Leach Brothers Store in the 1930s.
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| A check written from the Leach
Brothers Store to the Nevada Northern Railroad Co. Courtesy of Jerry
Bowen |
A receipt for 5 cents worth of
candy for a Gary Atwood. Courtesy of Jerry
Bowen |
I copied them just as they were typed including the misspellings, capitalization and the spacing of the lettering. The first one was from the United States Post Office Department in Reno, Nevada to the Cherry Creek Post Office in the Leach Brothers Store:
June 9, 1938
Postmaster,
Cherry Creek, Nevada,
My Dear Sir,
On May 24th you were requested to explain an apparent delay in remitting surplus funds. In this instance you remitted $200.00 on May 23rd, while the next previous remittance, $75.00, was dated May 18th.
To date we have received no reply and you are requested to forward an explanation by return mail, showing the dates on which the funds remitted May 23rd accumulated at your office.
Very sincerely yours,
Pete Petersen
Postmaster
By Mr. William Pierce
Asst. Postmaster
B. F. Leach replied obviously irritated with the following letter:
Hon. Pete Petersen Postmaster,
Attention of Mr.Wm.Pierce
Reno Nevada
Dear Mr.Pierce ;- I have your letter of the 9 th asking why I didn’t explain delay in Supplus funds of May 23 rd. and the reason I didn’t have anything to Explain.
May 22 was Sunday and no mail out of hear on Sundays and Monday was the 23 rd the day Surplus was mailed. goes out in the PM Say around 5PM and later I write most of the orders.
Your Office don’t need to woried worry if the funds should be a day or so
late and the Bank in Salt Lake City which I am a stock Holder will glady pay an
over draft in case I was short. And if Washington ,D.C.Would like to know the
Bank I will give them the Name. I have Banked with them for most 20 years and
never had to use an overdraft
I donot have to have the Post Office to make a living out of and I didn’t ask for it in the first place.But I can’t send in Surplus Funds untill I sell the orders.With out you need it and in that case I could send you in my check in advance.
Yours very truly
B. F. Leach
Then it appears that he decided to write the Postmaster General in Washington to complain about the treatment he was receiving from the Reno office:
June , 11 ,1938
The Third Assistant Postmaster General ,Division Of Money Order,
Washington, D.C.
Hon.Third Assistant :- I would like to ask about the
following;
The Central Accounting Office at Reno,Nev.Keeps kicking about delay of
Surplus Funds and asking why and explain why the delay where there isn’t any and
I am getting tired of it.
The way the orders comes in hear for Money Orders is you may go a week
only a few dollars and then you get a good day and I may write $2oo,00 to
$330.00 in one day and the next Morning it is sent in .Then Reno wants me to
Explain the delay.
There is some times I am called out of town for two or three
days . But I know about what days the Money Orders are written most and I am
hear to atten to it. I never have given my Assistant any orders to sent the
remitance in as I allways want it OKE .If you will look up my record as
Postmaster for about 7 years tou want find many mistakes .
But if Reno keeps on as they are now doing I will resign as it takes up
to much time I need in my Business. If you wish you may write the Walker Bank
& Trust Co. Salt Lake City, Utah. As to my Standing and I think they will
back me up.
Kindly let me know just what to do about this and if you want me to
resign .
Thanking you very kindly I remain,
Yours truly
Postmaster
I don’t have a listing of the Postmasters of Cherry Creek so I don’t know what the final result of the matter was. Jerry Bowen
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| Front of a Post Office Money Order that was issued by the Cherry Creek Post Office located in the Leach Brothers store. It was written to Mrs. Pierce for an order placed to Sears in Los Angeles, California. Courtesy of Jerry Bowen | Back of a Post Office Money Order that was issued by the Cherry Creek Post Office located in the Leach Brothers store. It was written to Mrs. Pierce for an order placed to Sears in Los Angeles, California. Courtesy of Jerry Bowen |
Last Updated on 07/11/2001
