This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: frostfreedet Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.delaware.counties.sussex/3189.3/mb.ashx Message Board Post: It should be an easy matter with the information from the booklet to trace ownership of the home backward from the 1986 purchasers. The statement as to when the home was built may or may not be correct, but it seems unlikely that a distinct building was erected to be a Post Office 'in' Woodland, with Seaford but 6 miles away. There may have been a limited-servace postal substation, selling stamps and taking mail for sending. Such offices were often in a home (or attached lean-to) or the corner of a local store. If a Post Office named 'Woodland' existed, one has to be careful mentally to distinguish between the PO name and a place name. The US PO officials in Washington DC determined what the name of the PO would be, and each had to be unique. The first Postal Person in a given specific locale could suggest a name, but their choice was advisory only. This can create local confusion and map-makers' confusion about differentiating between PO name and village or other site name. The 1930 US Census, by the way, shows two adult William Knowles' in Sussex Co., William A. and William S., both farmers. Willard Knowles was enumerated as a Truck Farmer. Another approach to the location would be to look at the 1930 Census page-by-page for the Woodland-Seaford-ferry area, to see whether anyone had a Postal occupation. Then one could see if this person owned property in the right area for it to have actually served as the site of the PO or substation at that time. It is well also to remember that Postal appointments were political patronage, and tended to change with Presidencies. There may have been a brand new postal person with the election of FDR. Good hunting, Jade Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.