The first settlement made here was called Neighborville. The Neighborville Post Office was established in 15 Feb 1875 and Abraham Bieber was appointed the first postmaster, but died before his commission arrived. Charles D. Bieber was appointed postmaster to fill the vacancy. Neighborville Post Office was discontinued 10 Apr 1882. Calvert Post Office was established 01 September 1885 and discontinued 31 October 1953. Calvert is located in Sec 25, Twp 2 S, Range 22 W. The plat for Calvert townsite was filed 16 Jan 1888 at the time the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad was built through. The plat has the names of: The Kansas Town and Land Company, James VanNotric, Drazilla VanNotric his wife, Charles D. Bieber and Eliza B. Bieber his wife. The Seth townsite plat was filed 13 Sept 1887 and signed by David F. and Ida H. McFarland. There is no evidence to suggest that Seth had a post office. There was a railway depot and stockyards, and perhaps a few businesses. At one time Calvert had a newspaper, The Calvert Gazette published by Messrs. Rhanny and Felt. The Gazette for May 9, 1889 - Feb. 5, 1890 is available on microfilm from the Kansas State Historical Society. It is Reel # A 1341. Check their web site for further information on how to order this film. http://www.kshs.org/resource/illpoli.htm An article in the Norton County News Historical Edition of 1916 states, "The town of Calvert was known as Neighborville until the Burlington built through (1885), and because the name was too long, they wished to change it, and without consulting anyone, they named it Seth. This caused dissatisfaction, and the residents suggested the name 'Calvert' after an official of the Burlington, but this the Burlington refused to accept. At the time A. K. Mills was register of deeds and when the Rock Island was built through, Mr. Dotta, general right of way agent, came into Mr. Mills office and showed him a plat of the road and wished to record it. The plat gave the name 'Seth' and Mr. Mills told him that the name was unsatisfactory and that the people wished it called Calvert and offered to record it free if Mr. Dotta would change it. This he did and while for years the Burlington still called it Seth on their time tables, they were finally forced to change it to Calvert." (Yes, Calvert was served by both the Burlington and Rock Island railroads!) In this same article, in 1916 Calvert had a Presbyterian church, a Methodist Church, a lumber yard owned by M. August Pache and a general mercantile store owned by H. S. Bryant, who also was postmaster and in the real estate business. According to "The WPA Guide to 1930's Kansas", "Calvert...lies in the center of extensive deposits of volcanic ash, or powdered lava, used in the manufacture of glass, scouring powders, and in glazing china and porcelain. Calvert ships 500 carloads of pulverized silica annually. Steam shovels scoop up the pure white sileceous material occurring in layers some 18 feet thick just under the surface of the hills that rise rather abruptly south of the village." In 1942, according to D.N. Bowers book, "Seventy Years in Norton County" Calvert boasted a church, a two-room school, lumber yard, store and facilities for mining and shipping silica. Does anyone know if silica is still shipped from Calvert?