-Chapter IV- TOWNS, COMMUNITIES, AND MILITIA DISTRICTS (1880-1980)
The Chatsworth Post Office
For many years the Chatsworth Post Office was the only government office in the town. The first post office was located back of a "confectionary" on the northwest corner of Market and First-near the railroad. Alvin Jones was appointed the first postmaster on March 26. 1906. He was succeeded by Willis H. Pendley on July 22. 1909. The post office then moved to a Second Avenue location (on the present site of Village Cafeteria). Robert M. Gudger was appointed postmaster on Feb. 5, 1910 and was succeeded by Sam M. Barnett on November 16. 1914.
On September 30. 1929. J.F. "Fletcher" Charles became postmaster. In 1931 post office box rent was 35^ for 3 months. Two years later the post office moved to another rented building on Third Avenue, east of the courthouse. Mr. Charles resigned on January 9. 1934; Miss Ruth Redmond succeeded him.
As the number of county post offices declined, rural free delivery grew. Since Chatsworth was the county seat, its post office expanded and grew in importance. In 1934 J.H. Wood was the Route 1 carrier while L.H. Richards and J.T. Tucker worked on Routes 2 and 3 respectively. Mr. Robert L. Vining, who had been assistant for several years, was appointed Chatsworth postmaster March 3, 1944.
The next year Mr. Vining's wife, the former Kate Jefferson, took his place for a few months until lie returned to begin more than a quarter of a century as postmaster. Mrs. Vining remained his assistant until their retirement in 1973.
Carl Tanksley who had been the Route 1 carrier for 21 years, became the next postmaster. When Mr. Tanksley retired in 1977, Melvin Welch received the appointment. Two other long-time employees were Dot Mantooth and Mack Jackson. Jim Howard, who took Mr. Tanksley's place on Route 1, is senior rural letter carrier.
In 1962 various Chatsworth residents began contacting congressmen and postal officials in hopes of obtaining a new post office. R.E. Chambers, president of the Cohutta Bank and the Chatsworth Enterprises, led the efforts. The work was fruitless until 1964 when money for a new office and a federal building was appropriated. No longer would federal agencies be forced to rent office space. The present post office, on the corner of Fort and Fourth is now the base for seven rural routes and three city routes.
Murray County Heritage