Post Offices Past

Some once small communities bordering Wilmington once had their own post offices and postal addresses. The Highlands, now a Wilmington neighborhood, was once a separate community with its own post office. Here is an 1886 envelope postmarked from Highlands from Joseph Bancroft & Sons Co. to Pusey & Jones Co. from 1886. Our own Highlands. house was built around 1882. Notice that neither businesses required a street address.

 Several years back the Montchanin Post Office left their old train station location in Montchanin and relocated in Breck's Mill along the Brandywine in the old community Henry Clay. Montchanin is a PO Box only station with its own zip code but no delivery area. From 1851 to 1924 Henry Clay had its own Post Office. Here's an envelope postmarked August 27, 1914 from Henry Clay .

 Highlands became part of Wilmington early in the 20th century.  Henry Clay remains just outside the Wilmington city limits and is part of the Wilmington 19807 zip code area.  The US Postal Service recognizes mail addressed Greenville, DE or Centerville, DE as well as Wilmington for the 19807 zip code.  The former worker housing in Montchanin is now The Inn at Montchanin Village & Spa, a boutique hotel and event venue.

Here's the Inn...

And here's Breck's Mill,  current location of the Montchanin PO...