The History of the Lambeth Post Office by Kathy Bayne for the Westminster Township Historical Society Post offices at the turn of the century were an important link between early settlers, townspeople, and farmers. Often, families had to travel long distances to pick up their mail. It was in 1908 that the Canadian government started free rural home delivery. Mail delivery in this area has been in operation for over 185 years. In 1840, D. McPherson became the Postmaster with the office located at Halls Mills near present-day Byron. It then moved down the North Talbot Road to what is now Lambeth’s Main Street. It was originally known as ‘The Westminster Post Office’. In 1857, John Chalmers took over as Postmaster. He renamed it after his hometown of Lambeth, England. In 1865, George Kelly was named Postmaster and moved the office to his store (Kelly’s General Store) at the intersection of Talbot Road and Hwy 2, where it continued until his death in 1900. Leonard Vandermade served as Lambeth Postmaster from 1900 to 1903, when again the office was moved to his store location (The Trading Post) on Main Street. W.B. Woodhull was Postmaster from 1903 to 1908. Not much is known about those years. George Carley was appointed Postmaster in 1908 and operated the office from the Trading Post, which he had purchased from Leonard Vandermade. In 1931, Mr. Carley built an annex to his store, then sold his store and moved the Post Office into the annex. He served until May 1943. Mrs. Ida Mabel Duncan took over until June 1944. Albert Moody took over in July 1944 until September 1948, then Mrs. Ida Duncan again from October 1948 until February 1949. By 1950, the office moved, yet again, to the main floor of the original Masonic Hall on Colonel Talbot Road South. Victor Burgess served as Postmaster during these moves, from 1949 to 1955. Donald Johnson became the Postmaster in 1955. Eventually, a new Post Office was built at 29 Main St. Donald Johnston celebrated his 30th anniversary in 1982 and retired in 1986, at which point Tim Lewis became Postmaster. He remained in this position until his retirement in 2010.
Jessica Thorne took over as Postmaster (Postmistress), followed by Andrea Nunn. Michelle Covan is our current Post Master in 2025. There is still a place for small-town post offices, where residents have their own pick-up boxes inside the building. For many residents, it is a destination to get their mail, meet the neighbours, and catch up with the town news and/or gossip. Lambeth and surrounding small town post offices are a test of time and survival. The first airmail arrived at the Lambeth Airport, located at the corner of Wonderland and Wharncliffe Roads in 1927. This greatly shortened the time it took for a letter to arrive, either from overseas or locally. A Post Office was located in the Masonic Hall on Talbot Street.
Westminster Township HISTORICAL SOCIETY westminstertwphs.ca
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Lambeth Villager • July-August 2025 • Page 13
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