Evelyn Edson, president, Scottsville Museum
Time was, the mail came by boat. Twice a day the packet boat arrived, one from Richmond heading west and one from Lynchburg going in the other direction. Then came the train.
There was not so much mail in those days. Sometimes the day’s haul would fit in the postmaster’s pocket. The mail did bring newspapers, but not the quantity of junk mail we receive today. Parcel post did not come along until 1913, reaching Scottsville in the 1940s.
Scottsville had had postal service back in the 18th century, but the first postmaster listed on the U.S. Postal website was Samuel Dyer, who held that position in 1814. At that time, letters were addressed to “Scotts Ferry,” not changing to “Scottsville” until 1850. Among the longest-serving postmasters was Samuel Gault, postmaster from 1893 to 1939, Ashby W. Mayo (1939-1958), Edward G. Gildersleeve (1958-1979), and David L. Lea (1979-2002).