York’s third Post Office,
a two-storey frame building on the west side of George Street below
Duke (now Adelaide), opened in 1830 under Postmaster James Scott Howard(1). As Postmaster, Howard was responsible for providing and equipping a Post Office building, and paying for staff(2).
It was a large outlay, however, the Postmaster claimed some of the
postal profits of the sales which made it one of the most lucrative
positions in York(3). This was a unique Post Office as it was the first to offer patrons individual post office boxes(4).
Howard (1798-1866) was a native of County Cork in Ireland. His unique
ancestry began with his grandfather Nicola Huart (or Houard), a
Huguenot who fled France when the Edicts of Nantes were revoked, ending
toleration of Protestants(5). Nicola first went to Holland, then reunited with his family in England to finally settle in Ireland(6). Once in Ireland, Huart became Howard.
The young Irishman first landed in Fredericton, New Brunswick, then moved to York in 1820(7). He worked in the Post Office under William Allan [site 27, 50] until being appointed Postmaster in July 1828(8).
Howard’s appointment was met with some local opposition because
he was a Methodist at a time when York had a predominantly Anglican
population(9). Prejudices were expressed by their
reluctance to let Howard handle their mail, and likely were a factor in
Haward’s ultimate dismisal.
Howard was the third Postmaster in York, following William Willcocks
and William Allan respectively. He proved successful and enterprising,
and held the office of Postmaster for a total of eighteen years. Postal
operations in York’s third Post Office continued until the
opening of the Duke Street Post Office [site 34]. |
Notes
- Robertson, I, p.57.
- Martyn, Original Toronto, p.70.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Sheldon and Judy Godfrey, Stones, Bricks and History, 4th ed. (Toronto: Lester and Orpen Dennys, 1984), p.25.
- Ibid.
- Firth, p.193.
- Ibid.
- Godfrey and Godfrey, p.26.
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