5 postal location images · 1 postmaster register image · Checked transcription · Research ongoing
Postmasters of Arthurdale
Arthurdale’s post office was established on August 9, 1935. The federal postmaster register begins with Mrs. Arzana M. Ward, who was confirmed that day. Her commission was signed and mailed on September 3, 1935, the date she is also recorded as assuming charge. Later entries document changes in Arthurdale’s postmasters through 1963.
The register records administrative actions—such as nomination, confirmation, acting service, commissions, assumption of charge, retirement, removal, and termination—rather than simple beginning-and-ending term dates. The summaries below therefore preserve the sequence of the federal record without treating every recorded date as a term boundary.
Arzana M. Ward
Recorded span: 1935–1948 · Not a complete term of office
Confirmed Aug. 9, 1935; commission signed and mailed and assumed charge Sept. 3, 1935. Later nominated June 22, 1944; confirmed June 23; commission signed and mailed June 24; assumed charge July 1. Retired Apr. 30, 1948.
Appointment record details for Arzana M. Ward
Confirmed — Aug. 9, 1935
Commission signed and mailed — Sept. 3, 1935
Assumed charge — Sept. 3, 1935
Remark — “4th Class.”
Nominated — June 22, 1944
Confirmed — June 23, 1944
Recess or acting column — “apptd Pres,” June 24, 1944
Commission signed and mailed — June 24, 1944
Assumed charge — July 1, 1944
Cause and date of vacancy — “Ret. 4/30/48”
Remark — “Pres July 1, 1943”
Genevieve Vanaman
Recorded span: 1948 · Not a complete term of office
Assumed charge May 1, 1948.
Appointment record details for Genevieve Vanaman
Assumed charge — May 1, 1948
Robert R. Vanaman
Recorded span: 1949–1959 · Not a complete term of office
Assumed charge July 1, 1949. Later nominated July 6, 1950; confirmed July 28; commission signed and mailed Aug. 2; assumed charge Sept. 30. Removed Oct. 30, 1959.
Appointment record details for Robert R. Vanaman
Assumed charge — July 1, 1949
Remark — “2nd Des.”
Nominated — July 6, 1950
Confirmed — July 28, 1950
Recess or acting column — “apptd PM.”, Aug. 2, 1950
Commission signed and mailed — Aug. 2, 1950
Assumed charge — Sept. 30, 1950
Cause and date of vacancy — “Rem. 10-30-59”
William H. Lovett
Recorded span: 1959–1962 · Not a complete term of office
This transcription was reviewed against the original image by Shirley on October 4, 2026. Abbreviations and unusual sequencing are preserved where the federal record is not self-explanatory.
Dates below identify the documents, not the office’s full operating period. Applications and proposed site changes should not be read as confirmed establishment or relocation dates. Original spellings and qualifications are retained in the checked index notes.
Original records & research notes
NARA page 339 · Record date: 1942
Post office location form
Office / subject as indexed: Arthurdale
Dated May 12, 1942. Mail supplied by star route from Reedsville. Lists Route 92, Deckers Creek, Dillons Creek, Reedsville, Newburg, Masontown and Kingwood. Postmaster signature appears to read Arzana M. Ward.
National Archives · M1126, roll 651 · Preston_027_NARApage_340.jpg
NARA page 341 · Record date: 1934
Proposed post office location form
Office / subject as indexed: Arthurdale
Issued August 15, 1934; received September 6, 1934, with later August 10, 1935 stamp. Proposed office in Valley District, not on a mail route. Lists Reedsville 1.4 miles northeast and Morgantown & Kingwood Branch of B&O. Signature/date lines blank.
National Archives · M1126, roll 651 · Preston_028_NARApage_341.jpg
NARA page 342 · Record date: 1934
Map / diagram
Office / subject as indexed: Arthurdale
Associated with page 341 (date from proposed-office form). Detailed map shows roads, railroads, Cheat River and Deckers Creek, with Reedsville, Masontown, Bretz, Cascade, Browns Mills, Bethlehem, Gladesville, Manown, Kingwood, Albright, Howesville, Newburg, Independence and Tunnelton.
National Archives · M1126, roll 651 · Preston_029_NARApage_342.jpg
NARA page 343 · Record date: 1934
Application continuation / mail supply
Office / subject as indexed: Arthurdale
Associated with page 341 (date inferred from form). Lists village population 300, expected to increase to 1,500 within one year. Proposed special mail supply from Reedsville; lists star routes 16117, 16118 and 16119. Certification signatures blank.
