2026-04-24T11:52:15-04:00 Zend_Feed_Writer https://shenandoahstories.org/ Shenandoah Stories https://shenandoahstories.org 2016-06-14T10:29:47-04:00 2018-10-19T11:46:21-04:00 https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/122 Shenandoah County Library In the 1920s, Charles Richard Shannon demolished an old house on this site and erected a new building to serve as the town’s post office. Apartments were housed on the second floor. His son, James Shannon became the Postmaster for the town of Mt. Jackson soon after this and served until 1970. A local legend claims the building was constructed in exchange for his appointment, though there is no evidence to collaborate this. James’s tenure, interrupted only by his military service from May 1944- December 1945, was the longest of any local postmaster. When he was originally appointed, local postmasters were still chosen by the President of the United States who picked people according to their political allegiance. However Franklin Roosevelt altered this system during his Presidency and Shannon was able to remain postmaster despite political changes. During the late 20th century, the post office in town had reached a crossroads. The Shannon building was no longer suitable for postal operations which had out grown the first floor space available to it. Eventually land was acquired on the north end of town and a new post office was constructed there in 1998. Today the building houses apartments and a first floor commercial space. For more, view the original article. 2016-05-05T12:46:50-04:00 2018-10-19T11:46:20-04:00 https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/23 Shenandoah County Library In 1920 Toms Brook residents gathered together to form the Bank of Toms Brook. Initially the institution had over $165,000 worth of loans, deposits, and securities. The state of Virginia notes that in 1922, S.B. Miley was the President and J.L. Feller were the cashiers. These two families are prominent members of the local community and certainly increased their prestige by working at the bank. Most of their customers were certainly associated with the nearby Rockdale Lime Quarry or with commercial establishments that served the needs of their workers. On April 9 1931, the Massanutten National Bank in Strasburg announced it was merging with the Bank of Toms Brook. Having been negatively affected by the Great Depression, Toms Brook’s financial institution was no longer able to operate on its own. The merger meant Massanutten acquired all of the Bank of Toms Brook’s assets, debts, buildings, and records which were moved to Strasburg. The bank building in Toms Brook was closed. Not long after this the United States government acquired the building and moved the Toms Brook Post Office to the site. For more (including 2 images), view the original article. 2016-05-05T11:02:48-04:00 2018-10-19T11:46:20-04:00 https://shenandoahstories.org/items/show/22 Shenandoah County Library By the 1930s the population of Strasburg Virginia had grown and increased demand for services indicated a new post office was needed. At the same time, the United States Government was funding an extensive amount of construction projects to provide work for those affected by the Great Depression. These factors led to the construction of Strasburg’s first purposefully built post office. Prior to this all mail had been handled in rented office space. Completed in 1936, this Treasury Department project was a major community project. Local leaders felt the new post office would enhance the town and promote its prosperity. Its design, complete with a cupola, reflects the colonial revival style so popular during the period. Inside the post office is a mural titled Apple Orchard. Sponsored by the Works Progress Administration and the Treasury Department’s Section of Fine Arts, it depicts workers gathering in a harvest of apples and reflects the importance of that industry to the local economy. It was painted by Sarah Blakeslee. For more (including 2 images), view the original article.