For decades, Delphos Ohio has celebrated its history and development with a Festival known as Canal Days. Each year it appears that the festival gets bigger, better, and longer. Hundreds were entertained Thursday evening with the Toast of the City, while Friday evening brought the Delphos Area Art Guild’s Artfest and Reception.
Of course our museum is open for special viewing all day today from noon until 6 p.m. and then again from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday after the big parade. This is a perfect time to bring the whole family to downtown Delphos and enjoy the history as it unfolds in our museums and the activities that are planned.
So what does Canal Days have to do with postal history? Everything. The first mail that came to Delphos was delivered to a small structure on Lock 10. Here the mail that came with the canal boats was collected and people would come here to get their mail.
I really should say that the mail came by canal boat in 1846 to Section 10 which was actually located in Van Wert County. The first postmaster was Amos Clutter and he served in that capacity from June 30. 1846 until the next postmaster appointment which took place on Jan. 22, 1850. Remember postmasters were political appointees at that time and were appointed by the President of the United States. In 1850 the postmaster was Andrew Linn.