HISTORY OF THE MILES CITY POST OFFICE
By William J. Dunn Sr.
Fanning the Embers, © 1971, Range Rider Reps, Miles City, Montana

The first post office located in the community was established Dec. 27, 1876, at Fort Keogh with the appointment of Gen. Nelson A. Miles as Postmaster. The office was first known as Tongue River until Jan. 4, 1878, when the name was officially changed to Fort Keogh. It remained as such until Nov. 30, 1908, when the office was discontinued. During this time, in addition to General Miles, the following served as Postmaster at Fort Keogh: William D. O'Toole, George M. Miles, George A. Way, William N. Macqueen, William F. Gibson, Eastman G. Currey and Michael F. Mann.

The first post office to be located in Miles City proper was established in what was then known as Old Town, just east of Miles City on the bank of the Yellowstone, Nov. 16, 1877, with Louis Payette as the first Postmaster. In the spring of the following year the post office was moved to where the Hawley Hotel now stands. Charles W. Savage was named Postmaster July 15, 1878, and the the office was again moved, back to the Hawley Hotel site. When stands. Newman Borchard became Postmaster June 28, 1881, and the office was again moved, back to the Hawley Hotel site. When John McAusland went in as Postmaster March 12, 1886, the location was changed to the corner of Main and Seventh, where Foster's Drug now stands. March 20, 1890, Charles W. Seyde became Postmaster and again the office location was changed. this time to the corner of Main and Fifth where the Olive Hotel now stands. Emmson S. Beeman was appointed Postmaster April 7. 1894, with the office being moved across the street to 502 Main, where the Sherwin Williams store now stands. A woman, Ada M. Bennett, became Miles City's seventh Postmaster Feb. 27, 1897, with the office being moved to the old Wibaux building, where the First Security Bank now stands. John S. Towers became Postmaster Feb. 27, 1906, with the office being moved to the Palace Hotel, now the Lewis and Clark Apartments.

With the appointment of Thomas Gibb April 24, 1914, the office prepared to move for the last time and in 1915 did move to its present location at the corner of Seventh and Pleasant. Robert H. Michaels was appointed Postmaster Sept. 15, 1922. Michaels served until Feb. 6, 1935, when Thomas Butler took over as Postmaster. Upon Mr. Butler's retirement Aug. 31, 1949, William J. Dunn took over the duties of the office Sept. 1, 1949 and has served since that time.

From November, 1967, until December, 1968, the post office was in temporary quarters at the corner of Seventh and Bridge, the former Sullivan Motor building, during the half million dollar extension and remodeling work on the present post office.

The Miles City office is a Sectional Center for southeastern Montana and, as such, serves 35 post offices in this area as a receiving and distribution facility. These offices are served by 14 Star Routes operating out of Miles City. Only four other post offices (Kinsey, Ismay, Locate and Volborg) besides Miles City remain in Custer county out of the 24 post offices in operation in 1915. A 1915 Post Guide lists those 24 as Beebe. Broadus. Calabar, Coalwood, Garland. Graham, Hillcrest, lsmay, Kimball, Kingsley. Kinsey, Knowlton, Meredith. Miles City, Mizpah, Moorhead, Olive. Otter, Pinto, Powderville, Selway, Shirley. Stacey and Stone Shack.