Delphos Postal Museum plans gala event

DELPHOS — The Museum of Postal History in Delphos has recently been the recipient of an entire truckload of postal artifacts, which include items that date back to the mid 1800s. The importance of these articles has caused us to rethink the design and layout of the museum located at 339 N. Main Street. This former horse livery built in 1902 has become the museum’s new home.

The first change was to construct over 3,000 square feet of partitions creating small galleries and additional space for displays.  One of those galleries holds a major portion of the stamp collections donated by Walter W. Wolery, the Wiltsie family, the Rothgery family, the Shenk family, and the Bilen family.  In all, the collection holds hundreds of thousands of stamps both domestic and international.

The Delphos Area Art Guild and artist Oscar Velasquez have painted several murals depicting local buildings during various periods of Delphos history. These serve as a backdrop for the collection of antique postal vehicles ranging from 1906 until 1964.

Delphos was a terminus for the U.S. Post Office Railway Mail Service connecting Delphos with Akron on the former A C & Y railroad.  A reproduction of that U.S. Mail compartment has been completed using actual equipment used by the men who rode the rails. It has taken several years and thousands of miles to acquire all the necessary pieces. Don Fair, a former Railway Post Office (RPO) clerk, has donated many of the personal items on display.

To unveil all these new exhibits and to honor donors and volunteers, a gala celebration entitled, “A Night at the Museum” is scheduled for Sunday evening, February 19, at 5 p.m.  Guests will enjoy refreshments as they tour the museum. A buffet dinner will be served, followed by a short program about the future of the museum and to recognize those who have helped to make the museum possible.  Robert Ulm will provide musical entertainment.

The price of admission is $25 per person with reserved tables for groups of eight. Each ticket will also serve as a chance to win a week’s vacation in a condominium at either Palm Springs or Lake Tahoe, Calif.

For additional information or to make a reservation, contact Museum Director Gary Levitt at 419.303.5482 or mail checks to Museum of Postal History, P.O. Box 174, Delphos, OH 45833-0174.