On December 30, 1972, the Swedeland post office located at 625 “B” Street closed due to the termination of the lease by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The post office had been in the home of Francis R. Murphy who served as postmaster for 25 years.
The Swedeland post office was established on December 12, 1871, with Joseph J. Supplee appointed as its first postmaster.
The Swedeland post office was a gathering place for residents. At the time it closed there was no door to door delivery for the 200 families it severed. About 60 were general delivery and the rest had boxes which cost 20 cents every three months. There was only one mail delivery a day and nearly everybody came by to get their mail. Even the kids would come and many knew the combination that unlocked the family box.
Postal customers were told starting in January, 1973, their mail would be delivered by ‘mounted city delivery carrier from the Norristown PO’. Effective January 1, 1973, their mail should be addressed with a Swedeland zip code of 19479. Eventually that zip code was incorporated into the King of Prussia zip code of 19406.
A 1940 photo of the Swedeland Post Office, located at 625 “B” Street. (Courtesy of Fran Murphy.)
