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USPS
Museum
Michigan's Hidden Museum
The basement of the Marshall, Michigan post office along with one other building holds postal treasures from the past. The museum is the brainchild of Mike Schragg, retired Postmaster of Marshall. Mike began collecting postal memorabilia while he was still Postmaster. It wasn't long before someone suggested that he start a museum. Currently there are six rooms, soon to be seven, plus the auxiliary building. The museum is open by appointment only. There is no admission charge. Donations are accepted.
During June of this year (2005), the USS Kalamazoo Chapter of the USCS made arrangements to tour the facility. The day was sunny as we gathered at the Marshall Post Office waiting for the tour to begin. Finally it began in the auxiliary building which houses a couple of postal vehicles and other memorabilia. The 1931 Model A postal truck that he drove in the 1st Inaugural Parade for President George W. Bush, the old post office, each item has a story and Mike really enjoys telling them. After taking a few pictures we moved to the basement of the post office which houses the majority of the material. More postal vehicles, more old post offices, old equipment. I found it interesting to see things that I knew existed but had never seen before, pre-canceling devices, an early electric canceller, old mail boxes, a collection of post office box fronts and things to numerous to mention. Of course each has it own story and Mike obliged us by them. A few more pictures and it was off to lunch.
One can tell by listening to Mike recount the tales of each item, what it was for, how he obtained it, etc that the museum can only be a labor of love.
I apologize in advance for the quality of some of the pictures. This is an new camera and I'm still learning the ins and outs.
Click here to see selected pictures
