Local History: The Many Homes of the Short Hills Post Office

Since 1885, the Short Hills post office has had many homes. In 1885, the Short Hills post office was moved from the train station, apparently, to Mr. Goodrich's store, now a private residence at 128 Hobart Ave. It was moved again in 1913 to the 167 Hobart Ave. building seen here, also now a private residence.

As can be seen in the image scanned from a postcard in the collection of the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society, printed on the window to the left of the front door of the 167 Hobart building is "POST OFFICE; Short Hills; N.J."

As can also be seen on the window on the left in the photo of the stores on Chatham Road, the Short Hills post office was on Chatham Road in the 1930s, to the right of the current post office building.

The current post office building was officially opened on July 30, 1938.

Until 1948, Short Hills residents had to go to the post office to retrieve the mail, but a 1948 newspaper article noted, "The long-awaited mail delivery for the Short Hills area will be an accomplished fact on March 1 when delivery will start on the four routes set up by postal authorities." The article added, "Additional cooperation is also needed from those residents who have not yet equipped their homes with house numbers and a mail box or door slot."

Among the local history items in the society's collection is the envelope pictured here, which commemorates that March 1, 1948 first day of mail delivery to Short Hills homes.