Top 50 Post Offices in Erie County, PA

Before consolidations and budget cuts, there were more than 50 post offices in Erie County, PA. The photo above shows the rural delivery routes for the County of Erie in 1903. There are lots of names that you don't hear of anymore. Does anyone know where Northville was?

The Top 50 Post Offices in 1903:
Albion, Anson, Arbuckle
Boscobel
Century, Cherry Hill, Clipper, Corry, Cranesville
Delhil
East Greene, East Springfield
Fairview, Francis, Franklin Corners
Girard, Godard, Greenfield
Hammett, Harborcreek, Hornby
Ivarea
Kuhl, Keepville
Lavery, LeBoeuf, Lowville, Lundy's Lane
McKean, McLallen Corners, McLane
Milesgrove, Mill Village, Moorheadville
Nasby, North East, North Springfield, Northville
Pennside, Phillipsville, Platea, Pont
Sterrettania, Swanville
Tracy
Union City
Wanneta, Waterford, Wattsburg, Weis Library, Wesleyville, West Springfield

Enjoy more fun facts about Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Walnut Creek Hotel in Kearsarge, PA

Walnut Creek Hotel postcard courtesy of Tom DiLuzio.

Here is a real photo postcard of an old Erie County hotel, complete with several pieces of luggage sitting in the dirt. The Walnut Creek Hotel, if it existed today, would sit at 5701 Peach Street, on the southeast corner of Peach and Biebel Avenue in Millcreek Township. The site is currently occupied by Roth Cadillac. It's across the street from the Millcreek Mall.

The Walnut Creek Hotel was also a tavern. There are three Erie Brewing Company corner signs on this wooden building, advertising beer, ale and porter. Kids who grew up in Kearsarge referred to this building as the 'Haunted House.'

There are three men in this photo, two on the porch (one in a white apron) and one standing next to the horse-drawn wagon. Unfortunately, there is no postmark on the postcard. At the turn of the century, Peach Street was called Edinboro Road, or the Erie and Edinboro Road. Biebel Avenue was called Zauniger Lane. (Zaunnegger St. now runs parallel to Peach St.)

My theory is that the Walnut Creek Hotel was owned by George and Mary Biebel. They were the parents of William and Edward Biebel. William died in his home at 5637 Peach Street on May 14, 1929. The headline of his obituary read "Well-known Kearsarge Merchant Succumbs at His Home." William and Edward owned a general store near the hotel. 

I'm hoping that one of the descendants of the men shown above will drop me an e-mail to solve this mystery. 

Enjoy more historic Erie, PA facts and photos at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com