Limestone County is growing and with that growth comes a change in the landscape. For many, change can bring about the desire to keep things as they have always known it to be. Limestone County has been evolving for centuries. As a matter of fact, even the name of the county changed from Elk to Limestone on February 6, 1818.

Since Limestone County was established in 1818, many towns and communities have been established. Some of those towns are still thriving and growing today but several communities have faded away.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Limestone County had 56 post offices located within its borders. The mail was delivered on horseback and with poor roads, the post office was an essential part of each community.

In 1862, early postal reports show offices located in Mooresville, Athens, Pettusville, Mount Rozell, Gilbertsboro, Centre Hill, Goodsprings. Lucky Hit, and Shoalford. As Limestone County grew, requests for more post offices did too. Harris Station mail facilities opened in 1874 and the Stateline post office in 1875. The Stateline facility was later moved to Veto in 1915

According to a News Courier article published April 2, 1993, the following communities had applications submitted for opening post offices: Baker (1900), Aster (1890), Carriger (1886), Cartwright (1884), Carter (1892), Caro (1888), Cup (1900), Chrystine (1903), Coxey (1917), Elk River Mills (1914), Gipsy (1888), and, Blackburn, Clifton, Quid Nunc, Desko, Swancott. Tickridge, Strange, Westmoreland, Maples, Lax, and Sand Springs, all in 1899.

Other post offices were constructed in communities to help distribute the growing mail delivery demands, including: Rye (1890), Ruff (1892), Wooley Springs (1885), Hyde Park (1886), Ingleside (1878), Peerson (1891), Pacio (1893), Olaville (1878), Boss Mill (1885), Petty (1886), Rockaway (1891), Fair Mount (1892), Lentzville (1890), Legg (1894), Goring (1902), and Poplar Creek (1902).

In 1886, the post office in Petty was moved to Ripley. The Ida post office was renamed Coxey in 1917. The Newland post office, established in 1895, was relocated to Lester in 1942 and the Rowland post office was renamed Tanner in 1913.

It wasn’t unusual for women to fill the manager positions at the many rural post offices. Records from the early 1900s show that at least seven of the mail facilities had postmistresses: three named Mollie, two named Ida, one Francis, and one Mira.

In the early 1900s, rural routes were implemented and soon, dozens of post offices would no longer be needed. April 30, 1903, Athens Route 1 was established and free mail delivery to homes began. Route 1 consisted of the north and northeast sections of the county with other rural routes established soon after.

Squire Hiram McSherry made history as the first rural mail carrier in Limestone County when he began delivering mail to homes in April 1903.

Over the next three decades, the number of rural post offices steadily declined and in 1932, Congress approved a bill approving $58,170 for the construction of the Athens Federal Building for a new post office. The USPS purchased the site at the northwest corner of West Washington Street and South Madison Streets, the former home place of the late John M. Russell. The building was completed and on Nov. 14, 1933, the post office officially opened, becoming the central hub for mail service throughout Athens and Limestone County.

By the late 1970s, the USPS decided to build a more modern building at the corner of Market and Hine Street and the facility still serves the community today.