The year 1936 marks the seventh of The Great Depression which does not end until December 1941 with bombing of Pearl Harbor; same month Germany declares war against the United States.
In 1936, conditions leave little money to build anything, men have difficulty finding or keeping a job; a dollar is worth very little.
How could any town think the government would build a post office?
Post Master Addison Lysander Lincecum had friends at the state and federal level including JJ Mansfield who he asked to front his request. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain if approved. El Campo postal gross receipts for 1935: $17,252.59; 1930 $15,015.79; and 1920 $11,254.66.
Having a post office was vital to any community, no matter how small. Some maps would not recognize a communityâs existence if they did not have a post office.
The postmaster was the go-to person for information, complaints and keeping mail moving in and out of that post office to suit the government and its customers/patrons.
Nine men were appointed El Campo postmaster between 1890 and 1936. Christian Bruns was appointed March 17, 1890. A land agent for Weimar Land Co., he resigns as more people arrive and more land is sold.
Eckhard Rauch is appointed July 26, 1890 (the first clerk is John Engholm). August Natho replaces Rauch on Jan. 25, 1892.