The Cory Post Office was established during the latter part of 1894 or the beginning of 1895-the first letter that came to the office was addressed to “Pa and Ma Snelson”, according to Emmett and Miss Anna Young.
There is a difference of opinion as to the exact location of the first post office, the name of the first postmaster, and even as to how the office got its name.
According to several written records, the post office was named for the wife of George Harshman, Cora, and changed to Cory by postal authorities. This was done because “post offices were not named for women.” Period.
However, records show that there are some post offices in the United States which are named for women. Among them in Colorado are Pearl Post Office in Jackson County, named in honor of Pearl Burnett, daughter of Benjamin Franklin Burnett; also Virginia Dale (Larimer County), named after the wife of Jack Slade, one-time notorious bad-man.
Some of the older Cory residents say they think the first post office was located across the road from the Gene Hubbard home place, and that Miss Ella Gilmer was the first postmaster/mistress.
Some residents remember that at first the mail was brought only to the crossroads. Here it was left at a small two-room house in a corner of what is now the Tom Lugar place, then owned by a Mr. Bradley. From there, they say, the mail was taken to the Harshman home to be distributed by Postmaster Harshman.
Later, (according to information supplied to the present postmistress, Mrs. Bertha Lugar), the postal operations were moved across the road from the Gene Hubbard place.
In the early 1900’s, the Cory store and residence where Mrs. Clara Stewart now lives, was built by a Mr. Cullum. The Cory Post Office was moved to this new building. Mr. Landreth was postmaster there for quite some time.
Landreth later sold the property to a Mr. McVarrier who also served as Postmaster.
At that time postmasters’ salaries were paid by their cancellations up to a certain amount-over that, the department took a percentage.
Delta County Independent
May 1958
Linda
