Smeltzer Post Office

(May 22, 1900 – September 15, 1900)

Orange County’s shortest-lived post office was in the little celery farming town of Smeltzer, two miles south of Westminster. Officially in existence less than four months, there are indications it was only in operation about nine weeks before it was replaced with rural free delivery. “A post office is to be established at Smeltzer, with Mr. Smeltzer himself as postmaster. Smeltzer is on the line of the Southern Pacific now building from Newport toward Long Beach, and is the chief celery shipping station, Mr. Smeltzer himself the chief producer.” (Santa Ana Blade, 6-22-1900) Howard Cone, the Southern Pacific agent there, was initially appointed postmaster (he had previously been postmaster at Salton, California), but he declined.

Postmaster:

Daniel E. Smeltzer, 1900

Daniel Smeltzer was the leading light of the town named for him. He was a pioneer in the local celery industry beginning around 1890 and owned 400 acres of farmland when he died in December 1901 of “nervous prostration” at age 49.

(You can find more about Orange County’s post offices and postmasters here)