On Sunday 25th October 1964 at 1:45 PM a new United States Post Office building was dedicated at Rush KY. This new brick structure, located at the mouth of Blackleg Hollow, replaced a cramped and aging frame structure located just 140 feet away on the opposite side of KY SR 854.
Almost all of those participating in this ceremony were from the immediate area, or had significant connections to Rush. I personally knew most of those participating.
The Master of Ceremonies was Thomas E “Tom” Chapman (1922 – 1998), then serving in the Kentucky State Legislature as state representative for the Rush vicinity. In 1964 Tom was also running a popular grocery store and gas station at nearby Coalton KY. Tom and his mother, Mary Cary Chapman Ratliff (1904 – 1990), and his step father, Cornelius “Neege” Ratliff (1901 – 1953), had previously run a similar grocery store business in an old coal mining company store building in Rush, immediately beside the now replaced post office building.
The band providing the music, “Page Fraley and His Vagabonds”, were led by Rush local, Page Fraley, who lived nearby. Page played a variety of instruments. Page was from the musical Fraley Family. The Fraley Family was headed by Page’s Father, national fiddle champion JP Fraley (1923 – 2011). JP Fraley and his wife Anadeene Prater Fraley (1925 – 1996) had developed a regional and national musical following.
The invocation was offered by Henry Hughes (1924 – 2006). Henry was the long serving minister at the nearby Kilgore Methodist Church. Henry Hughes had established a strong presence in Rush. His leadership engaged the local youth, and provided them increased opportunities to enjoy many regional activities. Henry Hughes also taught English at the University of Kentucky affiliated Ashland Community College, so Rush area locals might have had him as their professor.
Longtime US Congressman Carl Perkins (1912 – 1984), who was chairman of the powerful House Committee on Education and Labor, provided an address. Despite being from Hindman KY in Knott County, Perkins visited the Rush general area and was personally familiar with many Rush area residents.
Darwin Clarke (1925 – 2002) provided a musical solo. Darwin lived in the Naples KY area, but both Darwin and his wife, Opal Huff Clarke (b 1925) were high ranking and longtime members of the nearby Rush Masonic / Eastern Star Lodge. Darwin’s mother, Loretta Patrick Clarke (1904 – 1984), was also the supervisor of the cafeteria at Cannonsburg Elementary where all the Rush youth attended. Loretta Clarke and her husband Lorenzo Walker Clarke (1896 – 1974) were also longtime Masonic and Eastern Star members at the Rush Lodge.
The postmaster, Maude Hamilton Schmidt (1915 – 1983), opened the ceremony. Maude had been postmaster at Rush since 1954. Maude lived at Princess and had previously lived in the Garner area. She also married Rush local Alfred “Pete” Schmidt (1908 – 1981), whose parents lived beside the new post office. Maude’s husband, Pete Schmidt, was also the 1st cousin of a previous long term Rush postmaster, Charles Alfred Schmidt (1870 – 1943). Charles Alfred Schmidt had been postmaster at Rush from 1915 to 1940.
The Benediction was offered by the longtime minister at Princess Chapel, Arvil Gullett (1908 – 1985), misspelled here as “Orville” .
The “Principal Speaker of Post Office Dept”, R J Seiter, is the only dedication participant that seemingly did not have some meaningful local connection.
Surprisingly after 58 years, this Rush Post Office structure not only endures but is still an operating US Post Office.
A big thanks to Don and Linda Thornsbury for their kind help on linking postmaster Maude Hamilton Schmidt to the earlier Rush postmaster, Charles Alexander Schmidt. And, more thanks to Terrie Clarke Neufarth for her focused help with the Darwin Clarke family information.
Enjoy! Lon
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