The Westhampton Beach Post Office
Humble Beginnings: Mail on the Porch
Table of Contents
Early History
In the 18th century, mail delivery in Westhampton Beach was as simple as a cabinet on a porch. The Foster Homestead on East Main Street and the Jagger home at South Country Road and Tanner’s Neck Lane served as the area’s first informal post offices. Neighbors gathered here to collect mail and share news, fostering community bonds that still define our village today.
Mail by horseback began in 1765, but the Revolutionary War introduced stagecoach routes, though those trusty porch cabinets remained central to daily life.
A Formal Post Office
In 1862, the first formal post office opened at the Bishop and Raynor General Store on Main Street. Charles E. Raynor, appointed as the inaugural postmaster, oversaw operations until Ernest H. Bishop took the role in 1886. By 1905, the post office relocated to another general store (later Brown’s and Sexton’s Department Stores) and adapted to the village’s growing needs.
Did you know? The post office’s name changed to West Hampton Beach in 1890, reflecting the area’s coastal identity.
Mabel B. Williams
In 1913, Mabel B. Williams became the first woman to serve as postmistress in Westhampton Beach, breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. Her tenure, though brief, paved the way for her return in 1933, when she led the post office for 11 years during a transformative era.
Under Mabel’s leadership, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed the iconic Colonial Revival-style Post Office we know today. Designed by architect Louis A. Simons and completed in 1941, the building blended functionality with artistry.
In 1942, artist Sol Wilson unveiled his WPA mural “Outdoor Sports,” celebrating Long Island’s coastal lifestyle. Born in Lithuania and trained under George Bellows, Wilson’s work now graces institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of Art, and our very own Post Office.
In 1991, the Westhampton Beach Post Office celebrated its 50th Anniversary with the help of the newly-formed Westhampton Beach Historical Society, which changed in 2025 to The Greater Westhampton Historical Museum.
