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NC Kansas
Catharine Explorations
Learn more about Catharine by following the links below:

Catharine Post Office

Address: 1676 St. Martin Street
Catharine, KS 67627
Telephone Number: 785.628.1703



About this Exploration:



The first post office in Catharine was established on November 23, 1882, by Jacob Schmidt. The building used for the post office was actually a home that was made of native limestone. That home is still standing today at 1667 St. Catherine Street.  It is the home of Greg and Pam Schmidt, the great grandson of Johann Schmidt.

In 1919, post office service was discontinued at Catharine.  When the post office was re-established on January 12, 1926, it was located in the back of the town grocery store that had been built in 1925. The store sold groceries, hardware, implements, shoes and even suits. That same building still houses the current post office but it is no longer in the back of the building. In the 1980s, all of the wood, metal and glass framed mailboxes were replaced by all metal boxes with key locks.

Over the years, the Schmidt family has played an important role as the postmasters for Catharine.  Jacob Schmidt’s son Johann took over as postmaster on June 3, 1904 and held that office until Aug 23, 1915.  Joseph Wasinger was postmaster from 1915 to 1919 and in 1926, Fidelis Schmidt (great grandson of Jacob Schmidt) ran the post office until October 24, 1931.  Other Schmidt postmasters included:  Raymond Schmidt - 1931 to 1951; Aloysius (Alois)  Schmidt - 1951 to 1982; Al Schmidt - 1982 to 1984 and Ramon Schmidt - 1984 to present. Ramon Schmidt’s, wife Kayleen Klaus Schmidt, ran the store when Ramon took over the store and post office from his brother, Al. It was Ramon Schmidt’s great-great-grandfather (Jacob Schmidt) who got it all started.  In the 1930s, Raymond Schmidt took over the grocery store from his brother Adolph. Eventually his son, Aloysius (Alois), took over the store. His wife also worked in the store and all of their children helped in the store or delivered groceries to the elderly.


The grocery store was able to maintain a pretty good business for a number of years. Salesmen would call for groceries, cigarettes, meat and beer. Eventually, ordering was done by mail or telephone, but after losing their grocery supplier, the grocery store part of the building was closed in August 1991, just six months shy of being open for 100 years.


Post office hours are Monday-Friday 7-11:30 a.m.; Saturday 9:30-11 a.m.  Visitors are welcome to stop by, purchase stamps or visit with the current postmaster about the history of the community.  For more information, contact Ramon Schmidt at 785.628.3765 .



contact info
Pam Schmidt
P.O. Box 61
Catharine, KS 67627
Phone: 785.628.2910
 
Glenda Schuetz
1316 E. 22nd St.
Hays, KS 67601-2301
Phone: 785.625.5478 / 785.650.1746
 
Greg Schmidt
P.O. Box 61
Catharine, KS 67627
Phone: 785.628.2910
 
 
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