Wadhams Mills, NY Bisect

Wadhams Mills was a small post office in Essex County, NY about 40 miles south of Plattsburgh in the town of Westport.  In 1898, the post office ran out of its supply of 1c and 2c stamps.

The story was told in the The American Journal of Philately, the forerunner to today's The American Philatelist.

Lake Champlain Train Wreck

In 1894, mail from Canada to England must have gone via various routes including from New York City.  One of the main railroad routes went down the Champlain Valley on the New York side of Lake Champlain.

In December 1894, one of the trains went off the tracks just south of Port Henry (Essex County). A few cars including the mail car ended up in the water. The mail clerk was killed in the wreck and the mail car inundated.  The stamps on this letter from Montréal to London were washed off.

I assume that the USPOD applied the red rubberstamped explanation.  The letter was marked PAID when it reached England.

added by USPOD

front of envelope showing where the stamps were originally

reverse of envelope

Crossroads Stamp Show Purchases

Sometimes you find a cover that you just need to buy because it's such a wonderful example.  This cover from Deansville (Oneida County, 1830 - 1894) is such a cover.  Both the 3D star and the circular date stamp are crisp and well struck.  I have always been partial to these 3D stars.

Here's another example that I purchased at the Crossroads Stamp Show in Quechee Vermont from Annie Doubleday.  Again a wonderfully struck cancel, but this time from Keeseville, NY in Essex County (1822 and still operating).  The notation on the cover says "DEEP GREEN" but it's hard to tell.  

However, it's a nice strike of the "KEESE  VILLE" in two works from 1842.

Thanks to dealer Don Tocher,  I have an addition to my Clinton County collection:  a cover from the "Head Quarters 32d Regiment" of the New York State Militia.  in the 1851 - 1855 era.  Until 1995 Plattsburgh had been a major military base since before the War of 1812.

In addition to the ornate corner card, there is a Paid 3 in arc cancel.  This is unlisted in the American Stampless Cover Catalog (1997).