Galena
Nogal
Nogal
Roy Harman
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The Nogal Post Office was originally known as Galena having been established under that name on November 4, 1880 with George Welliford as its first Postmaster. On May 9, 1882 the name was changed from Galena to Nogal. Galena means native lead sulfide and was derived from mining operations in the vicinity. The name Nogal means walnut and came from the black walnut trees that grew in Nogal Canyon.
From the list of Postmasters given at the end of this history it is interesting to note that Thomas W. Henley served two different times and that his father was Postmaster before him and his brother afterward. Also three of the McDaniel family have been Postmasters there. The first money orders were sold at the office on October 26, 1893.
Mrs. Pearl Stearns who is now Postmaster at Nogal has served longer than any of her predecessors. She received national recognition in 1959 while she was attending a convention of the National Association of Postmasters in Washington, D. C. at that time Mr. Stearns at 76 years of age as the oldest active Postmaster in the United States. Though the compulsory retirement age is 70, under an obscure regulation, she has been allowed to continue until she has 15 years of service. In the human interest story written up in a Washington newspaper which was termed "the guardian of a little place by the side of the road" where she dispenses mail form the post office and supplies from her little general store and station.
Although all mining operations have ceased the little community is now the home of a number of retired people as well as those who want to get away form the tensions of large towns.
When Mrs. Stearns retired, June 30, 1962, her leave replacement Tom Zumwalt was made the Acting Postmaster. He received his appointment July 9, 1962, and served as postmaster until his death on May 21, 1967. She soon received credit for the five years she had worked in the Tularosa, N. M. post office, while Clovis B. Aguilar was postmaster there. Josie retired July 31, 1975. Her leave replacement, Opal Greer, has been Officer in Charge since August 1, 1975.
Galena
George Welliford, Nov. 4, 1880
Harry George, Sept. 12, 1881
Nogal
| Thomas Moore 1882 | Cornelius K. Whetted Nov. 1903* | Jessie May Sept. 29, 1929 |
| Ben M. Whitney 1883 | Thomas W. Henley Apr. 15, 1893* | Jim Graves 1930 |
| Sidney A. Johnson 1884 | Sidney H. Cox 1912 | Jack Zumwalt 1944 |
| Wilson McVeigh 1885 | Robert Henley Nov. 7, 1917 | Pearl Stearns Jan. 7, 1947 |
| Allen Henley 1887 | George B. Short June 17, 1917 | Tom Zumwalt July 9, 1967 |
| Ben F. Brown 1889 | Marie Rhodes Oct. 19, 1919 | Josie Sitton Aug. 1, 1975 |
| Thomas W. Henley Apr. 15, 1893* | L. McDaniel Oct. 1923 | Opal Greer OIC, Aug. 1, 1975 |
| Edwen B. Homan Jan. 1898 | Homer McDaniel Nov 25, 1925 | Pearle Stearns 1947, retired June 30, 1962 |
Transcribed by C. W. Barnum ©2005