Luna County Post Office History
Columbus Post Office
Made Possible with submission from
Ray Page, Historian NMAHGP©2005
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Colonel Andrew O. Bailey bought two 160-acre homesteads near the Mexican border south of the present Columbus town site in March, 1891. With the view in mind of establishing a town there, he was able to establish the first post office at his ranch house in June 1891, with his son Lester Franklin Bailey as post master. A school for the local ranch children was also opened at the Bailey ranch house. The post office was closed two years later on June 14, 1893, to be opened again on February 14, 1896, by Birdina Belle Bailey, Col. Bailey's daughter; Lester Franklin Bailey having died April 13, 1894. Birdina married William Carl John Quast on April 16, 1901, hence the change in name of the post master to Birdina Quast on May1, 1901. The El Paso & Southwestern Railroad arrived in Columbus in 1902, and a railroad station was built there during its construction. When Jefferson D. Keith became post master on July 24, 1903, it is probable that the post office had been moved to the depot building. In May, 1909, the present Columbus town site had been surveyed and platted, and lots were being sold by the Columbus and Western New Mexico Town site Company. A new post office building south of the railroad station was complete with fixtures purchased by Miss Grace Goebel by September 10, 1909, and the mail service was moved to this new facility from the railroad depot. Col. Andrew O. Bailey was post master at this time and Miss Goebel was his assistant. The post office has been moved to several different locations in Columbus since that time. This area was originally part of Grant County, but Luna County was established in 1901. The Columbus post office was discontinued on 14 June 1893 but reopened on 14 February 1896. Postmasters (PM), Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and Acting
Postmasters.
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