90920 -- Historic Post office -- Kelso CA - U.S. Post Offices on Waymarking.com

The long-closed and tumbledown building that used to hold the Kelso US Post Office and the L. J. Packard store in what's left of downtown Kelso. The zip code for the old Kelso post is still stenciled over the top of the door.

The Kelso post office opened in 1905, hen the town was founded as a helper and locomotive maintenance division point on the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, which later was folded into the Union Pacific. A grand California Mission Revival depot was built in 1924, and the town boomed during WWII. The decline in railroad traffic after the war and the switch of more efficient diesel locomotives sent the town into decline. The post office closed in 1962, but the depot held on until in 1986.

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The interpretive sign at the Kelso Depot shares the history of this remote railroad town. The sign reads as follows:

"WORLD WAR II BOOMTOWN

During World War II, troops, tanks, and trucks were shipped through Kelso by rail, creating the need for more helper crews and mechanics. Iron ore from Kaiser Steel's nearby Vulcan Mine was located onto freight cars here to be used in the wartime manufacture of steel.

To accommodate workers and their families, the Union Pacific Railroad and Kaiser Steel set up temporary housing at Kelso.

[photo]
Portable houses lined the tracks in Kelso, 1944. Kelso Depot is on the right, concealed by trees.

[photo]
Lester Packard at his store

After Packard died in 1941, his family leased the store and two adjacent houses to a series of other shopkeepers. The family still owns the building, across the street from Kelso Depot.

The Grissom family leased the Packard store and houses during World War II. Madge Grissom and a friend are in front of the house east of the store, which was later burned down."

Type of structure:: stand alone re-enter Zip Code here:: 90920 Current Status:: Former Historic Location

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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   03/05/2022 Don.Morfe visited it 03/08/2016 Benchmark Blasterz visited it

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