Historic northern Minnesota log post office razed after nearly 90 years of operation

LAKE GEORGE, Minn. – Postcards claimed this log cabin nine miles east of Itasca State Park on Hwy. 71 was the world’s smallest post office.

That’s up for debate.

But the old post office was knocked down Thursday after serving Lake George township since 1936. All signage and 110 mailboxes were preserved before demolition to go on display at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum in Washington D.C.

“It would be cool to go to D.C. and see our old mailbox,” said Lake George resident Jamie Eisterhold.

She has fond memories of the post office, often bringing Winston, her Boston terrier, along to get a treat from the postmaster. Tourists headed to Itasca in the summer would stop to check it out. Eisterhold said they were always shocked to see her go inside.